Wyoming County Fairs in full swing

 County fair season in Wyoming is in full swing, boasting 13 fairs running this last week of July. Horse and livestock shows, along with 4-H and FFA static exhibits and fair food can be caught from Park County to Uintah, and Niobrara County to Washakie County.          

Sublette County Fair

                  “I am most excited to showcase my animals that I’ve prepared for fair and to see all of my close show friends,” says 16-year-old Pinedale resident Zach Maxam. 

                  The upcoming high school junior has been showing livestock for eight years. This year, he has a steer, two pigs and a market lamb at the Sublette County Fair.

                  One of the proudest moments in his showing career was taking his prospect steer to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, taking second in class. 

                  “One of my mentors would be my ag teacher, Colby Hales,” says Maxam. “He helps me with clipping and shearing my animals as well as feed programs for them. Without his help, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love to do.”

                  Maxam shares his career goal is to go to school to become a veterinarian. 

Success at Fremont County

                   Shane Dawson is preparing two steers, three lambs, and a cow/calf pair for the Fremont County Fair beginning July 25. The 18 year old from Lander has been showing since she was eight. 

                  “I’m most excited to reconnect with a lot of my ag friends and with some of my mentors that I only get to see at County and State Fair,” says Dawson. 

Next year will be the last year the recent graduate of Lander Valley High School will get to participate in. 

She shares, “I am really looking forward to getting the most out of these last two years from the programs that shaped me into who I am today.” 

                  Last year, Dawson won Phase One of the Commercial Cow/Calf Contest with her Charolais/Angus cross heifer. The cow/calf pair she is showing this year will be shown in Phase Two of the contest. 

                  “Because of this particular contest, I have started my own small cattle herd,” says Dawson. 

                  Dawson also earned honors at NWSS this year, winning Reserve Grand Champion in the Catch-a-Calf program. 

                  “I’ve had so many people help me over the years and I am so grateful for each and every one of them,” Dawson shares. “Whether it was teaching me how to shear my lambs or clip my steers, the Oldham family has always been my teachers.”

                  She also credits her FFA Advisor, Mike McConnell for teaching her about agriculture and life. Through the Catch-a-Calf program at NWSS, Dawson also made connections with mentors that inspired her career choice. 

                  Dawson is heading to Central Wyoming College to study agriculture business. She plans to attend the University of Wyoming to round out her education in agriculture economics and communication. 

                  “My end goal is to become a lobbyist for agriculture issues around the country and be the voice for so many farmers and ranchers that aren’t properly represented in our Government,” she shares. 

County fairs this week

                  The Fremont County Fair begins this Saturday, July 25 and runs through Aug. 1. Folks can catch other county fairs currently around the Cowboy state that include the Park County Fair from July 21 to July 25, the Sublette County Fair from July 22 through July 25, the Albany County Fair from July 21 through Aug. 1, the Uinta County Fair from July 23 through Aug. 1, the Weston County Fair from July 24 through July 31, the Niobrara County Fair from July 24 through Aug. 1, Platte County Fair from July 24 to Aug. 1, the Campbell County Fair from July 24 through Aug. 2, the Washakie County Fair from July 25 through Aug. 1, and the Crook County Fair from July 25 through Aug. 2. 

                  Averi Hales is the editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.