Crook County Fair

In the last week of July the Crook County Fairgrounds, on Fairgrounds Loop Road at the edge of Sundance, fill up before the crowds arrive. “Panels and pens are going up, banners are flying high, and campers and show boxes are rolling in,” the fair announced on July 22, 2026, three days before opening. That edition, billed as the 98th annual, ran July 25 through August 1 under the theme “Growing Skills, Raising Stock, Shaping America’s Next 250 Years.” The Crook County Fair Board runs it. Most of the week belongs to the county’s 4-H and FFA members, their animals, and the projects they bring.

The arena, the ring, and the Big Barn

The fair opens in the outdoor arena. In 2026 the youth rodeo and youth horse show speed events began at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday. The fair’s notice that morning named the food: plates from Rocking Cowboy Cook, ice cream from Frosty Cow, fresh lemonade from Kid Prints, and snow cones from The Best Sno Cone. From 1 to 10 p.m. the crowd could go downtown to Sundance Summer Nights, which had food trucks, kids’ games, a Battle of the Barrel, and live bands.

The horse show was Sunday morning. On Monday the exhibit hall closed to the public while judges went through the static exhibits of 4-H, FFA, and open class entrants. After judging, the exhibits stayed on view for the rest of the week. Livestock arrived Tuesday, each animal checked by a vet before unloading. Weigh-ins ran through the afternoon in order: poultry and rabbits, then goats, sheep, and swine. The fair kickoff was an ice cream social under the shade structure, and the day closed at 6 p.m. with the ranch rodeo.

From Wednesday on, the livestock show ring started early. Dairy cattle and dairy goats were shown at 8 a.m. and goats at 9. The youth beef carcass contest followed the market beef weigh-in, and swine were shown at 6 that evening. Sheep came Thursday morning, and beef on Friday, followed by a large animal round robin. Poultry and rabbits were shown in the Big Barn on Thursday at noon, with the youth rabbit show carry-in only, and the guinea pig and pocket pet show came right after. The 4-H dog show is also held in the Big Barn, a week before the fair opens. Before the 2026 fair, TruMax Transport hauled crusher fines to the grounds to lay firmer walking paths for livestock going to and from the Big Barn. Thursday evening brought the youth rough stock rodeo, followed directly by MJ Productions’ goat roping.

Robo Bear and the hidden pigs

The trade and commercial booths open at noon on the main fair days. From noon to 7 p.m. the Adventure Zone and Warrior’s Playground run on the grass beside the outdoor arena. Miss Tonia read to children under the shade structure at 10:30 on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon the Vore Buffalo Jump gave a demonstration. On Thursday, Wyoming Game and Fish showed how to use bear spray at 11 and again at 1, with a mechanical Robo Bear. On Friday, Powder River Energy ran its electric-safety hot trailer four times, at 9, 11, 1, and 3. Tiny pigs are hidden around the grounds all week, and anyone who finds one can claim a prize at the fair office between noon and 1. The Sundance Rod and Gun Club holds a fishing derby for children, with a weigh-in at 5 p.m. each day from Thursday through Saturday. On Thursday night the fair board sponsored Movies in the Park at Sundance Square. The Chamber of Commerce listed the 2026 film as Hoppers.

Pancakes, a parade, and the sale

Friday starts with a free pancake breakfast under the shade structure, from 7 to 8 a.m., cooked by Crook County’s elected officials. That night the youth exhibitors hold a dance in the same place.

The final Saturday starts in the elementary school parking lot with the Crook County Sheriff’s Department bike relay at 8:30. At 10 the parade goes down Main Street. At 11 the year’s Crook County Rodeo Royalty are crowned. The royalty competition and banquet are held the week before in Hulett. A photograph from the 2026 banquet at the Greater Hulett Community Center shows Queen Ahnya Moody, Princess Lani Gill, Junior Princess Gabby Dewey, Pee-wee Princess Amberlyn Dixon, and that year’s princess contestant, Riata Burch. At noon buyers and townspeople eat together at the community barbecue. At 2 p.m. the junior livestock sale opens in the Big Barn, with Sundance State Bank as its financial institution. Static exhibits are released at 4:30, the fishing derby has its final weigh-in at 5, and a yard game extravaganza closes the fair at 7. On Sunday morning Crook County 4-H serves a clean-up breakfast, and the exhibitors then clean the barns.

A few weeks after the 2026 fair, the office posted that someone had left a silver cow tag necklace in the showers and asked the owner to come describe it. In September the board invited fairgoers to its regular meeting in the exhibit hall and promised brisket, sides, water, and soda. It asked for “the good, the bad, the ugly, and the wonderful.” The 2027 fair is set for July 24 through July 31.

Sundance, September 1907

The Crook County Monitor of July 19, 1907, told its readers that “all roads will lead to Sundance on September 20 and 21, the dates of the county fair.” Fair committees were already at work. The paper stressed that the fair “is not a local enterprise but is for the general good of the whole of Crook county.” On August 9 the Monitor printed the fair’s prospectus beside an editorial credited to the editor of the Globe. The editorial pointed out that an act of the last legislature allowed the county to appropriate money to fair associations. It also set out terms: “We do not want a skin game picnic nor a carnival of hilarity hold up but a fair.” It conceded the location: “By virtue of the county seat Sundance is entitled to the county fair.”

The Monitor of September 27 called the event Crook County’s first attempt at a county fair. Rain in the days before had kept many people home, but the clouds cleared in time. Visitors had begun arriving several days early. On the first morning the flag went up the staff in the courthouse square, and the Sundance band played a few numbers. Lewie Smith of Gillette played cornet with the band through both days. B. C. Noble then introduced M. Nichols, president of the day. From the bandstand, Nichols welcomed the visitors and told them to feel that this was their town and county. He spoke of the changes he had seen in eighteen years of living there. According to the paper, he also asked that this first effort not be judged too hastily, because it would take time, capital, and labor to put an annual fair on a solid footing.

A steer from Billy Thompson

On the first afternoon a horseman named Tate gave a hippodrome exhibition of riding. A Professor Baldwin of Denver made a balloon ascension, and the Monitor printed a one-line item: “What’s the matter with Ivy Baldwin? He’s all right.” The barbecue was supplied by gifts. Billy Thompson and Will Zimmerschied each gave a steer, Mr. Guthrie of the Empire sheep company of Moorcroft gave sheep, and W. E. Adams gave the pickles. The Bear Lodge mining district was well represented at the display counters. Sheriff Farrell served as marshal and, the paper said, was “a cracker jack of a marshal during the fair.”

People came from Newcastle, Carlile, and Gillette. Some told the paper this was their third fair of the season and the best of the three. The Monitor’s verdict was “the biggest crowd and the best time in the history of” Sundance. On the same page, a short notice reported that Mrs. Noble had found a bracelet during the fair. The owner could have it by proving property and paying for the notice, “which will be a white quarter.”