Powwow, expanded draft-horse contests new at fair
By HEIDI GAISER
The Daily Inter Lake
Officials are hoping that slow, steady and strong wins the race - or at least lures the crowds - at this week's Northwest Montana Fair.
The fair begins Tuesday and runs through Sunday.
Draft-horse competitions have been expanded to two days this year, partly to fill a void left after horse racing was canceled due to increasing insurance costs.
"People have a fascination with big animals," fair manager Jay Scott said of the decision to dramatically expand the fair's draft-horse schedule.
Such competitions are becoming increasingly popular throughout the West, he added.
Those who need a speed fix can still find it in Saturday's Indian relay races, a longtime fair event. Or they can just take in a bit of culture at the fair's newest attraction, an American Indian powwow, beginning at noon on Saturday.
There is no charge beyond daily admission for any of the new or expanded events.
The draft-horse competitions begin on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. behind the draft-horse barn and also run on Friday. The draft-horse classes also include categories for miniature horses, donkeys, mules and ponies.
Competition will be held in every imaginable category - confirmation, jumping, obstacle courses, showmanship, barrel racing, costumes, riding skill, driving and log pulling.
Adding classes is always a gamble for the fair, which takes on the increased judging fees and prize costs, but it seemed to be the best use of the budget based on projected popularity.
"We hope that the draft-horse people will go to the rodeos, and help replace what we've spent," Scott said.
Invitations were sent to horse owners in Idaho and Washington in a bid to increase participation, but Scott doesn't have any idea how many will be competing.
"The thing about the fair is we're weather driven, but also the price of fuel has affected some parts of the fair," he said.
Draft horses, he said, are especially fuel consumptive to transport. Owners often need two trucks, one with the animals and another with a carriage and hitches.
Fuel prices might also affect the number of participants in the Indian relays, Scott said, but the $8,000 in total prize money provides extra incentive. Scott is expecting American Indian racers from Browning and from a Crow reservation in Idaho.
The Indian relays have always been a popular spectator event.
"It lasts about three minutes, but people will run across the fairgrounds to make sure they see it," he said. "There's 30 horses on the track at one time, with the horses all merging at one spot, jumping around and raring to go."
The races, which have been part of the fair for 30 years, involve five to eight teams of three people and three horses. The first rider speeds one horse around the track bareback, then drops off that horse and switches to the second, and repeats the process before finishing with horse No. 3. Two handlers are there to help the rider complete his mission.
"There's a great deal of speed, agility and sportsmanship," Scott said.
The Indian relay elimination rounds are Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the race track, with 12 to 18 teams expected to compete. The champion will receive approximately $4,500.
The Indian powwow on Saturday will feature Salish Kootenai tribal members from Arlee dancing, singing and drumming throughout the day. Scott said many fairs offer powwows, but this is a first for the Northwest Montana version.
Scott is proud of this year's lineup for the rodeo, which runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
So far more than 54 saddle-bronc riders, 50 pairs of team ropers, 20 bareback riders and 20 bull riders have signed up. It's turning out to be one of the largest rodeos in the state, he said, and will include a number of participants from the prestigious National Finals Rodeo.
Among new rodeo attractions will be motorcycle entertainer "Wild Child," and a special event after each rodeo.
The grandstand shows feature country superstars Neal McCoy on Tuesday and Mark Chesnutt on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. both nights.
Each of the musicians is a country-music hitmaker as well as a respected entertainer.
Scott said they "just got lucky" in securing such high-caliber talent. Rather than hitting the fair as part of a circuit, they're both flying into the area especially for this event.
McCoy performed for Northwest Montana Fair crowds about 15 years ago, but it is Chesnutt's first visit.
Tickets for the concerts are selling better than anticipated, Scott said, but they won't sell out as more seating in the grandstand area can always be arranged.
Stop by the fairgrounds office for rodeo or concert tickets.
The road work on North Meridian Road was expected to be completed on Saturday night, with fresh paving, new striping and functional traffic lights.
Crews won't be working on the road during the fair, so there should be no added parking complications.
Reporter Heidi Gaiser can be reached at 758-4431 or e-mail hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com