From gasoline to groceries to goods and services, everything seems to cost more these days. Prices continue to rise as we struggle to find ways to recreate while maintaining our sanity and quality of life. Many people have been forced to scale down their summer vacation plans. With the Rocky Mountains in our backyard, hiking, biking, and fishing have always been affordable options, as is attending the annual Gilpin County Fair. Not only a chance to get outdoors and socialize with your neighbors, admittance always has been and continues to be free.

This year’s fair kicked off Friday, July 15, with a volleyball tournament conducted inside the barn. Benefitting from good planning, if it had been held outside, we would have had mud volleyball. As it was, with the barn’s sandy floor, it had the feel of beach volleyball.

Saturday is always the biggest day of the three-day fair, seeing the most attendees. Vendors offered wares and promoted their causes. Brightwood Music had instruments on hand to try out and publisher Barbara Hardt handed out Mountain-Ear newspapers. Tony and Nicole Zotti’s silk screened T-shirts, with their attractive Gilpin County moose graphic, sold out quickly. A cutout of Dolly Parton advertised her Imagination Library reading program.

Keeping the kids entertained was of utmost importance. Two bounce houses provided hours of amusement. New to the fair this year, human bowling was another inflatable feature where kids climbed inside a giant ball and through their own locomotion tried to knock down pins at the end of the alley. Suz- Q-Z the clown was back again at the face-painting tent adorning kids’ faces. The line never ceased as she skillfully and lovingly toiled for eight straight hours. A unicorn was the most requested makeover.

Presented on Saturday and Sunday, the dog agility contest has become one of Gilpin County Fair’s most popular events. Dog owners from far and wide brought their pooches to compete. A course made up of jumps, chutes, seesaws, slides, and weave poles challenged both dogs and owners. Enticed by treats, it was funny watching the canines balk at most of the obstacles and hilarious listening to Jack Masterson-Newman’s witty play-by- play.

Timberline Fire Foundation offered hamburgers, hot dogs, Polish sausages, sodas, beer, wine, hard cider, and mimosas. Kona Ice had a truck onsite selling shaved ice drinks in ten different flavors.

After a two-year hiatus, professional rodeo returned to the Allen Memorial Arena at Gilpin County Fairgrounds. Bulls and broncs were provided by JD Ford of Brighton for the highly- anticipated affair. The action was fast and furious. Having already completed two rigorous months of competition this season, riders struggled to stay aboard their powerful beasts. One of the bull riders was Gilpin resident and CSU student Rylee Kutscher. The only female in the competition, she was unable to last the full eight seconds required to place. In fact, none of the bull riders finished their rides except Cody Nolte who received a score of 68 on the last ride of the afternoon to win the competition. Justin Quint won the Ranch Bronc category with a score of 78.

Not nearly as experienced, but every bit as brave, were the mutton busters. Children as young as three and as old as seven boarded the sheep and clutched their fleece as tightly as they could. Some were dumped onto the dirt right out of the gate while others lasted well into the arena. Whenever an ovine rid itself of its cargo, it would leap high in the air and kick its hind legs in celebration. Two rounds were conducted on Saturday and one on Sunday. All of the mutton busters received a purple ribbon for their efforts.

Interspersed throughout the afternoon were performances by the Westernaires of Jefferson County. The interpretive Native American dances demonstrated by Colorado youth in their regalia were yet another highlight. The girls’ jingle dances enchanted and the boys’ fancy dances thrilled in a whir of feathers and beadwork. Members of the audience joined the performers in the arena to conclude the day’s festivities with the Powwow Dance.

Sunday was a day to catch one’s breath. High Country Auxiliary served more than 350 breakfasts to raise money for the Timberline Fire Protection District, Gilpin County Animal Response Team, and other first responders. Master Jim Beasley, along with fellow instructors and students, gave an exciting taekwondo demonstration that involved Korean fighting swords and the splitting of boards. Classes are ongoing at the Gilpin Rec Center. The second of their Buckle Series and the backbone of last year’s county fair, Archwood 4-H Club fittingly ended the entertainment with a horse show and gymkhana.