2022 Great Northern Fair seems to live up to promises

The 2022 Great Northern Fair is done, and based on the attitude of attendees it appears to have lived up to expectations despite the heat.

The attractions included plenty of free entertainment and musical acts like Ja'net Eastman, Larry Myer, Allegedly Red, Shakedown Country Friday and Neon Ridge.

More than one of these acts got a ringing endorsement from fair-goer LePatrick James, who said he was really impressed by many of them.

"Dang, those guys had some pipes," he said.

The fair also had what fairgrounds manager Frank English called a record-setting number of rides this year, provided by Midway West Amusements.

Josh Glahn said the rides were a huge thing for his children this year, and when they're happy, he's happy, despite the heat.

"That's all that matters," Glahn said.

There was also more food available than last year, as well as more vendors in general.

These last two were a big reason to go to the fair for Les and Berni Anderson, with the former saying the Commercial Building in particular was impressive this year.

"It's a really beautiful building," he said.

Berni Anderson said Pronto Pups and scones were her big thing.

Early in 2022 Fairgrounds Manager Frank English said this fair is set to be much larger than previous years, with far more events, rides and entertainment, the fairgrounds manager said.

"Bigger, badder, better," Great Northern Fairgrounds Manager Frank English said.

English said then that he and the Great Northern Fair Board worked hard to get this year's fair set up, and they were set to nearly double the amount of events planned.

Among the biggest additions to this year's fair was the tractor pull, the addition of which means there would be one major event going on in the lower arena every evening the fair is going on.

Wednesday the fair hosted the Junior Rodeo, with the Great Northern Ram Rodeo Thursday and Friday.

The Junior Rodeo featured some of the best young riders from the area, competing in events such as sheep riding, flag racing, barrels, steer riding, chute dogging, pole bending and tie down roping.

Great Northern RAM Rodeo featured professional riders competing in events such as bull riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie down roping.

Finally, Sunday saw the return of the Havre Jaycees Demolition Derby and Bump 'N' Run.

Hypnotist and magician Michael Mezmer's DangerMagik Magic Phenomena and TranceNosis Comedy Hypnosis also made an appearance, an act he said was honored at the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs recently.

There was also Randy's Freckle Farms Zoo, open every day of the fair, as well as the National Guard Climbing Wall.