Blaine County Fair is up and running for 2020

Blaine County had its 4-H fair and rodeo Thursday, with safety measures and precautions in place which will continue today and Saturday.

Montana State University Blaine County Extension Agent Julie Snedigar said she is very thankful Blaine County still gets to have a fair.

"We are working as hard as we can to make sure we are doing everything that we need to do," she said. "The parents, the kids, everybody has been working so hard to get here, get done what we need to do and the weather has been amazing - everything has been going really well. It's been a lot fun and I think the kids are enjoying every minute of it."

She said she enjoys seeing the youth achieve the goals they've set throughout the year.

All the 4-H shows will be streamed on Facebook, she said.

People can watch all shows at https://www.facebook.com/blainecountymontana4h .

4-H participant Rangler Skoyen said he has been in 4-h for three years and this year he is doing the pig and welding activities.

"I like welding because it's fun and I like fire," he said. 

His pig's name is Helda, he said.

He said he is looking forward to the rodeo this year.

Alyssa Gruszie said she has been in 4-H for 14 years.

Her pig's name is Wailan, she said.

"I have a show pig business and I raised 14 of these pigs that are in here, so they are all kind of like my babies, so I love to watch them grow up and everything," she said. "I like teaching all the little kids different tricks."

At the fair, she said, she enjoys learning how to manage the money and the feed expenses, and knowing she can be responsible for something other than herself.

She said the money she gets from the hogs will help her go to college, adding that she just graduated from high school and plans to attend Montana State University-Northern next year to get a degree in agricultural business.

Rodeo participant Neva Lowe said she has competed a couple times.

Her horse is named Ty, she said.

"(Rodeo) is a lot of fun with all the other events and there's so many things to do and see - it's a blast," she said.

She added that she's participated in barrel races and has won a buckle.

Steven Mulonet of Havre said he came to the Blaine County fair to see his great-granddaughter go mud n' busting.

He said he enjoys everything about the fair.

"I like the food, I like the people, I like the rides," he said. "I'm excited, I wished they had the derby too."

He has never missed the derby in more than 35 or 40 years, he said.

Starting at 7 a.m. today was the market swine show and swine showmanship; 9 a.m. was the youth livestock sale; at 1 p.m. is the Round Robin showmanship contest; 7 p.m. the PRCA Rodeo and the The Doo Wha Riders.

Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., is the youth livestock sale; at 7 p.m. The Doo Wha Riders will perform.