If Fair Board Chairman Colby Baumgarn has anything to say about it, this year’s Chouteau County Fair will live up to its motto, “A Blast from the Past.”
The Fair is officially August 19 through 21 but there is, like always, the Big Sandy Grocery Store Barbeque Throw Down with free eats beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 18.
This year’s big event, according to Baumgarn is the Western Grand National Tractor Pull. That event is scheduled for Saturday night and should be a very big show.
This year the Pull organizers are asking for local entrants to compete in this fun event. Already Tim LaBuda and Ted Pursley have signed up.
The Tractor Pull looks to be fun and very exciting!
On Friday, there is the Golden Harvest Seeds Pig Wrestling contest which is always a lot of fun.
Friday there is a Calcutta at 6 p.m. with the event beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Talk about another Blast from the Past, on Saturday from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. there will be a whole host of old timers teaching kids of all ages how to do things the way they were done a hundred years ago. Everything from candle making to soap making may be covered in this trip which, after completed, might make most thankful that we can buy a candle when one is needed. In any event it is an afternoon dedicated to experiencing history hands on.
On Sunday, look forward to the Chouteau County Demo Derby which starts around 6 p.m. Fair operators have added a new heat this year called a chain and go, which is another blast from the past when people used to chain their car doors shut and off they would go in the arena.
There are several events happening on the free stage several times during the day.
There is the Bonk Show which is a quiz and bonk event scheduled for three times a day.
There is Michael Swenson, a comedian and hypnotist who has performed at Sea World and Disney Land. He will give three performances a day.
There will be Lazar Tag going on plus a Free Fall game which is like bumper cars but on water with kids guaranteed not to get wet but to have loads of fun.
The Chouteau County school teachers will be showing off their talents in the Educational Building.
The Commercial Building will feature arts, crafts and jewelry for sale.
Brian’s Top Notch from Great Falls will be there with their wonderful onion and Swiss burgers.
In addition the 4-H Chuck Wagon restaurant will be open. Stop and look at the newly remodeled kitchen while you are waiting for your burger and fries.
There is always loads of good food and plenty of camping next door if you want to make a weekend of it.
If you have questions about any event, just get on the official Chouteau County Fair site at chocofair.com. Or contact the Fair office at 622-5505.
The Fair Manager is Shirley Embleton. Colby Baumgarn is the Fair Board chairman and J. C. Linderman is the vice chairman. Other Fair Board members are Kelly Rutledge, Tracy Taylor, Conn Forder and Drew Page who just recently took the place of Robert Ebeling.
For the best August ever, and for a huge blast into the past with all manner of fun things along the way, See you at the Chouteau County Fair August 18, then officially August 19 through 21.
