Custer County Fair starts Thursday

It’s Custer County Fair time again, with four days of fun beginning this Thursday, Aug. 12, and running through Sunday afternoon at the Custer County Fairgrounds in Hermosa.
The action begins Thursday, Aug. 12,  at 2 p.m. with poultry and rabbit entries, as well as open class entries sans livestock and crops. At 5 p.m. the annual kickoff supper will take place, followed by the   Barnyard Olympics at 7 p.m..
The Barnyard Olympics has teams competing in events such as goat roping, bucket race, sack race, cow milking, egg race and more. The kickoff supper is sponsored by Black Hills Electric Co-op, Farm Credit Services, Pop’s Grocery, Belle Fourche and Phillip Livestock and Bishop Beef.
Friday begins with an 8 a.m. horse show, followed by more judging entries, as well as rabbit showmanship and horse judging. The poultry showmanship is scheduled for 9 a.m., while sheep showmanship begins at 10 a.m.
At 11 a.m., Black Hills Paintball course begins, and judging begins in the Fine Arts and Horticulture buildings at 11:30 a.m. Also at 11 a.m. is diary goat and meat goat show and showmanship.
The poultry show begins at noon, as does cat showmanship. Small animal round robin showmanship begins at 1 p.m., while the food sale begins at 4 p.m.
Another free meal is planned from 5-6:30 p.m., and this barbecue appreciation dinner is sponsored by Custer State Park and First Interstate Bank of Custer.
The kids calf scramble takes place at 6 p.m., and at  7 p.m. the annual Hermosa Roping Club Ranch Rodeo will take place, preceded by a calcutta at 6:30 p.m.
Teams of four will compete in fun-filled cowboy events, including the wild horse catch, team doctoring, team penning, obstacle race and more. The winner will be entered in the Central Sates Fair Ranch Rodeo later in the month.
At 7 p.m., contestants in the barbecue contest will check in.
From 9 p.m. to midnight that night there will be a dance.
Saturday begins at 8 a.m. with the ranch sort entries, and swine showmanship takes place at 9 a.m., as does the ranch sort and registration for the Gold Old Driving Days competition. At the same time, check in for the cornhole competition at tHermosa American Legion. That competition begins at 10 a.m. The tourament is double elimination and there is a $50 entry fee for each team.
At 9 a.m. the Ranch Sort begins, with categories for open, rancher, rancher/ open, youth (16 and under) and three-man two-gate. Good Old Driving Days competition begins at 10 a.m.. Spectators can watch the hitch and drive course, feed race, water race, log pull and more—all horse-rawn.
The Pee Wee Stock Show, showmanship round robin begins at 11 a.m., as does the commercial beef and registered beef shows.
At 2 p.m. there will be the first turn-in for the barbecue contest, with public tasting at 4:30 p.m. and awards at 6 p.m.
Meat will be provided to the teams along with disposable cutting boards, towels and ice. Teams must provide all cooking equipment, seasonings, tables, etc. Entry divisions include chicken, pork ribs, beef tri tip and buffalo brisket.
Prizes will be awarded in each meat division along with an overall grand champion. The public is welcome to purchase tokens to sample the contestants’ food.
The annual Hermosa American Legion Beers and Ears returns after a year away from 4-7 p.m. at the post home.
At 7 p.m. the annual Ride for the Brand ranch bronc match and Battle for the Bed couples roping will take place.
The Ride for the Brand  Ranch Bronc Riding will see local ranchers invited to see whose rider will be able to ride two head of bucking horses in a ranch saddle to take home the Ride for the Brand title.
The fair keeps it rocking Saturday night with a concert by Midnight Sun from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The fair rolls into Sunday with a pancake breakfast sponsored by Crawford Livestock, Great Western Bank - Rapid City, CBH Cooperative, Hermosa Roping Club, Black Hills Meat Co. and Nelson’s Oil and Gas from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and a Custer County church service at 9:30 a.m. at the fairgrounds.
At 11 a.m. the annual parade will take place through Hermosa and noon is the start time for the annual car show featuring hot rod, classic and antique cars. Parade lineup is at 10 a.m. and judging is at 10:30 a.m.
At 1 p.m. the Ice Cream Crankoff will take place, as well as a horseshoe tournament and the annual Play Day. Play Day is for children up to age 18 and features events such as barrel racing, egg race, three-legged race and goat tying.
Ice cream for the crankoff can be created by hand or electric freezers and prizes are awarded for first, second and third place. The public can taste the ice cream at 2 p.m. for 50 cents a scoop.
The horseshoe tournament has a $5 entry fee and is open to men and women with elimination singles and double playoffs.
The car show awards are at 2:30 p.m. and the event winds down with the picking up of entries and premiums from 2-4 p.m.
For more information, visit custercountyfair.com.

 

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