Central Wyoming fair kicks off Wyoming county fair season
The Central Wyoming Fair will still be kicking off county fair season in Wyoming, although the annual event will look a little different this year.
“Livestock shows will begin the week of July 6 as originally scheduled, but the schedule will be modified this year due to COVID-19,” says Natrona County Junior Livestock Sale Committee’s Kera Bullard.
Livestock shows
Bullard notes shows will take place outside in the rodeo area so fans are able to practice social distancing in the grandstands, and animals will not be allowed to stay on the fairgrounds overnight.
Instead, exhibitors will haul in their animals on a specific day of the week and haul back out after they show.
The sheep show will kick off the Central Wyoming Fair at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 6.
On Tuesday, July 7, poultry will show at 9 a.m. and the market beef show will begin at 5 p.m.
Market goats will show beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8 and swine showmanship will follow beginning at 8 p.m.
Market hogs will show at 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 9.
Livestock sale
“Our livestock sale will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 11 in the rodeo area,” Bullard says. “We won’t be having our complimentary buyers’ breakfast before the sale, and we won’t be mixing up species throughout the sale.”
Bullard also notes there will be a display on the jumbo tron so buyers can see the animals from the grandstands.
She also says buyers have several options.
“Our buyers have the choice to buy a live animal, a processed animal or donate an animal to a nonprofit,” she explains. “They can also participate in buyers’ groups, meaning they can contribute a certain amount of money towards an animal. Several buyers then end up buying the animal and they split it up evenly between them.”
Bullard continues, “The last option buyers have is to contribute add ons. If they don’t have funds to buy an entire animal or part of an animal, they can just ask to add on a bonus for a particular exhibitor.”
“Our livestock sale is a huge benefit for our community, especially for the kids and several local nonprofits,” Bullard says. “We want to get the word out so buyers know it is still happening and so county fairs across the state can see what we are doing in Natrona County.”
She notes the Central Wyoming Fair’s Junior Livestock Sale benefits 10 nonprofits in the area. These include Meals on Wheels, Seton House, Joshua’s Store House, the Senior Center, Youth Crisis Center, Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, Central Wyoming Hospice, St. Anthony’s School, Holy Cross and the 12/24 Club.
“Meals on Wheels probably benefits the most from our livestock sale,” Bullard explains. “In fact, last year 80 percent of their meat for an operative year came from donations from our sale.”
She adds, “We are very fortunate in Natrona County to have such amazing community support. Last year our sale grossed $881,276.50 and 55 percent of that, $483,777, was donated to local nonprofits.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
