Custer County Fair 2022 Begins This Week

BROKEN BOW–The Custer County Fair starts this week and runs July 29 through August 4. Fairgrounds Administrator Michelle Nelson said the first fair with livestock exhibits was held in 1921 and the first premium book was published in 1887.

The longtime traditions continue this next week with all of your favorite events including 4-H exhibits, livestock judging, live music, bull riding, and more.

Event organizers appeared on the Get Up and Go Breakfast Show to highlight the week’s festivities and thank the community and tourism board for their sponsorship and support of the 4-H kids for several decades.

“We’re grateful for all the volunteers that help us to make all these events happen and continue the tradition,” Travis Schauda said.

The fair began with the annual 4-H Public Fashion Show on Thursday, July 21 with the theme “The Roaring ‘20s.” Style judging and clothing construction participants showed off their creations and the Tail Twisters 4-H Club had the honor of decorating and serving as hosts for the Fashion Show because they earned the most purple ribbons in modeling at last year’s fair. Clothing items will be displayed in the 4-H building during the Custer County Fair.

Top 8 Senior Stylists Front Row (L-R): Mahaya Jones, Emma Olson, Katie Olson, Joslyn Reiff. Back Row (L-R): LoReena Schauda, Karoline Ogle, Neltje Reiff, Makayla Stecker
Top 8 Junior Stylists Front Row (L-R): Kenzie Russell, Delanie Weinman, Maysa Jones, Tenley Potter. Back Row (L-R): Brinley Bachman, Makenna Weinman, Raylee Bachman, Keylie Pelster

Custer County Extension Staff Member Denise Daake told KCNI/KBBN this year’s fair will see 2,665 fair entries between 369 4-H exhibitors. 4-H entry days will take place this Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, July 30.

Activities for 4-H events include clothing construction, dog show, shooting sports, food, gardening, cut flowers, art and science, wood working, team roping, ranch riding, goat, sheep, beef, swine, horses, small animals, etc.

The schedule also features several evening events such as the Custer County Parade in downtown Broken Bow at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 followed by the Casey Donahew concert at 8 p.m. at the fairgrounds. William Beckmann will open the show. Gates open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15 for grandstands, $20 for VIP (day of show price is $20 and $25). There will also be a beer garden open until 1 a.m. with music by Tazy Scott.

Sunday, July 31 will feature the Christian Concert with Dan Evans on trumpet and Kristen Gibbs on harp at 7 p.m. at the Broken Bow United Methodist Church. Pastor Bob Winn heard the two siblings/artists perform at a wedding and wanted to bring them to Custer County.

“It was beautiful music they made together and I’m pretty excited about it,” Pastor Winn told KCNI/KBBN.

Seating is first come first serve for a free-will offering to see the musical guests who will travel all the way from Austin, TX. Pastor Winn thanked all of the community businesses who helped offset the travel expenses for the music duo and their 94-year-old mother who will perform piano.

Monday, August 1 is the annual Tuffy Winberg Memorial Free Pit BBQ from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jami Anderson and Matt Thomas said this annual event of more than 50 years is made possible thanks to the help of 150 volunteers. They thanked Myers Construction and Paulsen for replacing the BBQ pits and for the donated wood from Markham Construction.

Wood will burn on Sunday night and 1,600 pounds of meat will be cooked on Monday morning to be served with beans, chips, water/tea, and DQ Dilly bars. Anderson and Thomas are expecting to serve between 2,500 and 3,000 meals. To-Go meals will be available.

Following the BBQ on Monday, August 1 is the 24th annual Custer County Bull Riding Classic. Travis Schauda said he is proud to be part of the event and each year the organizers try to sprinkle in some new specialty acts. The bulls are the real stars of the show but Schauda said he is grateful or the bull riders–some who have been to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), some local, and many in between. The first 32 entries are accepted to the bull riding classic and there is also a waiting list. Tickets are required for admission and can be purchased at various businesses around town including the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce.

The rest of the week features the Ultimate Bull Fighters Free Style Bullfights on Tuesday, August 2; Axe Throwing on Wednesday, August 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. sponsored by Murphy Tractor out of North Platte (Styrofoam axes available for kids to participate) followed by the Teen Dance.

The 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction will take place on Thursday, August 4 at 7 p.m.

In addition, commercial booths, concessions, watermelon feed, and the Open Class and 4-H Exhibits will be on display throughout the week.

KCNI/KBBN will be video streaming the Dog Show on Friday night via the SandhillsExpress.com Facebook page and YouTube. Stay tuned for 4-H interviews, parade broadcast, video coverage throughout the fair from the Farm Credit Services covered arena, and a live radio broadcast of the livestock auction on KCNI on Thursday, August 4.

See the flyer above for the schedule of this week’s events and/or call the Custer County Extension Office at 872-6831 or Custer County Fairgrounds board members with any questions.

Click here to view the Custer County Fairgrounds Facebook page.

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