Blaine County Fair returns next week

The Blaine County Fair will return to Chinook Thursday, Aug. 10 through Aug. 13 with a new centerpiece event, a carnival, food and tons of 4-H events throughout.

Fair Manager Debra Ramberg said the biggest event this year would be a concert by country music writer and singer Darryl Worley at 7 p.m. that Saturday.

The concert will feature an opening act by Cole Kleinert from CK and the Slow Rollers and the Milk River Band will be playing at the afterparty in the fairground’s beer gardens.

Ramberg said the fair can’t do their traditional demolition derby this year, as many of the event’s organizers have retired, but Worley’s performance will be a great show.

As for the other days, she said, Thursday and Friday will host the Bear Paw Roundup Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo at 7 p.m. both days. Thursday will feature Monkey on a Rope while Friday will feature an Outhouse Race.

On Sunday at 11 a.m. the fair will also have a Little Kids Rodeo, where young people can show off their skills.

The fair’s traditional carnival will be returning, along with rides from Montana Premier Events, Ramberg said, along with a lot of games for children including a maze race, rock wall and trampolines.

Pippi the Clown will also return to the fair this year to entertain the children.

Fairgoers will also have the opportunity to have some of the area’s traditional fair food, Ramberg said, including the local Lions Club’s corn dogs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ burgers and fried onions, as well as the Eagles Club’s tacos.

She said they are also getting some food trucks from Billings and Havre as well as snow cones and all of local 4-H’s traditional fare.

Indeed 4-H will have a host of events at this year’s fair including on Tuesday and Wednesday before the fair properly begins.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday 4-H and Future Farmers of America will have their Horse Show at the George Ortner Arena, and on Wednesday 4-H Interview judges will examine student projects at the Commercial Building from 1 to 4 p.m.

On Thursday 4-H will have a Dog Show in the Little Arena at 9 a.m. and a Rabbit Show at 11 a.m. at the Outdoor Sale Arena north of the Hog Barn, followed by a Poultry Show at 1 p.m. in the same place.

The 4-H Cat Show will also be at the Outdoor Sale Arena at 3 p.m.

At 8 a.m. Friday there will be a 4-H and FFA Market Swine Show at the Outdoor Sale Arena as well as a 4-H and FFA Sheep Show at 1 p.m.

At 3 p.m. that day 4-H and FFA will also have a Horse Showmanship Show in the Little Arena.

The 4-H/FFA Youth Market Beef Show will be at the Little Arena at 8 a.m. Saturday and the organizations’ Livestock Round Robin Showmanship Show will be at the Show Arena north of the Hog Barn.

The 4-H and FFA Market Sale will also be at the Show Arena at 3 p.m.