Bi-County Fair begins Friday

Micki Lantanaki tries to hang up her ribbon for grand champion of breeding for a show calf over her stable at the 2006 Bi-County Fair in Prewitt. [Independent File Photo]

By Jim Tiffin
Staff writer

GRANTS — Elvis is making an appearance at the Bi-County Fair, and the public is invited to try to pick him out. He is not expected to perform, but those shaking legs may make an appearance.

Elvis, you see, is one of about 200 pigs that will be shown at the fair during the market and breeding swine shows at 9 a.m., Saturday.

Speaking of pigs — there is also the “Pig Plop”— which is a fund raiser for the annual event and Bi-County Fair Board President Dee Anne Leyba said the prize money could be as much as $500, depending on how many tickets are sold. Tickets are $5 each and if the chosen pig “plops” on your number in a caged area, you win the money. “Plop” by the way does not mean lie down.

The fair has also added a new event this year, the “Watermelon Eating Contest.“

The contest will be held in the show ring on Saturday, immediately following the market steer and breeding cattle show, which begins at 1 p.m.

The fair board is running the concession stand this year to raise money to help defray expenses of conducting the fair each year.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, burritos, fry bread and french fries, including sodas and ice cold water are available each day of the fair, Friday through Monday.

Rodeo
There is a rodeo this year, with the kids’ rodeo beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at the rodeo grounds adjacent to the fairgrounds.

The kids’ rodeo is split into four age groups for competition: Ages 6 and under, 7-10, 11-13 and 14-17. Barrel racing will be an event.

At 7 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday, professional rodeos will be held.

There will be bull riding as well as team roping and other standard rodeo events.

Leyba encourages the public to come out and visit the fair.

It is a great weekend event with lots of animals and if you decide to purchase a pig or one of the animals from a 4-H’er during the livestock sale on Monday, the purchase price is tax deductible.

Enter the ‘Open Division’
It is not too late to enter just about anything in the “Open Division.“

Traditionally this division allows canned vegetables, fruit and meats, sewing, quilting, photography, arts and crafts, and homegrown vegetables. Entry numbers are down, so every entry has a better chance of winning.

Last year there were miniature log cabins entered. The craftsman took newspaper, rolled it tightly and stained it to look like real logs to make the cabin, said Tina Robinson, Open Division superintendent.

“He had a lot of details on this project, he even did landscaping,” she said.

Ten years ago one of the largest categories was painting. That area has dwindled and very few paintings are being entered, she said.

Robinson said anyone wanting to find out if something they have made can be entered, to call her after 3:30 p.m. at (505) 469-7395.

Anyone interested in entering should decide soon though, because entries are only taken on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Judging starts immediately following.

The fair is held at the Prewitt fairgrounds between Grants and Prewitt on old U.S. Highway 66.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin,independent@yahoo.com.