>>>
FOR 4-H RESULTS FROM THE 2008 GARFIELD COUNTY FAIR >>>CLICK HERE!
View our Television Commercial >>>here
THANK YOU! 2008 Garfield County Fair Sponsors
SPONSORS:
Grand Champion ~ Alpine Bank
Official Truck ~ Bighorn Toyota
Open Class ~ Encana
Family A-fair Day ~ Noble Energy
Car Show ~ Casey Concrete
Wine Tasting ~ Choice Liquor
Fair/Rodeo Royalty ~ Williams Production
Ice Cream Social ~ Encana
Community Dance ~ Colorado Mt. College
Junior Rodeo ~ Stallion Oil
Outdoor Movie ~ Murr Welding
Children’s Rodeo ~ Rocky Mt. Baptist Church
Rodeo ~ Hy Way Feeds
Concert ~ Colorado West Broadcasting
Beer Garden ~ Orrison Distributing
Parade ~ Rifle Chamber of Commerce
Senior Pee Wee Classic ~ Cheryl Chandler Real Estate
Web Hosting ~ Sopris Surfers
FAIR SUPPORTERS
Aspen Valley Land Trust, Coldwell Banker Western Land & Homes, Elk Mountain Motors, Neil-Garing Insurance,
Rib City Grill, Savage Land Company, Swallow Oil Company, Inc., The Fence Post
RODEO SUPPORTERS
Aqua Tec Systems, Barrett Energy, Cheney Plumbing & Heating, Colorado Quitline Partner w/ Shift
Elect Stephen Bershenyi County Commissioner, Corral West Ranchwear, Grand River Hospital District, Murdochs Ranch & Home Supply, P and K’s Auto Body, Inc.
Rifle Realty
ADVERTISERS
FAIR ROYALTYAjax Pool & Spa, Anytime Sewer & Drain Company, Book Grove, Chelewski Pipe & Supply, Dalby, Wendland & Co., P.C., Earth Works Construction, Edward Jones
Elmers Glass of Rifle, Garfield County Regional Airport, Garfield County Republicans, Garfield Steel & Machine, Inc., Glenwood Springs Ford & Lincoln Mercury
Glenwood Veterinary Clinic, Lone Spruce Horse Rental, Master Petroleum, Miners Claim Restaurant, Red River Inn, ReMax Country-A. Stanczak
Safety First, Spirits of New Castle, State Farm Insurance, Stereo Unlimited, Tim’s Tools, Town & Country Veterinary Hospital, Vin Mar Drywall, Inc.
Wagon Wheel Consulting, Western Slope Aggregate, Winchester Motel, Youth Zone, Double Trouble Trucking, Down Valley Septic, Johnson Construction
K&K Saw Mill, McDonald Trucking, Rifle Truck & Trailer, Rifle FFA, Strong Lumber & Specialty Log Products
In 2007 the fair board voted to combine the Garfield County Fair Royalty and Rodeo Royalty contests, instead of holding them in two separate contests as in past fairs.
“Combining the contests allows our winners to participate on a greater level in community events,” says organizer Lisa Nieslanik. “In the past, the rodeo royalty was
chosen in the spring and fair royalty wasn’t decided until the fair time. Now all of our winners can be out in parades and in the public during the whole summer leading
to the fair, which is more exciting for them.”
The Rodeo Royalty competition determines a rodeo queen & queen attendant (ages 15-21), and rodeo princess (ages 10-14). They need to know how to ride and have
their own horses, and learn how to carry a flag for parades and rodeos. Their other duties are as follows:
Queen: To oversee the attendant and princess for each rodeo and other events. To work with and follow the directions of the coordinator in organizing and
scheduling appearances, ideas, etc. She must communicate with the rest of the royalty and help plan each appearance. The queen must also take responsibility
to delegate duties at the Garfield County Fair including flag carrying and helping with all other events. When not in the arena, she welcoms spectators and helps
with other duties as needed.
Queen Attendant: To assist the queen in her duties and to fill in if the queen is not able to attend an event. To follow directions of the queen and coordinator.
Princess: Also works closely with the queen in planning and making appearances. She follows the directions of the queen, attendant and coordinator.
To enter the 2009 contests, which both have forms and written essay aspects, watch for information at www.garfieldcountyfair.com.For more information,
contact Nieslanik at (970) 319-6955 or email playball@sopris.net.
BOB BLOOMFIELD
Bob Bloomfield grew up in Meeker, Colo. He spent most of his time on the ranch, was in FFA Club and Ag programs in high school where he also played
football and basketball. He was always a rancher at heart, and enjoyed cattle and horses.
Bob graduated from Colorado State University in 1969. He started teaching at Rifle High School as Vocational Agriculture Instructor, and during his career
he was instrumental in developing a very active Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter and Ag program.
Bob encouraged, inspired and helped students to achieve their goals and to develop a good work ethic for their lives. The Rifle FFA chapter had State Farmers
as well as State and District Officers: Kelley Couey was an American Farmer and Ray Chelewski an Ag Teacher.
Bob and the FFA members held rodeos which he also announced. He was active with High School Rodeo Club and helped with Garfield County Junior Rodeo.
Bob served on the Garfield County Fair Board as well as RE-2 School Board. Bob had a 4-H tractor club which helped members learn to operate machinery safely.
After teaching for 12 years, Bob had a haying business, sold farm equipment, managed ranches and owned a fertilizer business. Bob always stayed active in
and helped with FFA at Rifle and Plateau Valley.
Bob’s great influence will always remain with us through the peoples’ lives he touched, especially his three children.
“The coolest teacher ever”
as remembered by “Vic”
There have been many great influences in my life; Bob was at the top of my list.
He was always there at our rodeo practices helping wherever he was needed. Once, while helping my dad pick up, I moved in too close and got kicked by a
big ‘ol bucking horse. I remember everything going hazy as I was falling off my horse with a cracked arm; Bob caught me before I hit the ground, and I saw his
worried face and heard his voice say, “Vic, are you okay?” I’ll never know how he got there so quickly.
Looking back, I know I had a little girl crush on Bob. It was fed by his big ‘ol Copenhagen grin and infectious laugh.
Much later in life, he informed me that we were going to rope together in the Teacher/Student Team Roping at the Annual FFA Rodeo. I was jazzed; and then it
hit me... I can’t team rope! But, after a lot of practice and Bob yelling “keep your thumb up,” the big night came. I was terribly nervous and looked to him for reassurance:
“Are you ready?” I asked. He winked and said “Always.”
I called for the steer, caught it and went to dally, missed my dally, worried about keeping my thumb up, and didn’t want to let go... heck no! My three brothers and Bob,
who got me ready for this big night, would kill me if I let go! I held on tight hoping for a second chance with the horn... then my horse turned off with the rope in my hand
and over the top I went, landing on the ground and finally letting go.
Then I realized, I’d ripped the seat out of my pants! Right about then Bob reached out his hand to me, and with a big ‘ol grin asked, “Are you okay?” “No,” I said, with
big tears in my eyes, “I ripped my pants so I can’t get up!” He pulled me to my feet and said “walk.” He followed me out of the arena so closely that no one could
see my problem.
Yes, he was the coolest teacher ever. And boy did we learn from him. He always caught us when we fell, and put us back on our feet with dignity and respect. I speak
for many parents, teachers, administrators and friends when I say: there will never be another Bob Bloomfield; thanks Bob for everything!
THE 2008 FAIR BOARD
Jim Sheets (president): Rodeo Committee Representative
Jacque Burris (vice-president): Livestock Steering Committee Representative
Roger Dowdell: Livestock Sale Committee Representative
Jackie Murr (secretary): Entertainment/Social Activities Committee Representative, 4-H/FFA Activities/Participants Committee Representative
Sandi Vallario: Open Class Exhibit Committee Representative
Committee Descriptions:
- Rodeo Committee: responsible for planning, organizing and conducting rodeo events at the Fair.
4-H/FFA Activities/Participants Committee: represents the interests of 4-H and FFA members and participants in general projects.
- Entertainment/Social Activities Committee: responsible for recommending, planning, organizing and conducting entertainment and social activities.
Garfield County Rodeo Royalty functions under this committee.
- Marketing/Promotions Committee: responsible for working with the different committees and the Marketing/Sponsor Specialist to promote the Fair and all
it’s activities and events.
- Livestock Steering Committee: recommends to the Fair Board appropriate livestock exhibition events; also responsible for planning, organizing, conducting
and governing such accepted events.
- Livestock Sale Committee: responsible for planning, organizing and the conducting the sale of livestock in support of 4-H and FFA exhibitors.
- Open Class Exhibit Committee: recommends to the Fair Board appropriate open class events; also responsible for planning, organizing, conducting,
and governing such accepted events.
THANK YOU!
To the following companies which so generously donated essential items to the Fair in 2007 City Market, Roaring Fork Co-op, HyWay Feed, Rifle Auto Parts,
Liz Chandler DVM, Johnson Construction, Locklear Construction, McDonald Enterprises, K & K Lumber, Strong Lumber, Alpine Bank, Ron Dodd, Okagawa Farms,
Canyon Cleaners, Shell Oil