It's time to check out the fair

This Saturday kicks off Washakie County Fair Week with the theme, “Remembering the past, Embracing our present, engineering our future.

The fair is an opportunity for everyone to come socialize, enjoy some good food and have a little family fun. The five-member fair board has worked hard over the past year to put together an entertaining schedule.

A few things didn’t come to fruition for various reasons including stock dog trials and tractor pull but there is still plenty to do and see.

The week of five concerts, four of them free, begins Monday with the Jordan twins, Liam and Layne, at 6 p.m., followed by Big Praise on Wednesday, Pretty Punchy (Klemm Family) on Thursday and Rigby Summer on Friday.

Fresh off the success of last year’s grassy area headlining concert with Confederate Railroad, this year the fair board is bringing in Deana Carter who has country hits including “Strawberry Wine,” “We Danced Anyway,” “How Do I Get There,” and more.

Opening for Deana Carter at the fair is Worland’s own Rattlesnake Ridge.

Along with musical entertainment, there is, of course, the youth rodeo and the main fair rodeo as part of the Big Horn Basin rodeo circuit.

One of last year’s new events Strut Your Mutt is back for its second year, a chance for area residents to bring in their own dog on Saturday and enter in a variety of fun categories including costume contest, wiggliest butt, best rescue, sausage catcher, best kisser and best paw shake.

You and your pup can enter as many categories as you like.

The event was a crowd favorite as no experience on the part of the handler or dog is required.

There is also the fair parade Saturday morning down Big Horn Avenue with more than 30 entries to date. Ruth Dugger of the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce works hard to get businesses and organizations to participate.

Along with all the entertainment are the shows that showcase youth in 4-H and FFA. The fair is a great place if you are unfamiliar on what you can do in 4-H and FFA to see the various projects. Monday afternoon the 4-H and FFA static or general exhibit projects will be judged and then be available for viewing after. Come on out to the fairgrounds to take a look at the many projects that, depending on the year and participation includes something from A – aerospace and archery – to W – wildlife and hunting and woodworking. There are many projects in between that may peak your interest and perhaps next year you will have a project being judged.

There is also open class events for those who are not in 4-H and FFA and there are a variety of categories to enter. Deadline to enter or submit entries is from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Judging will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Check out the fair book at the Washakie County Fair website or grab one at the Extension office.

This year they have added some open class livestock shows to the fair — sheep, goats and beef – again open class is open to everyone.

The Washakie County Fair involves numerous volunteers including the board, fair superintendents, clerks, 4-H leaders and more, as well as paid staff from Extension, Washakie County, Washakie County Fair Board, FFA advisors and more.

There are a lot of planning and organizing that goes into the week long event and everyone involved deserves kudos to working on providing a family-friendly event that has something for everyone – including food.

See you at the fair!

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On a different note, we were saddened to hear of the passing of former mailing crew employee Rose Carrasco. Rose was the type of person who thought of others first and was always trying to help others. She was a devoted Christian and through her cancer battles worked to give God the glory.

Rest in peace dear friend.