Thousands enjoy the sun-splashed Clark County Fair
By JIM LUKSIC AND NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
The curtain came down Sunday at the annual Clark County Fair & Rodeo, which has been embedded in Moapa Valley’s roots since 1988.
After five days of entertainment – from carnival rides and games to rodeos and a cornucopia of food – in fair weather conditions, the spectacle could be deemed a success.
“Overall, it was a great event,” said Todd Robison, the fair’s executive director. “There were no incidents pertaining to the strong wind, but it may have impacted attendance a bit.”
All told, the fair welcomed an estimated 106,453 people this year, coming from the valley and beyond, according to Robison. Attendance for the rodeo topped 16,000.
Robison noted that there was a “traffic-control issue” near the highway, causing a slow down through the construction zone. On Saturday afternoon, State Route 169 was bogged down from the interstate to Whipple Ave as the crowds came to enjoy the Fair. Some reported spending nearly an hour to traverse that 4 mile stretch in stop-and-go traffic. But once they arrived, folks said that they enjoyed the day.
The Marketplace, with a multitude of vendors blissfully shaded from the encroaching heat, was bustling with curious visitors. Under the massive tent, business owners were peddling wares ranging from snacks to gemstones to chairs and accessories.
One such contributor was Tammie Wood, owner of Super Science, who calls Oregon home but travels to 25 fairs per year, with puzzles and building blocks in tow.
“We have all-day entertainment that encourages family interaction,” Wood explained. “It’s also a space to rest and relax after walking around.”
Outdoors, a breeze offset the toasty temperature, which hovered around 90 degrees by midday.
Swifty Swine pig races lured spectators who packed the bleachers; amused onlookers were treated to an announcer’s pork-related puns, before he cut to the chase starring a quartet of piglets.
An assortment of performers took turns on stage under the big top of a spacious tent wherein ample seating was available.
Food vendors ran the gamut – literally from soup to nuts – with carnival-like cuisine that offered something for everyone: Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Greek dishes – along with standard corn dogs, ice cream, funnel cakes, soft pretzels, and fresh-cut fries (vinegar optional).
Lydsay Piazza, owner of Mesquite-based Fixxology, hunkered down in her truck full of food and refreshments. She wouldn’t have missed the Fair & Rodeo for the world.
“The people in charge do a great job and make it easy for me,” she said while standing tall in her unmistakable pastel-hued vehicle.
Rolling into Logandale from Las Vegas for the second time in as many years were Chris and Ali Nolan of the metal fabricators Alini Garage.
“We had a blast here last time,” Chris said, noting his company’s merchandise is 100% hand-crafted and made to order.
Logandale’s own Connor Adams, a longtime County Fair employee, asserted that getting down and dirty with emptying garbage cans and doing other essential chores was worthwhile.
“I like seeing how happy people get when they see everything we do,” said Adams, who performed as Buster the Clown years ago. “The event brings money into town, like the Super Bowl did for Vegas.”
The Ag Expo and Small Animal Barn was a busy place throughout the weekend as fairgoers of all ages enjoyed the various animals and other displays.
The 4-H clubs held a number of interactive activities featuring agriculture for the crowd. One of the favorites was a game of “Chicken Poop Bingo,” where participants buy squares on a large bingo board and win if a live chicken dumps a load on their square.
“Who though I would win anything from chicken poop,” said Sierra Burgess of Las Vegas who won an $84 jackpot in the game. “This is the best!”
Local resident James Mayo, said that he loved volunteering to help run the barn. “The think I like the most is seeing the reactions of the people from the city who have never seen animals like chickens, rabbits, cows etc,” he said. “That is something we take for granted living out here. But for them, everything is new.”
