Fair opens this weekend

The annual Crook County Fair kicks off this weekend to the theme of "Wrangle Up the Fun at the Fair" and is set to include all the traditional animal shows and plenty to see and do.

Entertainment this year includes an opportunity to meet some cold-blooded friends. Danny Conner will be bringing his Reptile Adventures to the fair for three showings per day on July 27 and 28.

Conner has been caring for reptiles for three decades and brings his love of animals to kids of all ages in his shows, which include stars such as Apollo the Albino Burmese Python, Juanita the Reticulated Pythion and Spartacus, a 100-year-old Alligator Snapping Turtle.

If illusion is more to your taste, check out the magical comedy and comedy hypnotism of Alan Sands, also known as the SandMan. Sands, who will also be entertaining the crowd with three shows per day on July 27 and 28, has been performing since he was a child and has appeared at over 220 fairs, exhibitions and festivals, as well as amusement parks, colleges, theaters and high schools around the country and overseas.

The Muley Fanatics will be sponsoring a Family Fun Night at the rodeo grounds on July 29, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Friday opens at 6:30 a.m. with the traditional pancake breakfast in the shade structure, cooked by Crook County's elected officials.

The Sundance Rod and Gun Club will once again be sponsoring the fishing derby from July 28 to 30 at Sundance Pond, with weigh-ins at 5 p.m.

Miss Bonnie will be entertaining the younger fairgoers with story time on July 27 and 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the shade structure. 4-H activities will also be offered from Wednesday through Saturday at the hoop house, while Jump House Mania will be available for the kids to burn off some of that energy.

Rodeo

The Youth Rodeo begins at 10 a.m. on July 23, sponsored by the Sundance Rodeo Club and the fair board. It will be followed by the drawpot team roping.

The official kick-off for fair week will be the ice cream social in the shade structure at 3:45 p.m. on July 26. On the same day, the Ranch Rodeo begins at 6 p.m. with the calcutta.

The Youth Rough Stock Rodeo is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on July 28, hosted by the Moorcroft Rodeo Club and set to include all the favorites, from bull riding to mutton bustin'.

Competitions

Competitions this year begin with the horse show at the arena on July 24, beginning at 8 a.m. The next day, the 4-H Dog Show will take place on the high school grounds, beginning at 9 a.m.

On July 26, head to the public fashion review at 3 p.m. in the shade structure.

Wednesday's events begin with the dairy cattle and goat show at 8 a.m., followed an hour later by the goat show. The swine show begins at 5 p.m.

The sheep show starts the day on July 28 at 8 a.m. Later in the day, the rabbit and cat shows both begin at 3 p.m. and the guinea pig and pocket pet show follows immediately after.

Friday's events begin at 8 a.m. with the beef show, followed by the wool show at 1:30 p.m.

Parade Day

Fair week ends with parade day on July 30, which begins at 8:30 a.m. with the Crook County Sheriff's Office bike relay in the elementary school parking lot.

The parade will be traveling down Main Street to Cleveland Street at 10 a.m. to the year's theme of "Wrangle Up the Fun at the Fair".

After the parade, head to the arena at 11:30 a.m. to watch the crowning of this year's Crook County Rodeo Royalty. A BBQ for buyers and the community will be held at 3 p.m., with music by Pat, Doug and Bob, and the Junior Livestock Sale begins in the Big Barn at 5 p.m.