Mutton Bustin' and Calf Scramble at the Nevada County Fair

WANT TO ENTER? READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW!

Two new arena events – Mutton Bustin’ and Calf Scramble – are planned for young children and teens in the Arena on Wednesday and Thursday night of the Nevada County Fair, August 11 - 15.

Featured in the Arena during the Professional Bull riding on Wednesday and the Rodeo on Thursday will be Mutton Bustin’, where eight young cowboys and cowgirls between the ages of 5 and 7 years old will get the chance each evening to mount a trusty sheep and head for the thrill of their young lives. Participants must be between the ages of 5 – 7, and must not weigh more than 65 pounds.

Also featured at the Arena on the same two nights will be the Calf Scramble, where ten teams, each consisting of a boy and girl, will compete with one another to catch, halter and coax a calf across the finish line. Participants must be between the ages of 12 – 18, and must weigh at least 100 pounds.

Western attire is required for both events, and there is no entry fee. Sheep and calves provided to the contestants during each event. Great prizes will be awarded for both events. For the Mutton Bustin’, prizes are $50 for first prize, $25 for second prize, and $10 for third prize. For the Calf Scramble, prizes are $100 for first prize, $50 for second prize, and $25 for third prize. There are a limited number of spots available, so call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217 to reserve a spot in either event, as well as obtain an application and a list of rules. Applications and rules are also posted under Special Contests at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. These two events are kindly sponsored by PremierWest Bank.

This year’s Fair is August 11 – 15. Each evening of the Fair features a thrilling arena event. Wednesday is Professional Bull Riding; Thursday is the Rodeo; Friday is Tuff Truck Racing and Monster Trucks; Saturday is Free Style Moto X Riders and Monster Trucks; and Sunday is the Demolition Derby. Purchase your arena event tickets before August 10 and get admission to the Fair for only $5. Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for more information.

Sponsor a Car in the Demolition Derby - and You Could Win $1,000 for Your Charity

Back by popular demand, the Nevada County Fair is providing organizations and businesses the opportunity to sponsor and drive a car in the Fair’s popular Demolition Derby, while at the same time raising money for a favorite charity or service organization.

Organizations and businesses can purchase a car for $500 and the Fair will provide a Derby car to use in the Demolition Derby. The organization can choose to provide its own driver or the Fair will provide a driver for the car. Additionally, the car can be picked up on August 6 to customize the car or it can be left at the Fair, where it will have a number painted on it.

The sponsored Derby cars will participate in their own event at the Demolition Derby, held on Sunday, August 15, at 7 pm in the Arena. The last of the sponsored cars moving will receive $1,000 towards the charity or service organization of their choice. Last year’s winner was Mark Andreus, who received $1,000 for his charity, Christian Encounter Ministries.

There are only a limited number of cars available. Call the Fair Office at
(530) 273-6217 to reserve your car and obtain a list of rules. Forms are also available at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Enter the Idol Competition at Nevada County Fair

Do you love to sing? If so, you could win $150, Fair admission tickets, and money for your favorite charity! The Nevada County Fair is looking for talented vocalists to sing in the “Tree-ditional” Idol Competition at this year’s Fair.

Nevada County residents ages 16 and up are invited to participate in this crowd favorite on Wednesday, August 11, at 9 pm on the Pine Tree Stage at the Fairgrounds. The grand prize is $150, two Fair admission tickets, a parking pass and two Saturday night arena tickets. Second place is $75, two admission tickets, a parking pass and two Thursday night arena tickets; and third prize is $25, two admission tickets and a parking pass.

Singers will be judged by a panel of local celebrities, who will narrow it down to three finalists. Audience members will then vote with quarters for the grand prize winner. The quarters will be weighed on stage and the winner will be announced that night. All quarters collected will be donated to the non-profit of the winner’s choice.

Last year’s Idol Competition winner was Katie Heward (see photo), who received $575 for her charity of choice, Sierra Services for the Blind.

Early entry is encouraged, as there is a limit of 20 contestants for this event. The entry fee is only $5, and entries close on Friday, August 6 at 5 pm. All contestants will receive a free admission pass to the Fair on Wednesday.

A complete list of rules and a registration form can be obtained from the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com, by calling the Fair Office at 273-6217, or sending an e-mail to debby@nevadacountyfair.com. The Idol Competition is sponsored by Old Town Café in downtown Grass Valley, and Citizens Bank has graciously donated its time to sell quarters during the show.

Bring your friends, your quarters, and be prepared for a great night of music and entertainment at this year’s Nevada County Fair, August 11 - 15.

Enter Your Exhibits in the Nevada County Fair: There's Still Time!

Want to enter something in the Nevada County Fair? There’s still time! The deadline for submitting paper entry forms is July 10 at 1 pm. To enter on-line using the Fair’s on-line entry system, the deadline is Friday, July 16 at 5 pm.

There is no entry fee if you enter your still exhibit on-line – just log-on to the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com, and follow the step-by-step process.

Join the thousands of Nevada County residents who enter exhibits each year in the more than 300 available categories. If you can make it, bake it, grow it or show it, we have a category for you! Don’t delay – enter now!

Complete descriptions of all categories are available online in the Fair's Competition Handbook. The handbook is also available at the Fair office, area libraries, chamber of commerce offices, and various sponsoring merchants.

Nevada County Fair Competition Handbook Now Available

The Nevada County Fair’s Competition Handbook, which includes all the information you need to enter exhibits in this year’s Fair, is now available. If you can make it, bake it, grow it or show it, there is a category for you!

There are hundreds of categories and specialty contests for adults and children. Try entering one of the traditional categories like baking cookies, entering a prized photo, creating a poster, showing something from your garden, or displaying a favorite collection. Or, enter one of the specialty categories like creating a miniature tree house, building a car for the solar-powered sprint car races, creating a produce character, or entering the “ugliest dang cake” contest.

Copies of the free handbook are available at the Chamber of Commerce offices, county libraries, at the Fairgrounds’ Office, or on-line at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. Area schools have also received a flyer with information about contests available to Nevada County youth.

The deadline for submitting paper entry forms is July 10 at 1 pm. The deadline for on-line entries is July 16 at 5 pm. There is no entry fee if you enter your still exhibit on-line.

This year’s Competition Handbook also contains information on discount days at the Fair, details about daily contests at the Fair, arena events, and advanced sale tickets.

Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair: September 23 - 26, 2010

The 24th annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair at the Nevada County Fairgrounds is happening this year beginning Thursday, September 23, and running through Sunday, September 26.

Six performances are planned throughout the event, where owners and their teams will compete for nearly $40,000 in prize money. In addition to the Draft Horse performances, the Fairgrounds are alive with music, Art at the Classic, lumberjack demonstrations, the Western Trade Show, horse shoeing competitions, and a clogging jamboree. Between performances, pick up your favorite goodie on Treat Street, then wander over to the Pine Tree Stage and enjoy the live entertainment. Or, go "backstage" and meet the horses up-close. Although there is a fee for the Draft Horse performances, admission to the Fairgrounds and Harvest Fair activities are free, so stop by anytime during the four-day event.

Take time on Saturday, September 25, to enjoy fine food and drink at “A Taste of the Gold,” which features some of the Gold Country’s finest restaurants, confectioners and wineries. Although Fairgrounds admission is free, tickets for this event must be purchased. Tickets include five food tastings, unlimited wine tasting, and a commemorative wine glass. To purchase tickets online, visit www.nswinecountry.com. For information or to purchase hard copy tickets, call the Grass Valley Downtown Association at (530) 272-8315 or visit www.historicgrassvalley.com.

Tickets are on sale now! Draft Horse Classic advanced tickets for reserved seating are $21 a person ($24 day of the event). General admission seats are first come, first seated, and are $18 in advance ($21 day of the event). RV camping is also available. Beginning on May 1, mail and fax ticket orders will be accepted; beginning June 1, phone and walk-in orders will be accepted. Ticket order forms are available at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Fairgrounds Seeking Nominations for Nevada County Fair Hall of Fame

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is seeking nominations for inductees into the Nevada County Fair’s Hall of Fame for 2010, and the community is encouraged to nominate individuals for this honor.

The Fair’s Nominating Committee is looking for individuals who support the Nevada County Fair and community relationships in a way that strengthens the mission and vision of the Fair. This support should be through assisting Nevada County youth during Fair activities; supporting agriculture, performing arts or educational activities; encouraging community participation in using the Fairgrounds as a community event venue; assisting in maintaining the beauty of the Fairgrounds; or any significant activity that helps move the Nevada County Fair toward its mission and vision.

Awards are given to individuals, not groups or organizations, and consideration may be given to individuals who are no longer living if their contributions were significant.

If you’d like to nominate an individual for the Nevada County Fair Hall of Fame, please submit a one page letter by July 7 stating your reasons why you are nominating the individual. Send letters by e-mail to reply@NevadaCountyFair.com or by mail to the Nevada County Fairgrounds at P.O. Box 2687, Grass Valley, CA 95945.