Northeast Montana Fair

Crazy motocross stunts, wild horses, fair food and a demolition derby are many of the main attractions sure to thrill attendees of the 2021 Northeast Montana Fair starting Saturday.

The fair was largely canceled in 2020, due to COVID-19, but is returning this year, sans a carnival.

Last year, "we canceled all the big events, the night shows," said Paul McColly, Chairman of the Valley County Fair Commission. "All we did was the 4H and the Open Class entries. Livestock. They put a lot of work into those animals and it was more confined, not so much congregation. It was a hard call canceling all that, but you [had the potential to] put 1,000 people in the stands and not much social distancing."

This year, "we were supposed to be getting a Zipper in, but Dreamland Carnival couldn't get the employees," McColly added. "Carnivals took a big hit with COVID. There are a few running, but now very many. Next year, they said they are trying to be back."

And while fair goers may not have a chance to lose their lunch on one of the insane carnival rides, there are plenty of other headlining events not to miss.

Pre-sale tickets for the night shows are $15, and $20 at the gate. Week long passes also are available for $60. They are good for all events minus the Aug. 7 concert.

4-H HORSE SHOW

The 2021 fair kicks off Thursday July 29 with the 4-H Horse Show, continuing on to July 30th. 4-H Horse Project leaders Jenn Young and Randi Klind have been teaching, training and working with 4-H kids all year to come and show off their skills this week.

The 4-H Horse Project provides youth with an opportunity to handle, care for, and ride horses. projects range from basic horsemanship to training colts. There is even a Working Ranch Horse Project which prepares members for general ranch work including roping, cutting and penning.

Members will begin with Showmanship at 8 a.m. Thursday morning and continue on throughout the day with English and Western Pleasure and Colt to Maturity classes. The Freestyle Reining will also be a highlight of the horse show. This year the Trail classes will also be in the main arena beginning at 7 p.m.

Friday morning brings members exhibiting their ranch horse skills then moves on to the fun classes Barrel Racing, the Flag Race, Pole Bending and the Stake race. Awards will be presented following the completion of the show Friday afternoon.

Plan to come and cheer these 4-H members on as they celebrate their year of learning experiences.

RCAN OLD MIL RANCH SCRAMBLE

The RCAN Old MIL Ranch Scramble will be at 5 p.m. Saturday July 31. A kids rodeo also will be on Saturday, with the time to be announced.

NORTHEAST MONTANA PRCA RODEO

The PRCA rodeo will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 3 and Wednesday Aug. 4.

"That is going to be excellent. Sparky the livestock contractor with J Bar J, will bring in some of the top livestock in the country that he has, and we will have some big name performers coming in with the PRCA. A bunch of them will be with the NFR coming in for two nights. It will be an excellent show."

The rodeo will be followed by a Wild Horse Race sanctioned by the Wild Horse Association.

"That will be different," McColly said. "They are bringing in some other horses of for that. It is very interesting. Usually, some people get packed off that get knocked out."

The Stick Horse Rodeo will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 4

OCTANE ADDICTIONS

The Octane Addictions Motorcycle Show will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday Aug. 5.

"They do acrobatic stunts," McColly said. "They were here two years ago, and it was pretty cool."

Participants include Adam Jones, Willie Elam, Brian McCarty and Brody Wilson.

Jones is a veteran on the FMX scene, winning a Gold Medal during the XG 2007 Freestyle. The 6-time XG medalist finished 8th in Freestyle at XG Minneapolis 2018.

Elam is an X-Games bronze medalist.

McCarty earned a bronze medal in the Moto X QuarterPipe High Air at the 2017 X Games in Minneapolis.

Wilsong is a pro freestyle motocross rider who has earned victories at the 2010 Night of the Jumps Basel, 2010 Gravity Slashers Tour and the Goodwwod Festival of Speed.

DEMOLITION DERBY

The Milk River Motorsports Demolition Derby will take place at 7 p.m. Friday Aug. 6.

CAR SHOW

The Flatland Cruisers Car Show will take place at the Valley Event Center at noon Wednesday Aug. 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday Aug. 6, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Aug. 7.

COMPETITIVE EATING

The KLTZ/KLAN Competitive Eating Food Relay will be at 1 p.m. Friday Aug. 6. Each team will consist of four members who will go to each food vendor to woof down some tasty fare. KLTZ/KLAN will donate $100 to the nonprofit of the winner's choice. Play-by-play will be broadcast on the air. Contact Haylie Shipp at 406-228-9336 to sign up teams.

DIAMOND RIO

Diamond Rio will headline a concert, with opening act 32 Below, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday Aug. 7.

32 Below is a rock'n country band performing original music. They have shared the stage with Kris Kristofferson, Keith Urban, Justin Moore, Billy Currington, Easton Corbin, Randy Houser, The Band Perry, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, Charlie Daniels, Old Dominion and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Diamond Rio, founded in 1982, rose to fame with their Country Chart topping "Meet in the Middle" in 1991. The band charted 32 more singles between then and 2006, including four more that reached No. 1: "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" (1997), "One More Day" (2001), "Beautiful Mess" (2002), and "I Believe" (2003).

Pre-sale tickets are available online at https://wwwglasgowchamber.ticketleap.com/diamond-rio-with-32-below/dates/Aug-07-2021_at_0600PM. Audult presale tickets are $40 while Kids aged 5 to 12 get in for $20.