Exhibitors prepare for Weston County Fair
Newcastle – The 2022 Weston County Fair’s theme is, “Ride the Tide to the Luau at the Weston County Fair.” The fair is scheduled to take place July 22-31 and will host a variety of family-fun events including livestock shows, a cornhole tournament, rodeo performances and a Kalama Polynesian Dancers and AA Hula performance – there will be something for everyone.
Miller siblings prepare for beef show
For Upton siblings and Stockshow Junkies 4-H Club exhibitors, Jorie and Cooper Miller have been busy getting their beef projects ready to show at the fair.
Eight-year-old Jorie will be going into the third grade, and her favorite subject in school is math and free time.
Before she hits the books at school, she has been getting her two beef projects ready for the Weston County Fair; a Hereford steer named Chips and a Hereford heifer named Diane.
She has been showing in the open class shows since she was little and at national Hereford shows since she was seven years old, but this will be her first year showing in 4-H.
She shares she and her brother have quite the routine every morning getting her projects ready.
“We first get them in around 6:30 a.m., then we feed, wash and rinse, blow dry them out, let them lay down and eat some hay for a while,” she says. “We will work on brushing their hair and on showmanship right before we turn out, then let them loose once the temperature reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit.”
She has had many accomplishments throughout her beef showing career, but a notable experience was when the siblings won the Northwest Region Hereford Show Bull of the Year in 2021. The Miller’s projects are animals the family raises on their ranch, making class wins and accomplishments a proud success.
Jorie notes, in addition to showing her projects, one of her favorite activities is getting to spend time with her friends.
For future beef exhibitors, she offers some showmanship advice saying, “Never give up on your cattle and never get mad at your cattle because it’s never their fault.”
“If you get angry at them, they can feel it through the halter and lead rope and then they will get angry at you,” she adds. “If you have a hard time getting them to set up – pull them out of the line, come back in, set them up and scratch on them.”
Eleven-year-old Cooper will be going into sixth grade, and he will be very busy at this year’s fair. He will be taking a steer named RR, two breeding heifers named Cammie and Peach and a bull named Hook.
Cooper notes his favorite thing about showing at the fair is “showing alongside my sister, competing in the fair and getting to go with my family.”
One of his proudest accomplishments is being named a premier exhibitor of the Horned Hereford for the Northwest Region of the U.S. at the Wyoming State Fair (WSF).
Cooper shares it’s important to “teach the younger generation – give them goals to set, things to work on and give them showing tips and teach them how to get everything set up.”
The brother and sister pair are the children of Tyrel and Briley Miller.
Rich family
Jace and Colby Rich are the 14- and 11-year-old sons of Justin and Zannie Rich of Newcastle. Both boys are a part of the Around the Clover 4-H Club and Jace is a part of the Saddle and Sirloin FFA Chapter.
Jace will be a freshman at Newcastle High School. This year will mark his ninth year showing at the Weston County Fair. He will be showing a variety of livestock – two market pigs named Soup and JP, a market heifer named Jolene and a market steer named Ricky.
His mornings include bringing his projects in, feeding, washing pigs and rinsing cattle. He got his cattle projects around November and his pig projects around March and April.
One of his proudest accomplishments was winning the Champion Shorthorn Steer at the WSF a couple of years ago.
He notes showing at the swine show is one of his favorite events, saying, “I really like the pig show. It’s in the evening. It’s cool and there is green grass and a lot of good supporters come out to watch.”
“During your first year, make some friends that are into showing,” Jace concludes. “Later on, you will have them to ask questions and if you need it, they can help. Get to know people.”
Jace encourages all to attend the Junior Livestock Sale on July 29 starting at 6 p.m. in the Outdoor Show Ring. There will be a barbecue for all to attend, free of charge before the sale.
Colby will be going into fifth grade and is excited to take his two swine projects to the fair. His pigs are both crossbreds named Harry and Lloyd.
He spends a lot of time feeding, washing and walking his pig projects. He also weighs his livestock once a week and makes friends with his pigs.
He notes his favorite part about attending the Weston County Fair is “hanging out with show buddies and just being at the fair.”
One of his biggest accomplishments is winning his class every year he has attended the fair.
Some of his best advice is, “Take your time picking out your projects and choose pigs with good structure.”
Parent perspectives
Tyrel Miller notes there are several benefits to being involved in agriculture and 4-H programs. It is essential in keeping the spirt of the West and agriculture in the nation alive.
“As these families raise their kids on the ranch, and with the aging population of ranchers in Wyoming, 4-H is an excellent way to get kids involved from the grassroots end of agriculture,” he shares. “See it through and give those kids a passion and identity revolving around agriculture. It’s a priceless opportunity we can offer to the next generation.”
Zannie Rich shares being involved in 4-H has given her children valuable life skills.
“I think 4-H is a good program for these kids – it keeps them busy during the summer and teaches them life lessons in how to communicate with people,” she says.
“The boys are also involved in the shooting sports and archery portion for the 4-H program and it has been really good for them – it keeps them busy and gives them responsibilities, which is one of the main benefits of the program,” Zannie adds.
Fair schedule
The Weston County Fair will begin on Friday, July 22 with a Public Fashion Revue at 7 p.m. and Sprint Track Races starting at 8 p.m. at the Sprint Track.
Saturday, July 23 will begin early at 9 a.m. with the Weston County Fair Parade Line Up and the parade starting at 10 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the fair will host an American Legion Riders Motorcycle Rodeo at the Grandstands.
At 1 p.m., the Weston County Has Talent Contest will take place at the Ertman Memorial Picnic Shelter. The day will end with a Fair Kick-Off Luau at 6 p.m. and a Kalama Polynesian Dancers and AA Hula Performance at Kilpatrick Park.
On Sunday, July 24, a Junior Horse Show will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Four Season Arena. Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Pig Wrestling will begin at 3 p.m. at the Pig Wrestling Pit. The day will end with a Newcastle Ministerial Society Outdoor Service and Chicken Dinner at the Ertman Memorial Picnic Shelter at 4 p.m.
The Junior Horse Show, Speed Events will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 25 at the Grandstands. At 2:15 p.m. a Junior and Open Cat Show will be held in the Open Class Building.
Tuesday will host the Static Exhibit check in from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Events Center. The Junior and Open Dog Show will be held at 8:30 a.m. in Kilpatrick Park, followed by a cornhole tournament at 4 p.m. The day will end with the Family Fun Carnival/FOF Bouncy Houses in Kilpatrick Park and a Weston County Mini Rough Stock Rodeo in the Grandstands at 6 p.m.
Rabbit judging will begin on Wednesday, July 27 at 9 a.m. in the Rabbit Barn. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the Messy Mania, Mini Ninja Course will be open in Kilpatrick Park as well as Extreme Rides will be open from 12-7 p.m., with wristbands needed. The Junior and Open Swine Show will start at 5 p.m. in the Outdoor Show Ring and the day will end with an ATV Gymkhana at 6 p.m. in the Outdoor Arena.
Thursday, July 28 will begin at 8 a.m. with the Junior and Open Sheep and Goat Show in the Outdoor Show Ring. The Messy Mania, Mini Ninga Course and Extreme Rides will be open from 12-7 p.m. for spectators to enjoy. The Junior and Open Poultry Show will begin at 1 p.m., as well as the Flower Show Judging. From 5-7 p.m., there will be the Newcastle Farmers’ Market in Kilpatrick Park, followed by a calcutta and ranch rodeo at 6:30 p.m. in the Grandstands.
On Friday, July 29, a Weston County Health Services Foundation Pancake Breakfast will begin at 6 a.m. at the Ertman Memorial Picnic Shelter. The Junior and Open Beef Show will start at 8 a.m. in the Outdoor Show Ring. At 11:30 a.m. there will be a Pocket Pets Show/Peewee/Tumbleweeds Pet Show at the Ertman Memorial Picnic Shelter with a 1 p.m. State Fair Livestock Meeting and Brand Inspection meeting to follow.
At 3 p.m., there will be a FFA and 4-H Round Robin Contest in the Outdoor Show Ring. At 4:30 p.m. there will be a Junior Livestock Committee and Cowbelles’ Barbeque, with the Junior Livestock Sale to follow at 6 p.m. in the Outdoor Show Ring.
Saturday, July 30 will host the Weston County Junior Rodeo in the Grandstands at 9 a.m., and the Heritage Team Roping/Jackpot Team Roping at 1 p.m. From 1-4 p.m., all static exhibits will be released from the Events Center.
The Weston County Fair will round out its activities on Sunday, July 31 with Cowboy Church Service at 7:30 a.m., Weston County Junior Rodeo at 9 a.m. and an awards ceremony to follow at 1 p.m.
For more information, visit westoncountyfair.com.
Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
