Blaine County Fair on track despite some scaled back events

This year's Blaine County Fair will begin Wednesday despite having some events scaled back due to the pandemic, staffing issues with the carnival and just plain bad luck.

The fair's first major event will be the Kids Rodeo Wednesday at 5 p.m., with the Bear Paw Roundup PRCA Rodeo starting at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, followed by the Blaine County Showdown Demolition Derby Saturday at 5 p.m.

Check-in for the derby will start at 1 p.m. and end at 4 p.m.

The Kids Fun Zone & Amusements featuring Pippi the Clown will open Thursday, Friday and Saturday at noon and will end at 10 p.m. Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Carnival rides in the zone will be free.

The fair had originally planned to feature six bounce houses, a bungee jumper, a laser tag area, four games and nine children's rides, but the carnival that brings the ride has been hit with a significant staff shortage that has forced them to scale back, bringing six kids rides.

Blaine County Fair Manager Debbie Ramberg said the carnival was in danger of being canceled completely when two of its remaining staff members were contact traced for COVID-19, but the carnival's recent appearance in Dodson indicates that they are still on track to bring their six rides.

Unfortunately this will not be the only thing missing from this year's fair as pig wrestling, a longstanding regular event at the fair, will not be held either.

Ramberg said the people who usually run the event recently retired for health reasons and can't come to the fair.

She said she hoped to fill the void with an event featuring Lodge Pole's Boxing Club, but, in a continued streak of bad luck, for the fair at least, all of the boxing club's member qualified for nationals, and they will not be able to attend the fair.

Ramberg said she's happy for the club and she certainly understands their need to cancel, but it is unfortunate for the fair.