‘Wagon Wheels to Ferris Wheels’ Sanpete County Fair in full swing
By Alec Barton
Staff Writer
8-18-2016
MANTI—The wheel is often used in literature to represent cycles, things that follow a pattern, ideas or events that continue through time.
In selecting a theme for this year’s county fair—Sanpete’s 102nd—board members opted for a phrase that reflects Sanpete County’s rich agrarian and pioneer heritage but which also communicates changes that have occurred here in the past century.
“From Wagon Wheels to Ferris Wheels” is serving as the guiding theme for the 2016 fair, which begins in earnest this weekend.
Mike Bennett, chairman of the fair board, said his committee identified and voted on potential themes at the start of the year.
“We felt it best fit the fair this year,” he said of the selected theme.
Pageant royalty and rodeo queens have already been crowned. Registration for key competitions starts today, with the fair itself getting into full swing over the weekend. For the complete calendar, see the ad on page A2.
Beginning today at 1 p.m. and continuing through 7 p.m., rodeo entry call-ins can be made online at www.rmpraonline.com or by phone at (719) 486-0599.
Stop by the arena at 4 p.m. for 4-H horse show registration. The show will commence at 5 p.m.
Tomorrow at 6 p.m., register for the junior rodeo by calling Zane Osborne at (801) 376-6973.
Saturday at 9 a.m. marks the open horse show. (Books close at 8:30 a.m.) Saturday also marks the opening of the annual Sanpete Outdoor Expo, open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Exhibition Building.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., register for the new corn hole tournament by calling 851-3348. The tournament begins at 1 p.m. Open swimming is available at the Manti City Pool beginning at noon.
A Dutch oven cook-off is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the annual firemen’s challenge will begin at 7 p.m. Stick around after the challenge for the chalk festival.
Also on Saturday, volunteers will begin putting together exhibits in the Exhibit Building.
Entries for open class and 4-H crafts, and food and floral entries will be accepted that day. A list of registration times is available at
Call in entries for the hide race on Sunday between 6 and 9 p.m. The contact is Dell Jensen: 469-0296.
Don’t miss cowboy poetry at Manti High School at 7 p.m. Monday, and be sure to check out the team sorting event Tuesday at the rodeo grounds at 6 p.m.
Wednesday marks the opening of the Exhibit Building (2-8 p.m.) It will be open for the remainder of the fair from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. each day.
Wednesday also marks the beginning of lamb, swine and market beef receiving and weigh-in. Call Aimee Olsen for more information, 851-3762.
Pee wee motor barrel racing will take place at 7 p.m. at the arena.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-27, are filled with staple events that draw in big crowds each year.
Be sure to check out circus rides sponsored Brown’s Amusements, open at 4 p.m. Thursday, 3 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
The small animal barn opens at 11 a.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The popular “Fun on the Farm” exhibit is open Thursday and Friday between 4 and 7 p.m., and Saturday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
An exhibit called “Science Alliance” is being held in conjunction with Fun on the Farm at the scheduled times Friday and Saturday.
The RMPRA rodeo is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Saturday. Mutton Bustin’ precedes the rodeo by one hour each evening.
Friday marks the crowd-pleasing demolition derby at 7 p.m. Tickets went on sale in June.
Saturday evening is the mammoth parade on Manti Main Street at 5 p.m.
Tickets for all events can be purchased in advance at Copy Station in Gunnison, Jorgensen Chevrolet in Ephraim, Beck’s Home Furnishing in Mt. Pleasant, and Main Auto and the Sanpete Building Inspector’s Office in Manti.
