Gardeners, are your flowers gorgeous despite the scorching heat? Are your zucchinis the biggest you’ve ever grown? Bring them in the Jefferson County Fair, “A Fair of the Heart,” held in Boulder, August 21-25. Ribbons guaranteed!
The fair book has hundreds of categories for people to enter, from floral and gardening to crafts, needlework and animals.
The vegetable/fruit contest, a whimsical competition, features pineapple this year. Using pineapple as part of the design, exhibitors of all ages are encouraged to tap into their creativity to make a creation to bring to the fair.
Special prizes provide additional incentives for exhibitors. “We honor the memory of our great volunteers,” said Randi Levin, Jefferson County Fair Board member. “It does our hearts good when we see lots of people bringing entries—that’s what it’s all about.”
A new prize is being given in memory of Mick McCauley, long time fair and rodeo supporter who passed away this year. The Mick McCauley Champion Pie Award is sponsored by nephew Jim and Anika McCauley.
The Dick Rennie Memorial Award will be given in the kids’ horse show and rodeo little buckaroo division, and the RaeCille Dawson Memorial Award will be given for adult fine arts best of show. A special award is awarded in memory of Sue Crispin in nature photography. The Bernie Franchi gift certificate is awarded in quilting. Other special prizes include Margy McCauley belt buckles, donated by Bruce and Donna Gilmer and Jim and Anika McCauley, to kids’ horse show and rodeo all-around winners. The Margy McCauley award is donated by Jimmy & Anika McCauley for the adult floral best of show.
In the kids’ food division, the Marion Kosola award is awarded to youth/junior best of show. In the kids’ stick horse rodeo, the Paula Heide silver belt buckle is awarded to the all-around winner in the 4-6 year old division.
All fair exhibits receive a ribbon. Special rosettes or trophies are awarded for best of show, champion and heart winners. Purple ribbons receive a $10 premium with an additional $5 premium for best of show. Heart awards, which are chosen by superintendents, receive a $5 premium.
The fair is open to anyone to enter, with the exception of the kids’ horse show and rodeo, which is limited to Jefferson County resident entries. See the fair book for entry categories, deadlines and details plus a coloring contest sheet and schedule of fair and rodeo entertainment. The fair book is available in local businesses and online at jeffersoncounty-mt.gov. Photos and more information are on Facebook.
Terry Minow is chair of the Jefferson County fair board.
