CATCHING THE CENTRAL STATE FAIR IN RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA

August 18, 2015

It has been years since either of us took in a state fair and rodeo. When the opportunity arose we grabbed a chance for one here in the South Dakota midwest.  Being at the Central State Fair in Rapid City JR and I were right in style with wearing our newly acquired cowboy hats.    The $3.00 admission fee was cheap at the entrance gate. 

The first building took in the 4H building exhibits. 4H youngsters usually participate from ages 7-18 in a variety of activities ranging from crafts and farming to live stock raising. Entries are made at county fairs and winner exhibits move onto state fairs for award place ribbons. Best in Show (royal blue), First Place (purple), Second Place (green), and Third Place (red).  Youngsters age 5-6 participate for rainbow ribbons but their displays don’t go on to state fair competition. 

Patriotic needlepoint
Everyone is judged by his/her age group in various categories: photography, crafts, quilting, wood carving, needlework, leather stamping, art work, canning and culinary, gardening. Many of the entries are quite amazing.

Handmade lace

The fair has animal barns with livestock. Tom and Ginger, whose property we are based at,  had some of the hundred rabbits they breed and raise for sale at the fair.   

 Seated in the Fairground Grandstands we watched 12 local rodeo teams compete in 3 major events at a Ranch Range Rodeo in the evening. Teams with four riders in the arena were timed in the first event to rope and tie down two cattle, then rope a third cow and herd it into a cattle trailer and lock the gate. The second event with two teams in the arena had to rope and bring down a cow, milk it and get the container to the judges for the fastest time. Bucking bronco riders were timed for staying on a horse as the third event of competition. The best average score for all 3 major rodeo team events determined the winner.

 Music, a lively announcer, and fast action rodeo cowboys on horses and cattle steers brought lots of excitement for the evening. You can bet attending a state fair and rodeo will be a regular happening on our calendar in the future.