Carnival tickets on sale for Elmore County Fair

The Elmore County Fair will be held July 14-19 in Glenns Ferry.

The theme for this year's event is "Country Dreams and Old Blue Jeans." Beverly Lucia, a longtime volunteer and supporter, will serve as the Grand Marshall of the fair.

For the first time, the rodeo and the fair will be run at separate times. The ICA/IPCA Rodeo was moved to July 25 and 26 (starting at 8 p.m.). The rodeo date was locked in for this year and the county fair had to be moved up so it could include a carnival.

The carnival will be run by Paradise Amusements based out of Coeur d'Alene. Paradise Amusements takes over for Royal West Amusements, which backed out of last year's carnival ten days prior to the event.

Advance carnival tickets are currently on sale at Paul's Market, Moxie Java, Albertson's, Hometown Hardware, Southside Market and The Stop.

There is a $3 per person cost for admission to the fair with free parking provided.

The fairgrounds will feature entertainment from White Knuckle Supercross taking place adjacent to the rodeo arena (July 17) and near the midway, local country western group The Jeff Palmer Band will perform on Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight.

The midway will feature 30 vendor booths.

The carnival will begin on Wednesday, July 16 and open Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at noon.

Fair events actually begin on Saturday, July 12, with the Open Working Ranch Versatility event taking place inside the rodeo grounds starting on 8 a.m.

Open Youth Ranch Horse Versatility is open to any youth 5-19 years old (19-year-olds must still be in high school). There will be two age divisions with novice, intermediate and advanced divisions for each. Classes available are roping, working cow, cattle sorting, reining, working trail and ranch pleasure.

The 4-H Horse Show will take place on Sunday, July 13, at 6 p.m. and Monday, July 14, at 8 a.m.

Open Class registration at the exhibit building will be held July 14 from 6-9 p.m. and July 15 from 8-11 a.m.). There will be 10 divisions (and 200 categories) in the Open Class display, including: Home Arts, Hobby Crafts, Ceramics, Art, Photography, Antiques, Culinary Arts, Horticulture, Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Produce.

Premium books listing all the requirements are available from Fair Manager Kate Ackerson. To pick up a book from Ackerson call 587-2136 (ext. 287). The premium books will also be available at D & B Supply, Paul's Market, Hometown Hardware and the Corner Market.

Also on July 15, following the Optimist Youth Organization horse show, the Open Class judging will take place.

The festivities on July 15 includes with the 4-H Working Horse Ranch event starting at 7 p.m.

The exhibit building will be open on Wednesday July 16, at noon and close at 10 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. that day, the rodeo grounds will feature the Magic Valley Team Sorting competition.

The fair will also feature an All-Youth Rodeo sponsored by Optimist Ag on July 18 starting at 6 p.m. The maximum age for children participating in the rodeo is 18 years old.

On July 19, the festivities will conclude with the 4-H Livestock Sale at 9 a.m., followed by the Optimist Ag Youth livestock sale at 11:30 a.m.

The Big West Bull Riding Association competition will start at 7 p.m. Guests at the fair will have to pay an additional cost to watch the bull riding event.

The following week the ICA/IMPRCA Rodeo will feature the Cowgirls Saloon based out of Kuna, which will be providing a beer garden and a dance floor. Food will be provided by the Glenns Ferry High School Basketball team and Rio Grand Taco Stand. There will also be rides for the children in attendance.

No queen competition will be held at the rodeo this year due to a lack of entries.