CWFR celebrates 75th anniversary
Casper – The Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo (CWFR) will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with events July 8-16. Fair goers won’t want to miss nine action-packed days of fun and excitement. From carnival rides, a parade, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo performances and livestock shows, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Youth exhibitors looks forward to fair
Casper natives, 13-year-old Bridger and 12-year-old Josie Haigler are looking forward to showing their sheep and goat projects at the CWFR.
Bridger will be going into eighth grade, but is most excited to show his two sheep, Kimber and Bergara. This year marks his fifth year as a 4-H exhibitor at the fair.
He says, “Showing sheep is a lot easier than showing pigs, but being able to show livestock is really my favorite part about going to the CWFR.”
One of his proudest accomplishments showing at the fair was winning the Grand Champion Award in his division with his pig project in 2020.
Today, he focuses on showing sheep, but he offers future contestants some words of advice, “Just try your hardest, do your best and enjoy it.”
Josie will be going into seventh grade and is looking forward to showing her two boer goats, Billy and Bumper. She notes being able to show her goats with a show chain makes things a lot easier, where with sheep, exhibitors show with their hands and by using a technique called bracing to showcase the sheep’s conformation.
In addition to showing her livestock, some of Josie’s favorite parts of the fair is the carnival, showing her livestock projects, rodeo performances, mutton busting and getting to hang out with her friends. At the conclusion of the fair, Bridger and Josie will be selling their projects in the Junior Livestock Sale.
Josie is really proud of many of her accomplishments at the CWFR. She shares she has won a buckle ever year she has showed at the fair. Her first year of showing she won Grand Champion Overall Market Goat and Grand Champion Showman in her division. Her second and third year of showing she won Reserve Champion Showman in her division.
Josie offers exhibitors advice, she says, “My biggest advice is having someone to teach and mentor you.”
She adds, “You have to work with your animals a lot to make them comfortable around you.”
The Market Sheep Showmanship and Show is scheduled to take place on Monday, July 11 at 12 p.m. and the Market Goat Showmanship and Show will take place on Wednesday, July 13 at 11 a.m.
Schedule of events
Beginning July 8, the Crabtree Amusement Carnival will hit the Midway with the largest carnival in the state. A nine-day pass can be purchased at the Fairgrounds Arena Office for $90 until noon on July 12. Day passes can be purchased for $40 at any Casper, Glenrock or Douglas Homax location.
On Saturday, July 9 the fun will continue with an annual sidewalk chalk festival in downtown Casper. The first 300 participants will get a free t-shirt and a rodeo ticket. The day will continue with the carnival and end with a monster truck show beginning at 7 p.m.
An Open Class BBQ Contest and Wine and Beer Contests will take place as locals compete for coveted titles on Sunday, July 10 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Industrial Building and the carnival will be open at 3 p.m.
On Monday, July 11 the Alpaca Show and Obstacle Course will kick off at 8 a.m., followed by a Market Sheep Showmanship and Show at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 12 is Casper Day, sponsored by Banner Health, Wyoming Medical Center, seniors will get in free. The day will begin with the “Diamonds and Wranglers a 75 Year Celebration!” parade. The carnival will host a Kid’s Day from 12-5 p.m. with discounted armbands sold from 12-3 p.m.
Livestock shows will include the Poultry Showmanship and Show at 9 a.m. and the Breeding Beef Show, Showmanship and Market Beef Show at 3 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. the first performance of the PRCA rodeo will kick open the chutes with some action-packed rodeo fun.
Wednesday, July 13 will kick off the day with Rabbit Showmanship and Show at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Market Goat Showmanship and Show and Pack Goats at 11 a.m., with the Market Swine Show rounding out the day at 4 p.m. The carnival will be open on both Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 3 p.m.
The Dairy Goat Showmanship and Show will start the day on Thursday, July 14 at 8 a.m. The Breeding Sheep Showmanship and Show will follow starting at 12 p.m. and the Market Swine Showmanship will round out the day starting at 4 p.m. Night activities will include the PRCA rodeo at 7:30 p.m.
A Pocket Pet Parade followed by the Outrageous Poultry will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 15. A beef fitting contest will follow at 10 a.m. with a livestock judging contest to start at 12 p.m. Kid’s Day will return to the carnival from 12-5 p.m. 4-H and FFA exhibitors will compete in the Round Robins at 5 p.m. and the PRCA rodeo will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the outdoor arena.
Saturday, July 16 will host the Junior Livestock Sale Buyers Breakfast beginning at 7 a.m., followed by the sale at 9 a.m. The carnival and exhibit halls will open at noon. The day will end with the championship round of the PRCA rodeo.
Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
