It’s busy season again for the Jefferson County Fair Board, which has two key responsibilities: organizing the annual Jefferson County Fair and overseeing improvements to the Jefferson County Recreation Park and Fairground in Boulder. The seven-member volunteer board is appointed by the Jefferson County Commissioners.
As we approach the 41st Annual Jefferson County Fair, to be held Aug. 21-24, Fair Board Chair Leah Lewis noted a change in the schedule. “A lot of people are at the grounds on Friday of the fair, now that one of the rodeos is Friday night,” she said. “We’d like to have more exhibits open on Friday, so we are changing the entry and judging schedule for arts, crafts, needlework, and photography.”
Entries for those competitions will be accepted the Wednesday and Thursday of fair week. They will be judged Friday morning and opened to the public Friday afternoon. The entry and judging schedule for food, crops, floral, and gardening remains the same as last year: entries will be accepted and judged Saturday morning, Aug. 23.
The fair book, with entry categories, entry deadlines and a full schedule, will appear in The Monitor and be posted at various local businesses by late July. Fair entry forms will again need to be submitted online in advance.
“We encourage people to sign into the system early,” advised Holli Woods, Jefferson County Events Assistant. “Once you have an account, it’s easy to add exhibits to your entry form. If it seems daunting or you don’t have a computer or email address, give me a call at (406) 225-4015. I’ll help you get it done.”
Woods pointed out that accepting entries online makes entering fair exhibits fast and easy. The board has also made several fairgrounds improvements, including a smoother, graded parking lot with additional lighting. “We’ve had this on our improvement list for several years,” said Fair board member Marilyn McCauley. “Parking lot lighting and leveling the grounds make it safer for everyone who comes to events at the fairgrounds.”
The board also prioritized improvements to the Red Barn. “The Red Barn, formerly called the Square Dance Barn, was the first building volunteers worked on forty-some years ago,” McCauley recalled. “It’s a beautiful historical building, but it needed some work. We upgraded flooring on the ground and loft floors, and built fair display shelving that can be folded up to give more space for events. Renting the Red Barn is a very affordable option for people who want to have a function but don’t need the big White Barn or Volunteer Hall kitchen.”
Other Red Barn improvements include new loft windows, renovations to a small ground-floor room used for serving food, and the installation of a safer, sturdier stairway. “If you haven’t considered the Red Barn for a reunion, small wedding or function, take a look at it,” McCauley advised. “I think you’ll be impressed.”
To rent fairgrounds facilities, contact County Events Coordinator Bruce Binkowski at (406) 225-4039.
Terry Minow is a member of the Jefferson County Fair Board.
