Bonner County Fair and Rodeo:

By Scout Anatricia
Reader Staff

Maybe you’re the kind of person who can’t get enough of wrestling greased pigs. If so, don’t just sit around hoping for one to run through your yard. Head over to the Bonner County Fair August 11-15  for all the pig chasing you can handle. What’s more, a multitude of other activities and events are ready for the whole family to enjoy.

Just about everyone should get a kick out of the carnival hosted by Paradise Amusements activities from Aug. 12-15. Everything from kiddie rides to games to teen and adult rides will be ready to thrill the family. Pre-sale tickets are on sale at www.bonnercountyfair.org.

It wouldn’t be a fair without livestock, which will be shown throughout the week with the Market Animal Livestock Sale taking place on Saturday, Aug 15, at 9 a.m., indoor arena. Bringing the festivities to an end will be the demolition derby which is also taking place on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. Pre-sale derby tickets can be purchased online or at the fair box office.

This year’s fair activities include the Silver Buckle Challenge, Passport to Ag, photo booth, cookie jar contest, livestock video contest, Farmathon, karaoke contest, backseat driving, sewing contest, turkey calling championship, 5K run or walk, So You Think You Can Sing, pizza eating contest, spud decorating contest, tae kwon do, swine costume contest, digital camera shootout, beef bowl quiz, floral challenge, survivor competition, A Dream is a Wish Princess Party, Greased Pig Scramble, mini animals and pony rides, pie eating contest and so much more!

Performances include Cecil’s Magic, Pippi the Clown accompanied by her followers, Josh the Juggler (and fire-eater), and Glenna & Gub Gub the Performing Pig.

You’re going to want to get out your best boot-scootin’-boogie shoes in time for all of the entertainment that the fair has to offer this year, including Devon Wade Band, Monarch Mountain Band, Owen & McCoy, Lee Jackson, Crab Creek Wranglers, Country Plus, Peggy Carter and the 20th Bashful Dan’s Dance Party on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m.

As always, the fair is all about supporting 4-H activities. These programs invite the younger generation to try their hand at showing and selling livestock as well as other agricultural staples. 4-H events include interview judging, pocket pet show, dog show, fashion revue, archery, round robins, market animal sale and the parade of champions.

Aislynn Robertson, former fair princess and fair queen, is known for her 4-H market swine and her place on the junior fair board. She has been the face of the fair in years past, and she still continues to participate today with enthusiasm and drive.

“I enjoy having a week away to just be at the fair doing what I love,” she said. “I also really enjoy volunteering and spending time with the younger 4-H kids and helping them out.”

Robertson still holds her spot on junior fair board, but royalty this year goes to Kellee Knopp as fair princess and Abigail Nelson as fair queen. Congratulations, ladies!

If you are interested in entering a 4-H animal or testing your cooking skills, be sure to pick up a fair book, which holds the forms as well as the details on each activity and contest. The book also contains schedules for each individual contest, exhibit and event.

For additional information contact Rhonda Livingston at the fair office at (208) 263-8414.

If the fair isn’t rowdy enough for you, give the Bonner County Rodeo a shot. In years past, the rodeo has been an amateur event, but not any more. This year’s rodeo teams up with the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) and WPRA ( Women’s Professional Rodeo Association) barrel racers on Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Top bullfighters Rowdy Barry and Ryan Manning will be competing with  Ash Cooper as barrelman, and Blake West and David Lewis as pickup men. Pro Rodeo events this year include bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, bullriding, saddle bronc and barrel racing.

Hopping on top of a 2,000 pound beast equipped with hooves, horns and muscle doesn’t sound like something that most people do voluntarily. However, this adrenaline rush of a sport is one of the top attractions at the rodeo that the cowboys and fans alike go crazy for.

The Challenge of Champions Tour Bull Riding will be firing up the arena with some of the top bulls in the country and 25 to 35 bull riders on August 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Challenge of Champions has been a successful business offering an average of 30 professional riders from the Pacific Northwest region. Their vision is to offer a fun, educational event that focuses on traditional bullriding and the way of the cowboy.

Following the Challenge of Champions performance is Devon Wade’s Band. Wade is a singer and songwriter from Sandpoint. The show includes a dance contest as well as a best-fitting jeans contest.

Also following the bullriding competition is the opportunity for ladies over 21 to pay $30 to attend a behind-the-scenes tour and do a meet & greet with the bull riders.

Pre-sale tickets for the Challenge of Champions  as well as Pro Rodeo are offered at a reduced price at www.bonnercoutyfair.com or at Carter Country & Feed, Columbia Bank, Les Schwab Tires and Sandpoint Super Drug. They may also be purchased at full price at the gate.