100th Middle Park Fair and Rodeo has full line-up scheduled

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From a Ferris wheel to honoring pioneering families, the Midde Park Fair and Rodeo’s 100th celebration is aiming to be a fair-goers delight. The annual event will take place on August 11-14, but the 4-H shows will begin on August 5.

The Middle Park Fair and Rodeo was able to expand its entertainment line-up this year with help from private donors and the Grand Foundation. The Grand Foundation named the Middle Park Fair and Rodeo as the secondary beneficiary for its annual Grand Gala on May 7. For this Centennial Celebration the Grand Foundation/Grand Gala committee is paying the gate fee for all attendees on Saturday and Sunday.

One of the special events planned is a pioneer luncheon that will honor founding families and those who have made substantial contributions to the fair. In honor of this event, the Centennial committee tried to create entertainment with these individuals in mind. Robin Breeze and his band will play on Saturday and Todd Flynn (the son of Duane Flynn, an extension agent in the 1980s) will perform his clown act during the rodeo performances.

The celebration will also feature new names and faces with country western singer Nick Garrison performing on Saturday, August 13. Bill Simms, of the Rocky Mountain Armament, has also agreed to heat things up on Saturday night, with a demonstration of his flamethrower during the intermission of Nick Garrison’s act.

New this year will be mini-broncs for those too old to mutton bust but not ready for bigger broncs. There will also be a wild pony races where team of three youngsters try to mount a pony in the arena. These will be held Saturday afternoon before the Ranch Rodeo.

Changes to the line-up include a crowning of the champions on Thursday night. In years past, show goers would sit through a day of shows to see each champion selected. This year the beef, sheep, goat and swine will all show on Thursday of the fair and the champions will be selected Thursday evening. Spectators will be able to come in for the afternoon to see all the champions chosen at once.

The 4-H auction has also moved to Friday night. Old favorites will also return with kids games on Saturday morning, horse races, the tractor drag race, Commissioner Cookie Contest, the Mayor Pie Contest and the work horse feed team races. The current Middle Park Fair and Rodeo board is Matt Friesen, Robert Nelson, Chris Murphy, Carol Culbreath, Amy Mahon, Kim Cameron and county fair coordinator Larry Banman. The 100th planning committee consists of Mike Ritschard, Pat Pryor, Sheilah Jones, Kim Cameron, Linda Gillogley, Tara Sharp, DiAnn Butler, Peg Toft, Lurline Underbrink Curran, Karla Hassler and Shelly McManus.

The Middle Park Fairbook will be going into production in the next couple of weeks. Every effort was made to include all advertisers in this special Centennial Edition.

If you were not contacted and you wish to place an advertisement in this year’s Fairbook, please contact Larry Banman at lbanman@co.grand. co.us or (970) 217-6298 no later than Monday, April 25.