County Fair
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris McGuigan | Fair Manager | countyfair@co.sanders.mt.us | |
| Ruth Hamilton | Administrative Assistant | rhamilton@co.sanders.mt.us |
The Fair
Sanders County Fair is held over Labor Day weekend.
2017 Fair Theme:
“Deep Fried, Hog Tied, Small Town Pride!”
During each fair the Sanders County Fair rents outdoor booths to vendors with all sorts of merchandise as well as to a few organizations. Space during the fair is always sold out early so you should check on availability well in advance. We have included the necessary forms for participation in this program in pdf format as noted below. These forms are in fillable format but you must download them to your own computer first. Food Vendors are provided contracts by Fair Management – these forms DO NOT apply to food vendors!
2017 Vendor (commercial & non-profit) Letter
PRCA Rodeo: is being produced by Powder River Rodeo Productions, L.L.C. Contact Hank or Lori Franzen, Powder River Rodeo L.L.C., 225 North Muddy Road, Riverton, Wyoming, 82501, phone (307) 856-1465 or fax (307)856-1464. No local entries are being accepted for the PRCA rodeo.
Bull Riding Event: is being produced by Powder River Rodeo Productions, L.L.C. Contact Hank or Lori Franzen, Powder River Rodeo L.L.C., 225 North Muddy Road, Riverton, Wyoming, 82501, phone (307) 856-1465 or fax (307)856-1464.
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Demolition Derby will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, in the main arena. This event is sponsored by the Plains Lions Club. Owners of cars to be driven in the demolition derby should write to the Sanders County Fair, P.O. Box 9, Plains, Montana, 59859-0009, for entry information and forms, or call (406) 826-3202. The entry form is also available here on the website in pdf format. Be sure to confirm your car number with the office. Make sure that your sponsors and your support crews have tickets for the demolition derby no later than Sunday at noon. The demolition derby usually sells out before show time! Derby rules and specifications can be found here.
Camping and Grounds Rules ALL vehicles must be parked in designated areas according to the signs and parking attendant instructions. Daily fees will be charged for vehicle parking on the fairgrounds. Tents, campers and RVs will pay a daily fee or purchase a pass for the entire fair. All vehicles will be charged a parking fee and must display a parking tag. There are no exceptions. NO open flames, outside campfires, camp stoves, charcoal grills, etc., are permitted on the fairgrounds. Garbage must be deposited in containers provided. NO scavenging in garbage. NO discharge of firearms, firecrackers, rockets or any other fireworks are permitted. Animals, including dogs, are not allowed on the fairgrounds unless they are part of an act, show or display. The only exceptions are seeing-eye dogs and law enforcement animals. Selling or offering for sale any merchandise without prior approval of Fair Management is prohibited. Distribution of any handbills, circulars, posters, bills, papers, advertising matter, etc., without prior approval of Fair Management is prohibited. Noise must be kept to a minimum so as to not disturb your neighbor. No lifeguard is on duty nor is supervision provided at the river. Properly supervise your children and keep them away from the river. Drive with care and courtesy. NO vehicles are allowed on, or may park within the fairgrounds without approval of the Fair Manager. Deliveries and pick-ups of food and merchandise to exhibits or concessions are permitted only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. daily. The midways will be closed to all auto and truck traffic during all other hours – NO EXCEPTIONS! NO vehicular traffic is permitted on the midway greens where water or septic lines may be damaged or broken. NO minors will be allowed to overnight on the fairgrounds unless chaperoned. The main gates of the fairgrounds shall be closed after 2:00 a.m. to all unauthorized personnel.
Announcements The Sanders County Fair Commission takes pleasure in announcing that the annual fair of Sanders County will be held on the fairgrounds at Plains, Montana, from Monday, August 28, 2017 through Sunday, September 3, 2017. This year’s fair theme is: Deep Fried, Hog Tied, Small Town Pride! We urge the cooperation of all to provide a valuable, educational and fun-filled event. The Fair Commission makes every effort to provide generous premium awards for its various activities and exhibits, as they are a great influence in bringing together the various communities of Sanders County and the surrounding areas. This is your fair and you make it better by your participation. Pre-sale of Arena Event Tickets will be available starting on July 5, 2017. Tickets may be obtained three different ways. Please choose the method most convenient for you. In person – visit the Ticket during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday), select the seating you desire for any given event you wish to attend and then pay for the tickets with cash, money order or credit card. By telephone – call the fair office during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday), select the tickets for the events you wish to attend and pay for the tickets using a credit card. On-Line – visit our website at www.sanderscountyfair.com, select “Arena Events” from the menu. Follow the instructions provided in order to select the tickets for the events you wish to attend. No tickets will be mailed out from the fair office. All tickets will be held and will be available on the day of the event at the “will call” window at the Fair Ticket Office. Please pick up your tickets no later than two (2) hours prior to the event – the lines do get long! No seating is guaranteed until paid for. The fair accepts VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover and debit cards. During the fair, the Ticket Office will be open and selling arena event tickets from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Please note that the Demolition Derby usually sells out every year. To insure your attendance, you must purchase your tickets as early as you can. Veterinarian Services for the Sanders County Fair are those of health officer only. All livestock exhibitors are directly responsible for the health care of their animals by the veterinarian of their choice. The Sanders County Fair is not liable for any expense incurred for the treatment of livestock. All livestock must have a veterinarian’s certificate of health, or must pass a health inspection by the Fair’s veterinarian on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. Livestock which does not have a current health inspection certificate, or has not been inspected by the Fair’s veterinarian, are prohibited from being on the fairgrounds. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. If you bring an animal or animals onto the fairgrounds, and they do not have a current health inspection, or haven’t been inspected by the Fair’s veterinarian, you will be required to remove your animals immediately. Dogs: Only “seeing eye” dogs or police working dogs are permitted on the fairgrounds. Leave your dog(s) at home or keep them in your vehicle/RV if you bring them to the fair. Please keep in mind the weather can be difficult if not fatal for animals in closed vehicles. Complaints: If you feel there is something that needs the attention of the Fair Manager or Fair Commission, please take note of the situation and present it at the Fair Commission meeting following the conclusion of the fair, either in person or in writing. This is your fair and your input is important to us. Any dangerous situation should be reported immediately to the appropriate Building Superintendent or to the Fair Office. Open Class Premium Monetary Awards will be paid ONLY from the Cashier’s Office beginning at 1:00 P.M. to closing, Saturday, September 3 and beginning at 1:00 P.M. to closing Sunday, September 4. Because of our accounting procedures, premiums will not be paid at any other time. If you fail to collect your premium payment during this time, your premium is forfeited. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE THAT OPEN CLASS PREMIUM MONIES WILL BE PAID IN CASH ONLY FROM THE CASHIER’S OFFICE DURING THE TIMES PROVIDED ABOVE – NO PAYMENT SHALL BE MADE BY CHECK. Special Awards or added money can be picked up in the cashier’s office along with premium money. Alcoholic Beverages: In keeping with the family atmosphere of the Sanders County Fair, alcoholic beverages may be consumed only within the confines of the beer garden or the drinking seating sections of the main arena. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted anywhere else on the fairgrounds! No coolers of any size are permitted in the main arena. Our ticket takers and ushers (members of the Clark Fork Valley Shriners’ Club) will prevent coolers from being carried into the main arena. Plan ahead and leave your coolers at home.
Fairgrounds Information
The Sanders County Fair began in 1911 with a community horse race. Participants included ladies and gentlemen from the town of Plains, as well as ladies and gentlemen from the reservation. In that day, settler ladies rode side saddle while their Native American counterparts rode astride! For a number of years horse racing and horsemanship were a major part of the fair.
As the years passed, rodeos, carnivals and dances were added to the options provided to visitors. The parade organized during fair weekend became a favorite, especially as participants included such things as new-fangled automobiles and old, reliable steer-driven wagons.
Currently, the fair is one of the seven largest fairs in the state of Montana and attracts visitors from throughout western Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Many of our part-time residents make sure they are present during fair time. In recent years attendance has been between 30,000 and 50,000 people (which doubles and triples the population of the whole county!). It is the only fair in western Montana that does not charge a gate fee. Daily and weekly parking passes are available. Parking for camping and RVs is also available along the river front.
The official signed copies of the minutes of the Sanders County Fair Commission are available in the fair office. The minutes on this website are provided as a courtesy but are not considered the official minutes.
2016- Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2015-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2014-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2013-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2012-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2011-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2010-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2009-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2008-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes
2007-Fair Commission Meeting Minutes