western montana fair

Your guide to the ’09 fairn Missoula Stampeden Demolition derbyn West Lawn Marketn Music and more

Western Montana FairSunday, Aug. 9, 2009 Special section

TOM BAUER/Missoulian

WESTERn MOnTAnA FAiR2 – Missoulian, Sunday, August 9, 2009

By ALLiSOn MAiERfor the Missoulian

When Tom Andres and his 10 brothers and sisters were growing up in Missoula, they were heavily involved in Future Farmers of America programs, learning about agriculture and entering projects into the Western Montana Fair.

“it was kind of an important component of our childhood,” he said.

Which is why Andres jumped at the chance to get involved once again, taking over as adviser of Missoula’s FFA program after 16 years of teaching biology in Ashland. Though he admits it was hard to let it go, he sold his 20-acre farm there, then loaded up his wife and four children – ages 8, 10, 12 and 13 – and headed west.

One of his primary reasons for taking the job was to give his kids the chance to be educated through the FFA as he was. They’ve competed in fairs before and will show in Billings, close to their old home, one last time. After this year, they’ll compete in Missoula, as their father did.

“it’s good to be a part of that again,” Andres said.

As FFA adviser, Andres will teach animal science

and general agricultural courses at Big Sky High School. He will also manage the FFA farm, which is made up of about 10 cattle, 10 pigs and 10 sheep, and will help students prepare to compete in agricultural competitions at fairs.

This year, 34

FFA students have entered projects into the Western Montana Fair, where they will show crops, metal and woodwork creations, and various other work related to agriculture.

Beyond preparing for competitions, Andres said the programs and classes

teach kids how to be responsible and build the kind of leadership skills they’ll need for future careers. Farm kids, he said, are good kids.

“it puts kids in an environment to work hard and feel good about themselves,” he said.

The FFA began in 1928 as Future Farmers of America, when a group of 33 farm boys gathered in the Baltimore Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. Since then, it has expanded to include millions of teens across the country and is now referred to as the national

FFA Organization. Though it was originally started as a way to train kids to become farmers, Andres said, it’s now taken a more modern approach to agricultural education. He said it will give teens the skills and knowledge they will need to find solutions to the problems the world will face in the future, like how to support more people with less land.

“Smart agricultural scientists are crucial for the future,” he said.

Allison Maier is a senior studying print journalism at the University of Montana who is interning at the Missoulian this summer. She can be reached at 523-5241 or at [email protected].

Back to his rootsTom Andres returns to Missoula and FFA as adviser of program

inDEX


The Future Farmers of America program began in 1928 and was originally started as a way to train kids to become farmers. it now takes a more modern approach to agricultural education.

FFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Animal contests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4West Lawn Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Flower judging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Food contests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Mammoth Jack donkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Sawyer Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Casting Crowns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Missoula Stampete Rodeo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

napa Auto Demolition Derby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Media Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Fair schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Fairgrounds map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15More information: www.westernmontanafair.com

“it puts kids in an environment to work hard and feel good about themselves.”– Tom Andres, Missoula FFA

adviser, on benefits of the program

Missoulian, Sunday, August 9, 2009 – 3

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On an uncomfortably hot evening three weeks before the start of the Western Montana Fair, rabbit superintendent Cindy Arnott directed a barn full of 4-H kids as they stacked rows of wire cages on top of each other.

She likened the task to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. in other words, “a pain.”

Two years ago, Arnott’s 66 individual cages were enough to house all the rabbits that were entered into the fair – by 4-H kids and anyone else. This year, they won’t be enough the contain the 4-H entries alone. nearly 200 rabbits have been registered for the fair this year, 105 by 4-H kids and 85 in the open

class division. And unless they’re young rabbits that have grown up together, each requires a separate cage.

“Adult rabbits don’t mingle,” Arnott said.

With such limited space, a number of people won’t be able to keep their rabbits at the fairgrounds when they’re not competing. Kids who sometimes enter as many as eight rabbits into the contests will be limited to one this year, Arnott said. But despite the frustrations that come with so many rabbit entries, Arnott is looking on the bright side.

“it’s a great problem to have,” she said.

in the past few years, the number of kids in the Missoula area who have participated in 4-H rabbit projects has more than doubled, said Campbell Barrett, extension agent for 4-H youth development in the county. Arnott took over as rabbit superintendent four years ago. Barrett said he thinks that improvements to the program and word-of-mouth promotion from families who have been involved are the cause for this spike in numbers.

“Educational opportunities have increased, project areas have expanded, and there’s a great staff who know a lot

about it and are willing to put in a lot of time,” he said.

As Arnott watched over the assemblage of children around the rabbit cages – some working, some standing and talking – she said that on days like these, friendships are formed. Many of the kids come to Missoula from Potomac, Frenchtown or Lolo for these events and get to know people they might not meet otherwise.

After setting up the cages, some of the kids practiced for the rabbit showmanship competition they will face at the fair. Essentially, they will be expected to do everything a judge would do when evaluating a rabbit – posing it for inspection, talking about its various characteristics, checking

its teeth and determining its sex.

Secora Richardson, described by Arnott as the “most mature 14-year-old you’ll ever meet,” won the title of “Top Junior Rabbit Showman” at the fair last year, along with three other awards in various competitions. Four years ago, she added rabbits to the array of competitions she enters, along with horses, hogs, leathercraft and “horse science,” which involves keeping track of information about individual horses and is a type of project she essentially pioneered.

Entering her freshman year at Frenchtown High School, Richardson is interested in studying business and possibly going to law school in

the future. Aspects of

sportsmanship – whether

it involves rabbits or hogs

– have helped her become

savvy in ways that could

help to pursue those goals.

“You’re presenting as

if you’re going to sell,” she

said.

Allison Maier is a senior

studying print journalism at

the University of Montana

who is interning at the

Missoulian this summer.

She can be reached at 523-

5241 or at allison.maier@

lee.net.


Llamas can handle just about anything.

Geri Ball has dressed hers up in flipflops, tutus, tiaras, wigs and Levis. She’s spray-painted one green. She’s put one in a chicken costume. And she notes that when you dress a llama in a shirt and a cowboy hat with jeans on its front legs, some people might do a double take.

“When they’re walking at you, they honestly look like a cowboy,” she said.

Fortunately, the llamas

don’t have to suffer through this embarrassment on their own. When they’re entered in what’s called a “costume class” contest, the handler has to dress up, too. Then the team is judged on factors like how original the costumes are and how long the llama is willing to keep it on.

Ball insists that the llamas really don’t mind.

“They’re just really easygoing,” she said. “They’ll let you do pretty much anything to them.”

The Western Montana Fair will hold a llama costume contest on

Friday at 11 a.m. and an alpaca costume contest on Saturday at 4 p.m. it’s one of three basic types of competitions the animals can enter. The other two are showmanship, in which the llama or alpaca and its handler are judged on how they walk around the ring, and “halter class,” in which the animals are judged on their physical attributes and how prepared they would be to go on a pack trip, Ball said. Judging for the various contests will take place throughout the week.

Ball, who is the alpaca and llama superintendent

for the fair, said about 40 of the animals will compete in the events this year. She said the different competitions basically just demonstrate how much the llamas can handle.

“it shows how versatile they are,” she said.

Once used by the incas, llamas still serve as pack animals for many South American natives. Alpacas are essentially small llamas, and they have silkier wool – Ball has a friend who makes teddy bears out of it.

Though Ball is often tasked with announcing during the competitions,

she enters her own llamas into the contests. Her interest in the animals started about 10 years ago, when some of her friends started showing them.

She said the animals are affectionate, intelligent, and, much like dogs, will do whatever you ask them to do. Other people have to lead her llamas around when she’s working at the fair, and she says they never mind following someone different.

They also seem to have a soft spot for babies and people with disabilities, she

said. She sometimes takes

them to retirement homes

and hospitals – in their

costumes, of course.

“it makes your heart feel

good,” Ball said.

Allison Maier is a senior




Missoulian this summer.

She can be reached at 523-

5241 or at allison.maier@

lee.net.

Llamas, alpacas get all dressed up for contests

Rabbits multiplyAt nearly 200, fuzzy entries have more than doubled in recent years

“it’s a great problem to have.”– Cindy Arnott, Western Montana Fair

rabbit superintendent, on number of entries


WESTERn MOnTAnA FAiR

By ALAinA ABBOTTfor the Missoulian

Backyard grillers will fire up the charcoal and light the propane to sear local steaks into tender, juicy perfection on the first day of the Western Montana Fair at the new West Lawn Market.

The meat will be judged, and the winner will come away with those all-important bragging rights – and a shiny new grill to boot.

“Missoula really likes their food, and there are a lot of really great cooks and chefs in the area,” said Gretchen Kirchmann of the Kirchmann Media Group, which handles publicity for the fair.

Two grilling competitions will highlight the West Lawn Market on Tuesday, which will feature locally grown food and sustainability in business and lifestyle.

“We are hoping to encourage local vendors, local producers to be able to be there at the fair,” Kirchmann said. “We’re hoping to pull in several vendors of the Farmers Market.”

Those vendors will play a key role in one of the grilling competitions – Cast iron Chef, which starts at 2 p.m. Missoula chefs will team up with local celebrities to grill a steak provided by the Montana Cattle Co. The teams will also receive a mystery box with ingredients and $25. Rushing through

the market, contestants will buy produce from the vendors to cook side dishes.

The Public Grill Master Challenge will start at 4 p.m. These grillers will focus on producing the best steak in terms of appearance, tenderness and taste to impress the five judges and take home the title.

The grand prize, donated by the Axmen, will be a Big Green Egg barbecue grill package worth $1,300.

Throughout the day, fresh produce will be available from vendors. Local, sustainable businesses will bring products and information on services they offer. Children will find activities designed for them.

Educational demonstrations about sustainable agriculture and gardening will be shown on the main stage, taking the Western Montana Fair back to the past. The presentations will include four-seasons gardening, composting, pests in gardens, food preservation, fair history and raising

chickens.The importance

of buying local and sustainable products will also be discussed, said Sue Anderson, education committee chair for the Sustainable Business Council.

“now that we’re not blessed with cheap fuel all the time, it’s become very important that we need to localize, especially processing,” Anderson said.

Most of the places that used to can fruits and vegetables in the state are gone, she said.

Re-localizing doesn’t necessarily mean going backward, though.

“We’ll take a step into the future with new innovations and things that will help folks work on local food,” Anderson said.

The West Lawn Market opens Tuesday at 11 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m.

Alaina Abbott is a senior studying print journalism at the University of Montana who is interning at the Missoulian this summer. She can be reached at 523-5251 or at [email protected].

Get grillingWest Lawn Market features competitions, demonstrations

“Missoula really likes their food, and there are a lot of really great cooks and chefs in the area.”

– Gretchen Kirchmann, of the Kirchmann Media

Group, which handles publicity for

the fair

Every minute. Every day.

missoulian.com

Missoulian

Blue Mountain Highlander, a registered Mammoth Jack donkey, will arrive at the Western Montana Fair on Wednesday.

The donkey will be on display through Sunday, Aug. 16, on the West Lawn.

Highlander, which is black with white points, stands at an impressive 58 inches, or 15.1 hands. To be registered as Mammoth,

a male donkey must be at least 14.2 hands and females 14.0 hands, about the size of a very large riding pony.

According to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, fewer than 1,000 Mammoth donkeys are registered in the United States each year.

Highlander is owned by Bob Doxey of Lazy BD Donkey Farm just outside of Missoula on Mullan

Road.When machinery and

tractors were introduced to American farms during the 1940s and 1950s, the Mammoth donkey, like working horse breeds, was nearly lost.

Doxey said there are only around 4,000 Mammoth Jacks registered today, but the number is growing.


Jim Sadler is a master when it comes to flowers, whether he’s growing, grooming or judging them, and he has an acre of his own brilliant blossoms to prove it.

Sadler has been a judge at the Western Montana Fair for the floriculture competition for more than 15 years, but the flowers at this fair are not the only ones under Sadler’s scrutiny.

Last year, he judged five Montana fairs and traveled to new Mexico, Oregon and Washington to evaluate flowers at competitions in those states.

“in order to be a master judge, you have to go through different levels of judging, which have increasingly more requirements to fulfill,” Sadler said. “i go to symposiums just on flowers – how to grow them and how to deal with them.”

Prior the Western Montana Fair, Sadler shared a few tips on preparing flowers for competition.

For starters, the seeds should not be planted too close to each other.

“it’s hard to pay $2.19 for a packet of seeds and then pull most of them out,” Sadler said, but the plants need to be thinned

to make sure their stems will grow straight.

The flowers chosen for competition should have all of their petals. Munch marks from insects and pollen stains guarantee that the judges will dock points from the score.

if daisies have pollen on their petals, for example, a makeup brush can often remove the unwanted spots, but it’s usually best to pick another one.

The evening before or the morning of the fair is the best time to pick flowers, and the stem should be left as long as possible. The plant can even be gently washed in the sink to ensure it is bug-free.

Once the stem is placed in water up to its neck for maximum hydration, the stem should be cut while submerged to prevent air from getting into it. The blossom will survive longer and look fresh and crisp, not limp and wilted.

Rather than hot or cold water, flowers generally prefer a lukewarm temperature.

“That’s what they like,” Sadler said, except for dahlias, which need a lot of water.

Dahlia stems should be cut in hot water, “as hot as you can get it,” to open the veins, and then they are plunged into cold water to suck it in.

Products to enhance the appearance of the

flowers are not allowed.“You cannot use shine

or those types of things you use on house plants,” Sadler said. “They have to be as natural as possible.”

At the Western Montana Fair, flower scores are based on 100 points. Judges deduct points for imperfections. Typically, a score of 90 points or more means a blue ribbon. A red ribbon would be in the 80-point range.

“You’re looking for perfection of the flower,” Sadler said. “if it’s a regal lily, it should look like every other regal lily,” All the features, including the size, should be correct.

The floriculture competition will be in Building 12, with exhibits judged each day of the fair for the General Flower Show. The Gladiolus Show is Monday through Friday. Dahlias will be evaluated Saturday. The Rose Show will close the floriculture competition on Sunday, Aug. 16.

Alaina Abbott is a senior studying print journalism at the University of Montana who is interning at the Missoulian this summer. She can be reached at 523-5251 or at [email protected].


Missoulian

The Culinary Department at the Western Montana Fair is inviting the public to participate in daily cookoffs this week.

Demonstrations and cookoffs will follow a different theme each day, and cooks are welcome without advance registration.

Cookoffs are scheduled at 3 p.m. daily in the Culinary Building.

On Wednesday, August the theme is “Party Starters – Dips, Dunks and Tidbits,” followed by “Getting Back To Basics – One Dish Meals” on Thursday and “Tough Enough to Cook Pink” – for men only – on Friday. On Saturday, the theme is “America – The Melting Pot,” with a chili cookoff, and Sunday’s final cookoff is “Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate – it’s Going To Be A Chocolate

Sunday”The Friday award

will be presented by the Missoula Stampede Rodeo Committee in recognition of the Tough Enough to Wear Pink rodeo performance.

“We encourage you to dress in pink, too, as you present your favorite pink culinary treat,” said culinary co-superintendents

Darlyne Block and Donna Stewart.

Tips for preparing foods for cookoff themes will be presented by the Missoula City-County Health Department each day at 2:50 p.m.

Food demonstrations will be held throughout each day of the fair.

From starters to desserts, cook in daily competitions

Mammoth donkey Highlander to be at fair starting Wednesday

Brilliant blossomsJudge offers flower-show pointers

LinDA THOMPSOn/Missoulian

A rodeo princess takes a snack-break. Cooking competitions are held throughout the fair.

By STEVE MiLLERfor the Missoulian

in 1981, hit-making country singer Don King called it quits from touring and left his backing band without its star front man. Rather than parting ways, the five-piece group stayed together and formed Sawyer Brown, one of country pop’s biggest bands in the last two decades.

After millions of records sold, and numerous Top 40 appearances later, the award-winning group (named after a street near their rehearsal space) is bringing their hit-filled catalogue to the Western Montana Fair.

On Wednesday, Sawyer Brown will take the stage on the grassy infield. The concert starts at 7 p.m.

Fair manager Scot Meader expects a turnout of 3,000-plus for the show.

“Our tickets are selling well for them,” Meader said.

He also said the band has “real high energy, and their performance will certainly be a crowd

pleaser.”“They just do a fantastic

show,” Meader said.Sawyer Brown’s big

break came in 1983 when they took first place on Star Search, a nationally televised talent show popular in the 1980s through the mid-’90s. Their

self-titled debut album featured their first of three no. 1 country hits, “Step That Step.”

The band hit a rough patch in the late ’80s and early ’90s; their singles rarely charted in the


in the last three years, Michael Burks has had only one profitable event. But unlike most concert promoters, his main reason to put on a show isn’t to make bank.

Rather, he wants them to serve a higher purpose.

“it’s all for the ministry,” and to “keep it flowing in Missoula,” Burks said.

On Thursday, this ministry will take center stage at the Western Montana Fair with the performance of Grammy-winning Christian rock outfit Casting Crowns.

Based out of Daytona

Beach, Fla., the multi-platinum Casting Crowns is the latest in a string of popular Christian rock groups to play the fair. Each concert has been co-sponsored by Burks’ Garden of Read’n, a Christian bookstore.

This time around, however, Burks and the Garden are deciding to shoulder the entire cost, which he estimates to be nearly $25,000. To break even, Burks said that they would need more than 3,000 people to attend the show, but, at the moment, he expects 2,400 to 2,500 concert-goers.

“We’re just hoping and

praying that we get a big turnout this year,” Burks said.

Fair general manager Scot Meader seems to think that their prayers will be answered.

“Our Christian shows are very well attended,” Meader said. “We’re very excited to have them. i think the show will be fantastic.”

Casting Crowns has been a regular staple in the Christian rock scene since their 2003 self-titled debut album, which included the chart-topping Christian hits “Who Am i?” and “Voice of



Casting Crowns serves higher purpose on

Courtesy photo

Sawyer Brown will play the infield at the Western Montana Fair on Wednesday night.

Sawyer Brown brings country to fairgrounds

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Missoulian

Montana cowboys and cowgirls will compete against reigning world champions for $40,000 in prize money at the Missoula Stampede Rodeo on Friday and Saturday at the Western Montana Fair.

The 2008 champions entered in the rodeo are steer wrestler Luke Branquinho, saddle bronc rider Cody Wright, tie-down roper Stran Smith, barrel racer Lindsay Sears and all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile.

“Ten of the top 20 contestants in Tie Down Roping are scheduled to compete,” said Scot Meader, general manager of the fair. “A rodeo fan will see several nFR (national Finals Rodeo) qualifiers perform here in Missoula.”

Tie-down roping contestants include Brazile, Fred Whitfield, Cody Ohl and Smith.

Montana’s own Jesse Kruse of Great Falls, currently leading the world saddle bronc standings, will compete during the opening rodeo Friday night in the Alltel Arena.

The team roping contests include four of the top five men in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association standings. Currently sitting at no. 2 is Kelsey Parchman of Cumberland City, Tenn., followed by Travis Tryan of Billings, and Michael Jones of Stephenville, Texas. Former world champion Allen Bach is scheduled to compete Saturday evening.

Rough stock contestants

Saturday include bull rider Jesse Bail of Camp Crook, S.D., and 2008 intercollegiate world champion bull rider Dustin Jenkins of Missoula. Bobby Mote of Culver, Okla., who is sitting at no. 2 in the PRCA standings, is in the bareback riding event Saturday night. The

Saturday afternoon saddle bronc lineup includes seven cowboys from Montana.

Current PRCA leader Shawn Greenfield of Lakeview, Ore., and current world champion Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., will compete against 30 Montana cowboys in

steer wrestling.The barrel racing contest

includes former nFR qualifier Rachel Myllmyaki of Arlee, along with reigning world champion Sears of Canada.

in the past year, the Missoula Stampede received the top two awards on the Montana

pro rodeo circuit, the 2008 Most improved Rodeo and 2008 Rodeo of the Year.

Tickets are available at www.westernmontana fair.com. Prices range from $10 from $16 for Friday and Saturday night performances beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 2 p.m. Saturday rodeo are $10.

Gate admission is required

for tickets purchased at the

fair.


Pros, Montanans compete for $40,000 in Missoula Stampede Rodeo events

Ropers and wrestlers


A rider makes a turn during a barrel-racing event at the Missoula Stampede Rodeo.




At Whalen Tire on West Broadway, employees Joe O’Dell and Josh Peters spend their hours after work readying their cars for the big show at the fair this year – only to eventually have the “bejeezus” knocked out of them.

And that’s the point.On Sunday, Aug. 16,

the Western Montana Fair will host the napa Auto Demolition Derby at the Alltel Arena. The action begins 5:30 p.m. and is expected to run until 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for ages 5 to 12.

Other festivities include the Herby Derby and the Redneck Relay.

Al Kessler, Demo Derby superintendent, offers a fairly simple explanation for the event.

“it’s a bunch of cars who get out there and run into each other,” Kessler said. “it’s the way you would not want to treat your own car.”

Kessler expects 40 to 50 participants this year, which will determine the number of rounds to be held. Typically, Kessler said that there are 12 drivers per round and the top four advance.

Kessler said that a group of judges has the final say on the winners for each round; for a driver to advance, he needs to hit and hit often.

“They can’t just sit there and sandbag around,” Kessler said.

in the finals, Kessler said it’s a fight to the finish – the

last car driving is the winner and takes home a purse of $2,000.

“it’s a matter of attrition. it can come down to timing,” he said.

But while the name of the game is to pound the other cars out of commission, Kessler said there is no shortage of sportsmanship behind the scenes.

“They’re out there basically to wreck each others’ cars but not to hurt each other,” Kessler said.

For O’Dell and Peters, a certain level camaraderie is essential for survival.

in fact, Peters plans to use the banged-up, 1976 Pontiac wagon O’Dell used in last year’s competition, while O’Dell will use a 1970 Dodge Monaco that he got for “a case of Corona and a good deal on tires.”

Between the rounds, O’Dell and Peters said, competitors are often willing to help get each others’ cars ready for more abuse.

“For the most part, it’s pretty friendly down there,” Peters said.

Between the two, there is more than 25 years of demolition derby experience, with 19 of those years belonging to O’Dell.

O’Dell, who took home the top spot several years back and is usually in the championship round, said that this year his Monaco will be painted pink for breast cancer awareness.

While the bright color might make his car an easy target, the risk isn’t a factor for O’Dell.

“i don’t care,” O’Dell said.

“(i) dare to drive pink.”Peters, who took second

last year, attributes staying alive in the competition to “a lot of luck and being careful.”

O’Dell has an equally

straightforward strategy.“i hit and hope i can

leave,” he said.With the derby quickly

approaching, the two said they will spend as long as they have to in order to be

sure their cars are in prime condition to hit and be hit.

But one thing’s for certain: The demolition derby isn’t for the faint of heart.

“The first time you get hit, you go,” O’Dell said. “You just go out there and go for it.”

For more information, tickets or an entry form, go to www.westernmontana fair.com.

Steve Miller is a senior

studying print journalism

and English literature at



Missoulian this summer. He

can be reached at 523-5259

or at steve.miller@

missoulian.com.

in demolition derby, the goal is to wreck cars, but not drivers

Crash camaraderie


ABOVE: Joe O’Dell has 19 years of demolition derby experience and plans to drive a modified 1970 Dodge Monaco in the Western Montana Fair’s napa Auto Demolition Derby on Sunday, Aug. 16.

LEFT: Josh Peters stand next to a 1976 Pontiac wagon at Whalen Tire recently.

Top 40 and founding member Bobby Randall left the group, who was eventually replaced by Duncan Cameron.

After leaving Capitol Records to sign with Curb Records, the group had a string of successful singles in the Top 10, including the no. 1 tracks “Some Girls Do,” and “Thank God For You.” Many attribute this resurgence to the input of singer-songwriter Mac McAnally, who co-wrote several of their more somber ballads.

With two greatest hits collections to their name, Sawyer Brown continue to tour. Their most recent album “Mission Temple Firework Stand,” was released in 2005.

in 2003, front man

Truth.”Their sophomore effort

“Lifesong” produced three no. 1 singles, including the title track. This success continued to their third album “The Altar and the Door,” which debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard Album Charts.

“East to West,” a cut from “The Altar and the Door,” spent a record-breaking 19 weeks atop the Christian music charts; the group’s song “Voice of Truth” held the previous record at 14 weeks.

The band’s forthcoming album, “Until the Whole World Hears,” is slated to drop this november.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. with opening act Kent Curtiss. Tickets are on sale at Garden of Read’n for $25. Gate admission

is required for tickets purchased at the fair. The concert will be located at the fair infield and most of it will be festival seating. A 10 percent discount will be given to groups of 10 or more.

For more information,

visit www. gardenofreadn.com.

Steve Miller is a senior studying print journalism and English literature at the University of Montana who is interning at the Missoulian this summer.

He can be reached at 523-

5259 or at steve.miller@

missoulian.com.

FROM PAGE 710 – Missoulian, Sunday, August 9, 2009

JEREMY COWART

From left, Andy Williams, Melodee DeVevo, Hector Cervantes, Mark Hall, Juan DeVevo, Megan Garrett and Chris Huffman are Casting Crowns.

CrownsContinued

BrownContinued

Mark Miller founded

Beach Street Records. He’s

credited with discovering

Christian rock group

Casting Crown, which

is playing the fair the

following night.

Tickets are available at

www.westernmontana

fair.com for $25. Gate

admission is required for

tickets purchased at the fair.

Steve Miller is a senior

studying print journalism

and English literature at



Missoulian this summer. He


or at steve.miller@

missoulian.com.

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Touchscreen whiteboards, a theater board and high-quality monitors will take fairgoers on a dive into the ocean and immerse them in scalding geysers – virtually, of course.

Last summer, the Media Arts Building opened for the first time at the Western Montana Fair and displayed seven entries.

“i’m hoping we can improve that,” said Eric Smith, co-superintendent of the Media Arts category at the fair.

Entries can include photos, audio, video,

animation and Web elements. Smith is looking for professional and amateur work, even something as simple as a wedding slideshow.

The Media Arts Building also houses the World of Motion Gallery, a year-round media arts program and a resource for people.

The gallery’s two main displays are called Explorocean! and Hot Waters!, which Smith developed for nASA using a public outreach education grant given to the University of Montana.

“i’ve always believed art and science go hand in hand,” Smith said.

The exhibits are

projected onto interactive touchscreen whiteboards called Smart Boards, which are also used in classrooms. The pens for drawing on the board and the erasers have felt tips, but if those are missing, fingers work equally well.

“This is amazing technology,” Smith said.

Seven webcams allow Smith to project creatures at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California onto a Smart Board. Another screen shows almost all of the geysers in Yellowstone national Park, many of which the public cannot physically access. Scientists created a camera that they can submerge into geysers

to explore beneath the surface.

A theater board in the Media Arts Building displays works with sound, and behind that screen, all the production equipment hides in the dark. Smith has the capability to work with old film, mini DV, high definition and Avid.

Leaving the Media Arts Building doesn’t mean entering the archaic fairgrounds, though.

The Western Montana Fair has increasingly been incorporating technology into its system, whether it’s handling entries electronically or selling tickets online.

“People can shop right

at home and choose the reserve seating right from the convenience at home,” said Eunice Misbe, administrative assistant.

Credit cards will accepted at this summer’s fair, at least by the vendors, commercial booths and the commercial building.

“Everything used to be done by hand is the bottom line,” Misbe said.

Also new this year is wireless internet access for vendors, who are usually traveling with their wares.

“it may not be home for them,” Misbe said.

The Western Montana Fair has a social networking presence via Facebook. People can also post their

photos from the fair on

Facebook.

“it’s something they can

go back to,” said Gretchen

Kirchmann of Kirchmann

Media Group. “Facebook

can actually help capture all

the memories that people

make.”

Alaina Abbott is a senior




Missoulian this summer. She


or at [email protected].

Fair goes high techDigital age here with Media Arts entries, wireless access for vendors

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TUESDAYFamily Day. Free

admission all day.

11 a.m.: fair gates open; Open Class Exhibit Buildings open; Llama Judging and interview, Country Fair area; General Flower Show, Floriculture Building until 8 p.m. Friday; “Keep Your Roots Authentic,” West Lawn Market, open until 7 p.m., visit www.missoulian. com/wlm

11:10 a.m.: “Sustainable Agriculture and Being a Localvore,” Jodi Allison-Bunnell, West Lawn Market

11:40 a.m.: “Four Seasons Gardening,” Larry Evans, West Lawn Market

noon: Hi-noon Red Wagon Parade, line up 11:45 a.m., begins at Alltel Arena Grandstand Entrance; 4-H Exhibit Building opens; Uncle Curly the Clown

noon to 4 p.m.: Open Class Beef arrive

12:10 p.m.: “The Dirt on Composting,” Sabrina Smith and Bethann Garramon, West Lawn Market

12:30 p.m.: music with Amy Martin and special guest Shane Clouse, West Lawn Market

1 p.m.: “Overview of Missoula’s Fair Trade City Project,” Katie Ghen Simpson, West Lawn Market

1:10 p.m.: “From Sod to Garden,” Max Smith, West

Lawn Market1:30 p.m.: Open Class

Poultry judging in barn1:40 p.m.: “Preservation

by Fermentation,” Kristen Lee-Charlson, West Lawn Market

2-3:30 p.m.: Cast iron Chef Competition, Localvore Grilling, West Lawn

3:40 p.m.: Fair history with Stan Cohen, Jerry Marks and Bill nooney

4-6 p.m.: Public Grill Master Challenge, West Lawn; music with Andrea Harsell

4-8 p.m.: Open Class Dairy Cows arrive; all 4-H/FFA livestock are required to arrive on the fairgrounds

4:40 p.m.: “Heritage

Poultry Breeds in Your Backyard,” Heather McKee, West Lawn Market

5 p.m.: carnival opens; music with Tractor Jack and Muddy Spuds, West Lawn Market

5:10 p.m.: “Local Lucy, Traveling Tom and Other Reasons to Buy Local and Sustainable,” Genevieve King, West Lawn Market

5:30 p.m.: music with Tractor Jack and the Muddy Spuds, West Lawn Market

5:40 p.m.: Grill Master Challenge Awards, West Lawn Market

6 p.m.: music with Lil’ Smokies, West Lawn Market

6:30 p.m.: Bull-o-rama Pre-Show Events

7 p.m.: Bullorama Show

8 p.m.: Fair Office Closes10 p.m.: Open Class

Exhibit Buildings close10:30 p.m.: Commercial

Building and Mercantile Lane close

Midnight: West Lot closes

WEDnESDAYSenior Stay-cation Day.

Seniors 55-plus enter free all day. Bring a senior and get 50 percent off your gate admission. One guest per senior.

Military free with active duty iD.

Business person’s lunch. Enter free 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to eat at the food concessions. Present your

business card for admission and qualify for daily drawing for two night show tickets.

11 a.m.: fair gates open; Open Class Exhibit Buildings open; Breeding Sheep judging, 4-H/FFA; Missoula Public Library Bookmobile Here, West Lawn

noon: Hi-noon Red Wagon Parade, line up 11:45 a.m., begins at Alltel Arena Grandstand Entrance; Horse Clinic with Ty Heth at the Alltel Arena, free; Uncle Curly, West Lawn

1-3 p.m.: native American Dance Theater, West Lawn

1-5 p.m.: Rodeo Queens Horsemanship Contest, Alltel Arena, free

2 p.m.: Breeding Beef judging (4-H/FFA); Open Class Beef judging will follow 4-H/FFA Breeding

Beef judging3 p.m.: cookoff, “Party

Starters – Dips, Dunks, and Tidbits,” Culinary Building

3:30 p.m.: “Tips for Home Canning,” Kathy Revello

3:30-6:30 p.m.: Talent Quest Regional Karaoke Finals, West Lawn

4 p.m.: How to make Truffles

5-5:15 p.m.: Kids’ Trek, make a treat together, for kids up to 12 years old

7 p.m.: Sawyer Brown concert, infield Grassy Arena

8 p.m.: fair office closes10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit

Building and Livestock Barns close

10:30 p.m.: Commercial Building and Mercantile Lane close


ADMiSSiOnDaily gate admission prices for Wednesday

through Sunday, Aug. 16 (free admission Tuesday for Family Day):

Adults (ages 13 and up; ages 13-17 see Thursday special), $6

Military (with active duty iD), freeStudents (ages 5-12; see Thursday special), $3Children (ages 4 and under), freeSenior citizens (ages 55 and up; see Wednesday

special), $44-H, FFA members (with proof of membership),

free

Fair schedule 2009


Fair-goers of all kinds spend time at the concession area at the fair.

See SCHEDULE, Page 13

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FROM PAGE 12

THURSDAYKids’ Day. Ages 5 to 17

enter free until 6 p.m.Military free with active

duty iD.Business person’s lunch.

Enter free 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to eat at the food concessions. Present your business card for admission and qualify for daily drawing for two night show tickets.

11 a.m.: fair gates Open; Open Class Exhibit Buildings open; Missoula Stampede Pageant Fashion Show and Speeches, West Lawn

11:15 a.m.: Frosted Ribbon Loaf Demonstration

11-11:45: Diaper Derby and Toddler Race, Paddock

11-2 p.m.: Sweetheart Princess Tea, Culinary Building

11-4:30 p.m.: Celebrate the Outdoors, infield

noon: Hi-noon Red Wagon Parade, line up at 11:45, begins at Alltel Arena Grandstand Entrance; Horse Clinic with Chris Bohenek, free, Alltel Arena

12:30 p.m.: Messy Eater Contest, Sponsored by Coldstone Creamery, near the Alltel Arena Entrance

1 p.m.: Horseshoe Making and Shoeing Demo, West Lawn

2 p.m.: Market Lamb judging; Black Bean Brownie Demo

3 p.m.: cookoff, “Getting Back To Basics – One Dish Meals,” tips at 2:50 p.m., Culinary Building

4 p.m.: Velveeta Fudge, Culinary Building

5-5:15 p.m.: Kids’ Trek, make a treat together, for kids up to 12 years old

6 p.m.: Market Beef judging

7 p.m.: Casting Crowns concert, infield Grassy Arena

10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns close

10:30 p.m.: Commercial Building and Mercantile Lane close


FRiDAYTough Enough to Wear

Pink Day at the rodeo.Military free with active

duty iD.Business person’s lunch.

Enter free 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to eat at the food concessions. Present your business card for admission and qualify for daily drawing for two night show tickets.

11 a.m.: fair gates opennoon: Hi-noon Red

Wagon Parade, line up at 11:45, begins at Alltel Arena Grandstand Entrance; “Recipes from Missoula’s Past - Happy Bungalow’s Corn Fritters, 4B’s Cream of Tomato Soup and barbecue sauce from Bug’s BBQ,” Culinary Building

noon-7 p.m.: Horseshoers, West Lawn,

1 p.m.: Sheep showmanship; Rodeo Slack, free, Alltel Arena

2 p.m.: Sandwich Making Demo by Worden’s Market, Culinary Building

3 p.m.: cookoff, “Tough Enough To Cook Pink,” for men only, tips at 2:50 p.m., Culinary Building

5-5:15 p.m.: Kids’ Trek, make a treat together, for kids up to 12 years old.

6 p.m.: Beef showmanship

6:30 p.m.: Rodeo Pre-show, Alltel Arena

7 p.m.: Missoula Stampede Rodeo, Alltel Arena

10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Bars close

SATURDAYQuality Supply Day at

the fair.Military free with active

duty iD.

11 a.m.: fair gates Open; Open Class and 4-H Exhibit Buildings open

11-8 p.m.: Dahlia Show, Floriculture Building

noon: Hi-noon Red Wagon Parade, line up at 11:45, begins at Alltel Arena Grandstand Entrance; Demos for Deviled Eggs Supreme and Boiling The Perfect Egg, Culinary Building

noon-7 p.m.: Horseshoers, West Lawn

1 p.m.: Stick Horse Parade with Kiddie Rodeo immediately following parade, Country Fair Outdoor Arena

2 p.m.: Missoula Stampede Rodeo, Alltel Arena; Open Class Sheep Show; Demo for Chinese

ScheduleContinued

See SCHEDULE, Page 14


A batch of “vikings” prepared by the Sons of norway.

Cabbage Salad, Culinary Building

3 p.m.: cookoff, “America – The Melting Pot,” chili cookoff, tips at 2:50 p.m., Culinary Building

4 p.m.: Round Robin Judging; Krumkake Demo, Culinary Building

5-5:15 p.m.: Kids’ Trek, make a treat together, for kids up to 12 years old.

7 p.m.: Missoula Stampede Rodeo, Alltel Arena

8-11 p.m.: 4-H/FFA Dance

10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns close

SUnDAYMilitary free with active

duty iD.

11 a.m.: fair gates open;

Open Class and 4-H Exhibit Buildings open; Rose Show, Floriculture Building, until 8 p.m.; Sweetheart Princess Tea, until 2 p.m.

noon: Hi-noon Red

Wagon Parade, line up at 11:45 p.m., begins at Alltel Arena Grandstand Entrance; Horseshoers, West Lawn

1 p.m.: 4-H Baking

Contests; KYSS Redneck Relay, Alltel Arena, until 3 p.m.

2 p.m.: “Decorating Chocolate Sacks,” Culinary Building

3 p.m.: cookoff, “Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate – it’s Going To Be A Chocolate Sunday,” tips at 2:50 p.m., Culinary Building; following the last cookoff, there will be a drawing for all the cookoff winners.

5-5:15 p.m.: Kids’ Trek, make a treat together, for kids up to 12 years old, Culinary Building

5:30 p.m.: napa Auto Demolition Derby, Alltel Arena.

6 p.m.: Market animals leave the fairgrounds

8 p.m.: Breeding animals and all other animals allowed to leave fairgrounds

8 p.m.: Exhibit Building exhibits allowed to leave the building

FROM PAGE 1314 – Missoulian, Sunday, August 9, 2009

ScheduleContinued


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western montana fair

Documents

ffa farm

ffa adviser

ffa students

farm kids

rootstom andres

agricultural competitions

future careers

national ffa organization