County Fair opens Monday in Glenns Ferry

The Elmore County Fair will kick off next week, July 14-19, at the Glenns Ferry fairgrounds.

The fairgrounds are located just off the second exit I-84 to Glenns Ferry (from Mountain Home). There is a $3 per person cost for admission to the fair with free parking provided.

Most of the events of the fair that are open to the general public begin on Wednesday, July 16, and run through Saturday, July 19.

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.

Due to a lack of entries, White Knuckle Racing has canceled its Supercross on July 17.

The Jeff Palmer Band will perform on the midway 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 that day, Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. On Saturday it will open at noon.

Fair events actually begin on Saturday, July 12, with the Open Working Ranch Versatility event taking place inside the rodeo grounds starting at 8 a.m. The event 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 also will take place early on Sunday, July 13, at 6 p.m. and Monday, July 14, at 8 a.m., at the rodeo grounds.

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 include the 4-H Working Horse Ranch event, starting at 7 p.m.

The exhibit building will open to the public July 16 and will be open each day of the fair from noon to 10 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m. that day, July 16, 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. at the rodeo grounds. 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.