County fair underway

The Elmore County Fair is now underway, with most activities for the general public beginning today when the Royal West carnival opens this afternoon.

The remaining fair days, through Saturday, also will feature the junior rodeo, an ICA rodeo, the crowning of the rodeo queen, and on the midway a hypnotist, cowboy poet Rudy Gonzales, Canadian country music singer Leah, mud bogs, bands and activities for the entire family.

The fair is being held at the county fairgrounds in Glenns Ferry (just off I-84, exit 121). The cost of admission to the grounds is $2 per person (six and under are free). There is no parking fee.

The theme for this year's fair is "Salute to Freedom." The grand marshal is Elmer Ireland of Prarie.

Fair week events actually began July 19 with the rodeo queen contest (the winner will be announced at Saturday's rodeo) and the 4-H Horse Show Monday.

Registration also began Monday for open class exhibits and judging was held Tuesday

The Exhibit Building opens today, Wednesday, at noon, and will be open the rest of the fair, Thursday through Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m.

The Royal West carnival also opens today at 4 p.m., and at noon the rest of the week. Tickets are $17 at the carnival gate, and allow unlimited access to most rides.

Although the first few days of the fair are busy, especially for the 4-H and Optimist Ag Youth Program youth, who will be taking part in judging contests through the first three days of the fair, the main events for most people kick into high gear tomorrow, Thursday, of fair week.

Thursday is alcohol-free family day at the fair. Activities begin at 5 p.m. with an ice cream social on the midway. A country music duet, Nancy Gault and Ron Sutton, will perform during the social.

Leah Durelle, 11, "the voice of country music in Canada," will perform at halftime at the rodeo both Friday and Saturday nights, and on the midway those evenings as well.

At 7 p.m. The Little Miss Elmore County Fair Pageant will begin.

Cowboy poet/comedian Rudy Gonzalez, will appear Thursday night at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., sandwiching the pageant, and will perform during intermission at the rodeo as well.

Also Thursday night the Elmore County Hispanic Organization youth dancers will perform throughout the evening.

The Junior Rodeo also will be held at the rodeo grounds, beginning at 6 p.m. The cost for adults is $2 and children six and under are admitted free.

Friday hypnotist Arthur Wayne will perform on the midway, beginning at 6 p.m., and the ICA-sanctioned rodeo begins two nights of shows at 8 p.m. The queen and her court will be announced and crowned during the rodeo. The cost is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children, and children under age six are admitted free.

The Jeff Palmer Band will perform on the midway beginning at 9 p.m.

Saturday begins with the annual 4-H livestock sale, beginning at 9 a.m. The Optimist youth livestock sale will follow within the hour after the conclusion of the 4-H sale.

A mud bog event and grass snowmobile races will be held Saturday from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the rodeo grounds. An admission price has not been announced, yet.

The carnival will open at noon, the hypnotist begins about 6 p.m., the rodeo begins at 8 p.m., the queen will be crowned at intermission, and the Jeff Palmer Band will perform on the midway beginning at 9 p.m.