By Linda Kor
The 81st annual Navajo County Fair, which will carry the theme “Fun for the Whole Herd,” is scheduled Sept 12-16. With just weeks to go, the fair board appears well prepared for the event and has added several new items of entertainment.
This year will bring more fun for young kids as the south side of the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Hol-brook will be turned into a kid zone filled with games, a petting zoo, pony rides and even duck races. To add to the fun, riding lawnmower races will also take place at the south end of the fairgrounds. The races will be held on Saturday and Sunday, with organizers challenging residents and businesses to enter a contestant in the race to see who is the best in lawnmower riding.
Along with new events are the old favorites. At the top of the list is the Navajo County Fair Rodeo, a staple of the fair for the past 81 years. This event offers more than $11,000 in prize money in 10 events in a rodeo sanctioned by the Ram Rodeo Series and the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association. As part of the rodeo action, barrel man Brian Potter returns again this year to entertain rodeo audiences.
A new specialty act this year is the Freestyle Bullfighter Challenge, which will feature Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bullfighters against Mexican fighting bulls. None of the action will be missed as spectators can watch instant and slow motion replays on the only rodeo big screen in northern Arizona. Other rodeo events during the fair will include slack, the Little Buckaroo Rodeo and the Ranch Rodeo.
Also offering fun and excitement will be the Demolition Derby, the Mini Excavator and Skid Steer Compe-tition, the Junior Livestock Show and Auction, Open Class exhibits, 4-H small stock, 4-H exhibits and the 4-H Horse Achievement Show, the carnival, the Junior Miss Pageant, the Antique Tractor Show and Pull, midway and stage entertainment, bands, great food and much more.
To have an entry in the fair, forms must be submitted to the fair office, located at 404 E. Hopi Drive in Hol-brook, by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31. Fair books with forms, categories and instructions can be found at the fair office and at various businesses throughout the county.
Photo by Linda Kor
Navajo County Fairgrounds Foreman Jose Villarreal works with trustees from the Navajo County Jail to replace fencing at the southern portion of the fairgrounds. By moving the fencing further to the east there will be more space for picnic tables and eventually grass will be planted in the new area.
