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The
Sanders County Fair began in 1911 with a
community horse race. Participants included ladies and gentlemen from
the town
of Plains, as well as ladies and gentlemen from the reservation. In
that day, settler ladies rode side saddle
while their Native American conterparts rode astride!
For a number of years horse
racing and horsemanship were a major part of the fair.
As
the years passed, rodeos, carnivals and dances were added to the
options
provided to visitors. The parade organized during fair
weekend became a favorite, especially as participants included such
things as new-fangled automobiles and old, reliable steer-driven wagons.
Currently, the fair is one of the seven largest fairs in the state of Montana and attracts visitors from throughout western Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Many of our part-time residents make sure they are present during fair time. In recent years attendance has been between 30,000 and 50,000 people (which doubles and triples the population of the whole county!). It is the only fair in western Montana that does not charge a gate fee. Daily and weekly parking passes are available. Parking for camping and RVs is also available along the river front.
Currently, the fair is one of the seven largest fairs in the state of Montana and attracts visitors from throughout western Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Many of our part-time residents make sure they are present during fair time. In recent years attendance has been between 30,000 and 50,000 people (which doubles and triples the population of the whole county!). It is the only fair in western Montana that does not charge a gate fee. Daily and weekly parking passes are available. Parking for camping and RVs is also available along the river front.
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From our newspaper archives, these are some of the parade participants from the early years of the fair at Plains. The bottom picture is of the float submitted by C. C. Willis, one of the Fair Founders. It won the Northern Pacific Railroad Award in 1913. |
| This
was the last appearance for Rudolph, a Scottish Highlander steer,
in the fair parade. He was owned by M & M John Scott of
Charlo. Mrs. Scott said Rudolph was being retired because of old
age. It was just too hard on him. Charlo is approximately
50 miles east and a bit south of Plains. In 1971 eight eastern Washington residents rode in four covered wagons expecting to reach the Sanders County Fairgrounds in Plains for the fair. The wagon train traveled from Newport, Washington leaving six days before the fair. One of the wagons was pulled by two matched teams of Shetland ponies. |
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In more modern times, and throughout the history of the fair, members of the Flathead Reservation participated in the fair parade and other events. They pitched their teepees between the racehorse barns and the cottonwood trees by the river (present concessions on the north side). Pictured are Suzi Michele, wife of Flathead Chief Michele, and Annie Charlo McDougal, her niece. They were very accomplished in beadwork and made the outfits both they and their mounts are wearing. |
| 4-H has always been a substantial part of the fair and the auctions for winning animals are nearly as competitive as the show itself. Since Sanders and surrounding counties are still active in agricultural and livestock pursuits, these shows are well attended. 4-H entries are never lacking in any of the divisions at fair time and blue ribbon winners are permitted to enter their animals in open class departments. |  |
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