The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Life is a whirlwind right now for Fair Manager Jill Delay. The 94th annual Routt County Fair is only a few weeks away, and she’s hustling to get everything together.

This year’s fair includes a few new elements: a concert by country music duo the Bellamy Brothers, a mechanical bull and a demolition derby.

“We hope to get a lot of cars out,” Delay said of the derby. “We’re going to have some local people compete.”

Events at the fairgrounds in Hayden start Aug. 8 with the open horse show, and the official fair runs Aug. 14 to 17. Those days will include vendors, inflatable rides, stilt-walking clinics and a clown. The mechanical bull will be on site Aug. 15 to 17.

“We’re just getting going,” Delay said Tuesday. “Everything’s a little bit behind schedule, but we’re good.”

Everything is free except the Bellamy Brothers concert and the derby, she said. Anyone who wants tickets can call the fairgrounds at 276-3068.

Delay said one of the other highlights would be the wine and beer competition Aug. 15. Anyone who produces the alcohol may participate, and the public is welcome. This year, a certified judge will make decisions in the contest.

Also new this year is the 4-H Town Kids Project, which has allowed Hayden youths to raise and house their 4-H livestock at the fairgrounds. Six children are raising lambs, and five are raising pigs, Delay said.

“So far, it’s just been a huge success,” she said. “The kids are doing great; it’s been a big success for everybody.”

Eight of the 11 participants wouldn’t be able to raise 4-H animals if not for the Town Kids program, she said.

Delay’s daughter, 12-year-old Belle Mazzola, is raising lambs through the project this year. She said her animals, Tyler and Leah, can be a handful.

“You have to go walk them, and sometimes they want to go for a run instead of a walk,” Belle said. She raised pigs two years ago and said she likes being able to connect with her lambs.

Belle, who will be in seventh grade at Hayden Middle School this fall, said she looks forward to putting her lambs on display next month at the fair. She’s still learning how to show them.

“It’s not as hard as some people would think, but it’s pretty hard,” Belle said. “Because you have to get them out and walk them without a harness. If they get away, you have to chase them. My sheep know they’re bigger than me, and they use that against me.”

Delay said she was happy with the response to the 4-H program, which began in March.

“We hope it keeps going so we can do it again next year,” she said.

In the meantime, she’s still rushing around to pull in the finishing fair touches.

“It’s all just kind of crazy,” Delay said.