By CHARLENE PAUL
Moapa Valley Progress
Do you dare? Dare to Fair, that is. If so, then today is the day you’ve been waiting for! The Clark County Fair kicks off today and runs through the weekend. Packed with fun, entertainment, food, activities, thrills, and spills, you’re going to want to take this year’s theme seriously and “Dare to Fair.”
If you have driven by the fairgrounds in the past couple of weeks, you couldn’t help but notice the flurry of activity. A small army of volunteers have been working tirelessly to make sure preparations for Logandale’s classic event are on track.
“Our volunteers and workers have been frantically working, and we’ll be ready when the gates open at 10 a.m. Wednesday,” said Clark County Fair Manager Kevin Willard. “The weather forecast looks good, a little warm on Wednesday, but then in the 70’s the rest of the week.”
Once again, the Clark County Fair and Rodeo has partnered with the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Rodeo presented by Justin Boots. This is one of the 22 greatest rodeos in the country and features top names in the NFR. In fact, there will be 500 of the nation’s best rodeo athletes competing for more than $250,000 in prize money.
There will also be a Sponsor Team Roping held during the PRCA Rodeo competition. The Rodeo Committee will provide a team roping team to represent each qualified Rodeo Sponsor to provide a friendly competition for a set of custom made spurs.
The entertainment is first class and there is something to tickle everyone’s tastes. From hypnotism to lumberjacking, comedy to production numbers, blue grass to pig races, you won’t be disappointed. This year there is even a Bruno Mars cover band that promises to have you tapping your toes, singing along, and dancing in the aisles. There is truly something for every age group.
Mutton Bustin’ continues to be a crowd favorite. Young competitors come from all over the county, and even from out of state, to ride on the back of a runaway sheep for six seconds. The kids are outfitted with protective head gear and vest, and receive coaching before the gate is opened. There are qualifying rounds each day, and the best riders will come back to compete for a trophy buckle in the Championship Round to be held each night an hour before the start of the Rodeo.
A visit to the Fine Arts Building is always a highlight at the Fair. Decorated with exhibits of all kinds, from horticulture to handcrafts, from fine arts to industrial arts, from science to photography, you will want to take your time as you wander through this beautifully decorated space.
There will be non-stop action at the Clark County Junior Livestock Association Show this week. Youth from all over the county bring their animals to exhibit for judging. A grand champion and a reserve champion will be chosen for beef, swine, lambs and goats. All the champion winners will then be on display for the public at the back of the main livestock barn for the remainder of the fair.
Saturday is the culmination of many months of hard work by the youngsters as each has the opportunity to sell his/her animal at the livestock auction. The auction starts with the grand champion beef at 1:00 pm and continues on through all the grand and reserve animals. Then the remaining animals are shown and auctioned. Animals are sold by the pound on the hoof and all auction prices include cutting, wrapping and delivery of some of the best grain-fed meat you will ever eat.
Speaking of mealtime, who doesn’t like Fair food? Bring your appetites. Ice cold drinks, turkey legs, funnel cakes, ice cream, and fried anything-you-can-think-of promises to be a gastronomic delight.
Brown’s Amusements, owned by Sherry and Danny Brown, will once again light up the midway with thrilling rides, games of chance, and of course, food. They have spent years on the road and were awarded the prestigious Outdoor Amusements Business Association’s Circle of Excellence award in 2007, 2010, and 2015. Screams of delight will meet your ears as you walk from one ride to the next.
Whether you want to watch world-class rodeo competition, listen to darn fine entertainers, munch and sip your way through the day, browse through exhibits, attend a real-live auction, saunter through the grounds, or all of the above, this year’s Fair won’t let you down.
If you Dare to Fair, we’ll see you there!
