Get your Country Kicks in ‘26 at the county fair

by David Boyle
News Director
The San Juan County Fair starts up this week with an opportunity for residents to get their ‘Country Kicks in ‘26’.
The multi-week celebration runs July 31 through August 8 with rodeos, livestock auctions, family games and a concert with Country music act Lonestar!
Performing on August 6, Lonestar has played together for 30 years, the award-winning band has scored 10 No. 1 singles, including “Amazed,” — spending nine weeks at No. 1, becoming a huge crossover hit, climbing to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 — and “I’m Already There,” which held steady at the top for six weeks.
Other highlights include the Blue Mountain Youth Rodeo on August 8 with competitors bending poles, barrel racing, team roping and riding livestock from mutton all the way up to bulls.
Livestock shows and Auctions will also be that following weekend with other fair entries, mud volleyball, talent shows, and plenty of fun activities.
The week kicks off on Friday, July 31 with the Miss Western Junior Rodeo at 9:00 am.
Events include wooly riding, goat tagging, barrel racing, pole bending, bull riding saddle bronc and team roping with divisions as young as four up to 18 years old.
Friday evening is the Mini Miss and Mr San Juan for 3-5 year olds and Little Miss and Mr. San Juan for 6-8 year olds with the event starting at 6:00 pm.
Saturday August 1st starts in the mud, with the Down n Dirty Mud Bog at 10:30 am. Registration is from 9-10. The event is sponsored by Browns Towing and Road Service and Lil’ Joker Racing.
Saturday evening is the team roping and ranch rodeo at 6:00 pm. Entries are open until 5:00 that evening, with team roping as well as ranch rodeo including branding, doctoring and sorting scramble games.
On Monday August 3 entries for open class exhibits starts from 2-6 pm. The Monticello High School wrestling team fundraiser Navajo Taco dinner is from 5-7.
That evening at 7:00 pm are the “Fair”ly fun game show night.
The event is free to attend and participate with minute to win it games and cash prizes.
The evening closes with a family movie night at the fair shown on the grass starting at 9:00 pm.
On Tuesday August 4 open class exhibits are received at the fair building again from 1-6 pm.
6:00 pm also marks the mud volleyball tournament. Teams of six or more with prizes to the top teams.
Free to attend and participate sign up in advance.
On Wednesday August 5 flower, baked goods, small animals and produce are accepted at the fair building, and only those entries from 7-9 am.
Hog and steer jr livestock weigh in is from 8-10 am.
With exhibit judging and set up going from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm with the fair building closed to the public.
11 am to 1 pm is the lamb and goat jr livestock weigh in.
At 2:30 pm is the 4-H rabbit and poultry showmanship.
Evening fun continues with the goat roping event at 5:00 pm and the Farm Bureau Talent Find at 7:00 pm that evening as well.
Thursday August 6 the fair building exhibits open to the public at 9:00 am and remains open until 5:30 that evening.
Also that morning is the mini livestock showmanship class at 9:00 am with the mini livestock market show at 10 am and the Junior Livestock Showmanship Classes at 11:00 am.
The Page Party Inflatables go up from 1 to 5 pm free to the public.
Additionally the children’s fair runs from 1-3 pm at the grass area with small crafts for kids, some for a fee and other activities and crafts free for children 12 and under.
At 5:30 pm the fairgrounds will clear for the night with the gates opening for the concert at 6:00 pm.
The Lonestar Concert is at 7:30 pm with opening act Dzaki Sukarno.
Tickets can be purchased at Mountainland Supply in Monticello, RelaDyne in Blanding and Wilson Monuments in Cortez as well as online.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate.
Five and under are free with all seating general admission.
Friday August 7 starts at 9 am with market livestock shows. All day the fair exhibit building will be open. The children’s fair and 4-H fun is once again open on the fairground grass from Noon to 2.
Additional from 1-5 pm are the Page Party Inflatables.
At 1 pm is the student judging at the livestock barn show ring.
Family fun games run from 2:30-5 pm with family games offering chances to earn tickets to participate in the honey money roll for cash.
5:00 pm is the junior livestock awards.
The all night softball tournament starts at 6:00 pm and goes late
Cowboy games are also Friday evening starting at 7:00 pm with local cowboys and cowgirls competing in games including rescue race, hide race and more.
No entry fee with prizes to the winners, sign up at the fairgrounds at 6:00 that evening.
Saturday August 8 wraps up the fair with the junior livestock buyer breakfast from 7-9 am with buyers also registering for the auction.
The junior livestock and mini livestock auction start at 10:00 am.
Other fun events for the day include the inflatables from 10 am to 5:00 pm, the children's fair from noon to two and the fair building exhibits being open from 9 am to 3 pm.
Entries are released back to the public at the fair building from 3-5 pm.
The evening ends with the Blue Mountain Youth Rodeo at 5:30 pm with competitors bending poles, barrel racing, team roping and riding livestock from mutton all the way up to bulls.
Aged four to 18. Admission is free to the public with entry fees ranging from $10-20 per event.
No late entries accepted, entries needed by Saturday August 1.
Additional information and the schedule can be found in the San Juan Record and on the San Juan County Fair - Monticello, Utah Facebook page.