Annual celebration: 110th WSF brings summer fun to Douglas
This year’s Wyoming State Fair (WSF) offers new, exciting entertainment, along with traditional fair favorites for the whole family to enjoy. Stop by the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas Aug. 16-20 to enjoy Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association PRCA rodeos, livestock shows, carnival rides, fried foods, entertainment and to celebrate the WSF’s 110th anniversary.
“I’m so excited to see the state of Wyoming come together,” says WSF General Manager Courtny Conkle. “I view the WSF as a giant family reunion, and being able to create something that’s a representation of everything we have to be grateful for and proud of in our state is something we all deserve.”
Entertainment
There will be no shortage of entertaining events at this year’s WSF.
“We are looking forward to a really fun 110th WSF this year,” says Conkle. “We’ve got some new entertainment we will be featuring.”
Conkle is especially excited for the Nerveless Nocks performances, featuring a motor sports and circus-style show included with the fair admission.
“The Nerveless Nocks will have a motorcycle globe, as well as some really cool stunts,” she says.
She notes the Nerveless Nocks will perform many times throughout the fair, so there will be plenty of opportunities to witness the gravity defying performances. The Pirate Parrot Show is another entertaining event making its way to the fair this year.
“We are super excited about the Pirate Parrot Show featuring a life-sized pirate ship and a very immersive experience featuring live birds,” says Conkle. “Fair goers will be able learn a bit about the birds and the Pirate Parrot Show conservation efforts. It will be super fun but also educational, which is our goal here at the fair.”
The WSF will also feature fascinating magic shows and intriguing trancenosis hypnotist performances by award winning hypnotist Michael Mezmer. His shows offer a chance for anyone in the crowd to become hypnotized themselves, and he always keeps the audience wanting to see more.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper 110th anniversary without rodeo events. This year’s WSF features the PRCA Rodeo and Steer Roping, along with PRCA Slack and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Breakaway.
This year’s WSF also features talented musicians.
The Western country singer Tris Munsick will perform a free concert Thursday, Aug.18 at 9 p.m., and the main concert will be Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. Conkle says the WSF is planning to release more information on who is performing on July 1.
Endowment auction
The WSF Endowment Fund was created in 2018 to create a more stable and consistent funding avenue for the WSF. The endowment ensures there is a bright and sustainable future for the WSF.
“In 2018, when the endowment was written into statute, it was really with the emphasis we could build a bright and sustainable future for the fair,” Conkle says.
This year, the WSF is hosting a virtual endowment auction on June 27 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. One hundred percent of the auction proceeds will go to the WSF Endowment Fund.
“This year is the first ever Inaugural WSF Endowment Auction,” says Conkle.
Conkle says the one-of-a-kind auction items will improve guests’ experiences at the WSF and are specific featured items which are unable to be purchased elsewhere.
“Really, the only place to access this kind of experience is going to be through the endowment auction,” she says. “Items in the auction include exclusive parking, first access, backstage access for the concert, VIP access for all of the night shows, etc., so there’re some really cool items. You can’t put a price on these items, there’s just no other way to get them other than participating in the endowment auction.”
Conkle encourages Wyomingites to participate in the auction to support the WSF and hopes everyone stops out to the WSF this year.
“It’s been another interesting year for everyone, and being able to just let down our hair and have some fun and get together is what the WSF is all about,” she says. “We’re looking forward to celebrating our 110th birthday.”
For more information, visit wystatefair.com.
Kaitlyn Root is an editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
