Official Legal Publication serving Lincoln County and the Towns of Arriba, Genoa, Hugo, Karval and Limon
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Lincoln County Fair offers free options for youth and adults to attend and participate

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The Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo is one of the only truly free events left with opportunities for people of all ages to attend and participate.

“When you decide to bring your family or your fair entries to the fair, you can rest assured there’s not an entrance fee, event ticket fee or parking fee, and as a fair board we’re dedicated to maintaining this tradition,” said LaRay Patton, Lincoln County Fair Board president.

It’s the place to see professional cowboys and cowgirls during the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Assocation rodeos. Top rodeo athletes enter in eight events including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie down roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing.

Some people may wonder what brings outstanding rodeo athletes to a small community fair and rodeo. It is the result of one thing, and that is dirt!

John Palmer, Lincoln County Fairgrounds manager, spends countless hours making sure the arena dirt is perfect, so the rodeo animals have the best chance to perform. Rodeo livestock depend on excellent footing for maximum performance. Cowboys and cowgirls also want safe conditions, so they have the best chance of collecting a paycheck for an outstanding performance.

“I would like to encourage everyone to come out and watch some of the best cowboys and cowgirls the PRCA has to offer,” said Casey Wiersma, Lincoln County Fair Board member and rodeo director. “They will be going up against the amazing stock from the Rocky Mountain Rodeo, one of the top stock contractors in the business.”

The PRCA rodeo performances are Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 10 at 1:30 p.m. at the Lincoln County fairgrounds.

While the rodeo is a crowd pleaser, there are many opportunities for everyone to showcase their talents in the Open Class Division. These projects, for youth and adults, are divided into many categories that are displayed inside the Ellis Allen Memorial Fair Building. 

For those backyard chicken and bird enthusiasts, there is a class to showcase a dozen uniform eggs. Classes are divided by color including white, brown, colored and other eggs.

Master and hobby gardeners are encouraged to bring their best fruit and vegetables including beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, dill, eggplant, garlic, herbs, kale, kohlrabi and lettuce. 

The Floriculture division features fresh cut flowers including Achillea, Asters, Baby’s Breathe, Bachelor Buttons, Bells of Ireland, Calendulas, Carnations, Columbine, Cone, Dahlias, Daisies, Fever Fews, Gaillardia, Gladiola, Globe Thistles, Golden Glows, Lilies, Marigold, Moss Rose, Mums, Nasturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Poppies, Roses, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Sedum, Snapdragons, Sunflowers, Sweet Peas, Sweet William, Verbenas, Viola, Yarrow and Zinnias.

With a camera attached to every cell phone, the Photography Division is the perfect way for amateur and professional photographers to feature their best shot. 

The woodworking, metalwork and leatherwork divisions features an assortment of handmade crafts including toys, jewelry, wall hangings, furniture, large equipment such as farm implements as well as tooled, un-tooled, braided and rawhide leather products.

Seamstresses can show off their sewing skills by exhibiting dresses, suits, skirts, pants, coats, bags, and costumes. Meanwhile, crocheting, knitting, and quilting are within the Heritage Arts Division.

The master chef and the home cook can share their best bread, pie, cake, cookie, candy or preserved foods.

Lincoln County farmers can showcase their crops by displaying grains, crop sheaves and bundles or by creating a display of their annual harvest.

Crafters have the choice of 51 categories and artists have the choice of 45 categories, so almost any type of project has a place at the Lincoln County Fair.

Every Open Class Division entry has specific criteria that is outlined in the Lincoln County Fair Book at https://lincoln.extension.colostate.edu/lincoln-county-fair/ or pick up a hard copy (locations are listed in the News Briefs).

Winning Open Class Division entries receive ribbons, premium money and bragging rights. 

“Your winning fair entries result in Lincoln County giving premium money which is a small token of our appreciation for the exhibitors who so graciously shared their projects with the community,” said Patton.

Drop off Open Class Division entries at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds (33747 County Rd. 2W, Hugo, CO) on Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For a complete fair schedule, go to https://lincoln.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2024/06/Fair-Schedule-Updated-6-4.pdf.