Running from April 9-19, and with a new event this year, the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo’s main focus is to create “pathways and opportunities for local youth to succeed,” Montgomery County Fair Executive Director Tobin Redwine said. The rodeo has changed since its original founding, but the goal of supporting the local Montgomery community has remained the same.
The big picture
Originally founded in the '60s, the rodeo started off as a “field day” where locals would spend the day on a rancher's land. As the years went by, new events and games were slowly introduced, and fast forward over 65 years later, the rodeo has now become a staple for the local Montgomery community, according to its website.
A focal point of the seasonal rodeo and fair is fundraising and support for young Montgomery locals. According to its website, the rodeo’s scholarship program has been able to raise over $2 million for local Montgomery youth since it first began in 1993.
Redwine said the values and goals of the rodeo are reflected through the over 75,000 visitors who come to the fair, along with the thousands of volunteers and members who support the fair’s day-to-day operations.
“Community is really an important word to us at the fair," Redwine said. “We are constructed from our community, and everything that the fair does is a reflection of that community.”
Dates to know
The county fair has a wide variety of events focused on youth to adults and families, including but not limited to:
- April 8: Dos Chicas barrel race
- April 10: Sunshine Day & field trip
- April 10-12: Youth and professional rodeo
- April 12: Ranch rodeo
- April 12: Faith at the Fair
- April 14: Pet parade
- April 18: Kidz Contest, a junior BBQ contest
Faith at the Fair is the newest event added to the rodeo and fair’s lineup that Redwine said he is most proud of. The event will feature faith-based artists such as The Figs and Luke Brauer, and focus on faith and family.
Why it matters
Redwine said that the rodeo and fair would not be able to operate without the support of the local community. He also encourages anyone in or outside Montgomery who has never been to the rodeo to take the opportunity to come down and experience the history and culture of the area.
“Montgomery County is at a unique intersection of innovation and growth and also connection to history and heritage that shows up in such a tangible way at the fair," Redwine said. "So it's a fantastic way to spend some time and it's also a way to connect with that unique intersection."
Tickets for the rodeo and fair are available for purchase here.
