We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Dennis Kleinjan, operating forklift, and Gus Sharpe, standing on trailer, unload materials for stairways, flooring and handrails for the new VIP seating at the rodeo arena at Blaine County fairground. The new seating, for rodeo arena events, can be seen in the background. The VIP seating will be available to businesses and individuals who provide major financial support to the fair and related activities.
Greg Mosness, Justin Simenson and Clinton Pankratz take a breather while working on the VIP seating going in at the Blaine County Fairground rodeo arena. Volunteers have been working hard to complete the project in time for the opening of the Bear Paw Round up on Thursday evening.
The Blaine County Fair kicks off today! Well, readers may be aware that some 4-H events, like the Interview Judging started on Tuesday of Fair Week. Last week some parts of horse judging were completed to speed up competition during the actual fair event. Things have been happening at the fairgrounds and Fair Week is on us.
New VIP seating available this year for arena events
Back in the late winter the Fair Board heard a proposal from Justin Simenson, on behalf of the Bear Paw Roundup organizing committee, to create a section of "VIP seating" for major sponsors who helped fund activities during the fair. The board liked the VIP seating idea and encouraged Simenson to pursue the plan. Since the early part of July work has been going to build the VIP seating.
The new seating is located at the northwest quadrant of the rodeo arena. There were two sections of bleachers in the area and the foundation for the VIP seating went next to the western most set of bleachers. The area is northeast of the boxes and pens used for roping and steer wrestling events.
A rodeo committee member said, "This year the seating will be basically a raised platform with flooring for chairs. The seating area will be surrounded with safety handrails." There are plans to eventually add a roof as well as a bar top and stools. A week before the fair opener volunteers were putting the finishing touches on the new seating. The labor was all donated and much of the materials for the structure were donated by Omni-max, an oil field service company.
New and regular features return to the fair
Pastor Dennis Findorff, President of the Chinook Ministerial Association, said there will be a community worship service at 9am, on Sunday of Fair Week, under the awning near the Events Center at the fairgrounds. The new minister at the Assembly of God, Josh Seymour, will be preaching. The service is ecumenical and everyone is welcome. Worshippers will need to bring their own chairs for the service.
See Page A8: VIP Seating
Wednesday night is the Kid's Rode at the rodeo arena with 4-H activities during most of the day. Thursday and Friday evenings the Bear Paw Roundup PRCA will take over the arena in the evenings. This is the first year to hold the two evening rodeo during Fair Week and organizers hope the combination will help attendance for both events.
Thursday evening the new edition of the special Dreamland Carnival will open at 5pm. The carnival will open on Friday at 3pm, Saturday at noon and Sunday the carnival will operate noon to 6pm. The evening event on Saturday will be the Demolition Derby, starting at 6pm. Pig Wrestling takes center stage on Sunday at 4pm. During the Thursday through Saturday evening events Cal Moon, an up and coming country songwriter and singer, will be entertaining at various venues around the fairgrounds. Exhibits in the Commercial Building will open on Saturday at noon. Some 4-H exhibit areas will open as early as mid-morning Thursday.
