There is Fun for the Whole Herd at the Archuleta County Fair July 31-Aug. 3. It’s an event you don’t want to miss.
It’s the time of year when we celebrate our Western heritage with rodeos, cowboy fast-draw competitions and horse shows. It’s the time when makers of all types get a chance to display their original work, including textiles, photography, woodworking, home furnishings, fine arts, floriculture, vegetables, preserved food and homemade beer and wine, to name only a few.
It’s a time to put on your favorite cowboy hat and boots and kick up your heels to the sounds of one of the greatest country bands in the region after enjoying tasty brisket, delicious sides and peach cobbler at the Saturday night Chuck Wagon Dinner.
You can bring the little ones to enjoy the petting zoo, the homemade ice-cream contest and the kids’ rodeo. Take a ride around the fairgrounds in the train and enjoy the kids’ games and everyone’s favorite, Wild Man Phil, in the Education Tent.
Adults can enjoy the Friday night fights, the Junk Yard Jamboree, Tractor Show, and this year’s new event, the blindfolded lawn mower races.
Yes, the county fair is truly a celebration and a great time for everyone, but the main event is our 4-H youth. It is at the county fair that each of our talented youth display the projects that they have been working on over the entire year and compete against their peers for fair ribbons, trophies and belt buckles. At the fair, all of these projects are judged and then displayed to the public.
In the Extension building, you can find sewing projects, photography exhibits and displays on sports fishing, gardening, veterinary science, scrapbooking, cooking, food preservation and many more.
In the Activity Tent, you can watch dog obedience and agility competitions and in the Livestock Tent watch swine, turkeys, lambs and steers artfully paraded around the arena by 4-H youth who have fed and cared for these animals for many months.
In the arena, you can watch the horse show and in the Western Heritage Event Center building, the rabbit and poultry judging. The finale is the Junior Livestock Auction on Saturday evening, where many of these animals are sold.
There is truly something for everyone at the Archuleta County Fair. For only $3 per day for adults ($9 for weekend pass) and $2 per day for youth under 12 years of age ($6 for weekend pass), the entire family can enjoy wholesome fun, great food and the celebration of our western heritage with family, friends, neighbors and visitors.
For a full list of events and times, visit the fair website at www.archuletacountyfair.com or call the Archuleta County Extension office at 264-5931.
See you at the fair.
CPR and first aid certification classes are offered monthly by the CSU Extension office on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6-10 p.m. Anyone needing to receive or renew certification can register by calling the Extension office at 264-5931.
We will also schedule classes on additional dates with five or more registrations. Cost for the classes are $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for individual CPR or first aid. The type of first aid information provided will vary by the needs of the audience. Group rates are available. Call the Extension office for information at 264-5931.
