On July 25 through July 30, 2022, Piute County held its annual Butch Cassidy Fair. “Back in the Saddle” was the theme for the fair this year. The fair week consisted of a water day, county dinner, bingo night, three rodeos, a parade and more!
On Tuesday July 26, a dinner was held at Junction town park. Grab N Growl Dutch Oven Catering served the town some delicious chicken, ribs, dutch oven potatoes and some fruit cobbler. Miss Piute Royalty and Rodeo Royalty helped with service along with the Fairboard. Entertainment for the dinner was provided by Ohana Entertainment & Toa Afi. After the dinner the fire department showcased fireworks.
On Saturday July 30 at 10:00 a.m., the parade started down main street in Junction. Miss Piute Rodeo Queen Ainsley Talbot started the parade off with the American flag. Following Ainsley and the flags, the county’s sheriffs and EMTs drove down the street tossing candy and honking their horns as well as putting on their sirens. Some of the favorite floats were the Piute High School baseball and basketball teams, the Miss Piute Royalty, Kool Snacks, the Piute High School cheer team, the variety of remote vehicles and many more.
Rodeo Royalty on their horses along with others closed the parade. After the parade, the Exhibit Hall opened for county members to showcase their talents. The exhibits ranged from fine arts to baking and canned goods, crafts, floral arrangements, quilts, fiber arts, field crops, fruits and veggies, and saddle display. The exhibits that won first place are sent to the state fair for judging to possibly win prize money.
At 11:00 a.m. county members headed to Junction town park for the Midway. The Midway held concessions and vendors, a cornhole tournament, bouncy houses and games. Mckenna Christensan and Powdee Taylor from South Sevier won the Corn Hole Tournement. The Midway is a great way for county members to showcase their businesses and talents.
After the Midway a three on three basketball tournament was held at Piute High School. County members got a few hours of rest before the 7:00 p.m. rodeo started.
The rodeo took place in the Junction Arena. Events in the rodeo consisted of hide race, bareback riding, ranch ride, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing, bull riding, team roping and breakaway roping. After the rodeo a dance was held at the Junction town park. Double Barrel was the dance’s musical entertainment.
The Butch Cassidy fair week overall was very successful for Piute County and brought smiles to all.
– by Ari Hurdsman (17) Junction
Feature image caption: Piute County children ride by on a parade float. Courtesy Ari Hurdsman.
Read about Wayne’s Rodeo Queen Royalty here.
Ari Hurdsman – Junction
Ari Hurdsman is a junior journalist at the Byway. She just recently moved to Ephraim, Utah, where she is a freshman at Snow College. She enjoys writing about Piute sports, and she’s really good at it! In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading and hanging out with friends and family.