Wheatland’s Jadea Graves who will be a senior this year at Wheatland High School was one of the participants in the barrel racing at Saturday night’s rodeo sponsored by the Platte County Chamber of Commerce. Shawna Riechert, Guernsey resident and Platte County Chamber executive director said that there was a great turnout for the Saturday night rodeo.

WHEATLAND –  The 2022 Platte County Fair has begun and has hit the ground running with many early weekend activities that brought out family, friends and fans of the event.

Friday morning was primarily set for setting up and getting ready for the Fashion Review. Judging was done at the Agriplex for all clothing that was entered in the fashion contest. This was done at 9 a.m. and meanwhile other workers were toiling over the grounds and making sure all areas were ready for campers, animals and exhibits.

By 4 p.m. that afternoon the Agriplex was filled with a crowd of people as the Fashion Revue Practice was in high gear with tips on walking the runway and showing off the clothing.  All clothing was designed and made by the 4H kids and they modeled their own creations.

At 7 p.m. the Fashion Revue began with student models from high school all the way down to elementary school. There were award-winning pajama pants, prom dresses, casual wear and the crowds were generally amazed at the creations and the fact that the students brought the clothing from the mind to the page to the runway.

Following the show was the awards presentation. All awards that were given will be published after the fair is concluded in a special awards tab that will appear in the Record-Times and Guernsey Gazette.

As campers began to roll into the parking lots of the fairgrounds, workers who did cleanup and setup did not get much sleep as the first Saturday event scheduled was the 4-H Dog Show, or at least part one of the show. Dogs were judged on obedience, conformation and showmanship. Monday morning the dogs and their owners will be back to compete in the areas of agility and rally.

On Saturday night a part of the fair for the second straight year was the Platte County Fair Rodeo and was a sanctioned event by CPRA, WRA and NPRA. Although it was a paid event sponsored by the Platte County Chamber of Commerce and Basin Electric Power Cooperative and The Platte County Fair. The tickets to get in were only $10 unless of course you wanted to have arena side seating which cost $100 per vehicle.

The rodeo was opened with a moving tribute to America as a lone rider led a solitary horse which had an American flag draped over the saddle and a cowboy hat over the horn. Rachael Geile then sang the National Anthem and as worker Dixie Mount said, “She didn’t just sing it, she owned it.”

The events at the rodeo included bareback, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, saddle bronc, tie down roping, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and mixed teams.

One of the cowboys who wished to remain unnamed had a mishap in the bronc competition as his horse went down on top of him. It was reported that the rider had spinal injuries and a leg injury. With quick response, the early responders, EMTs, local police and firefighters were on hand to get the injured rider on a stretcher and into the ambulance and to the hospital. As of press time, there is still no word on his condition.

Sunday had two events featured. The first was Cowboy Church which took place on the outdoor stage. That event lasted approximately an hour. The second event was the 4-H Horseshow which began at 8 a.m. and lasted late into the afternoon.

Most of the events took place in the outdoor arena with the exception of the trail ride competition which was held in the main outdoor arena. Kids from all over the county participated in horsemanship events from agility, poise, composure to barrel racing, pole bending and cattle cutting.

Pictures from all events are being placed on the Platte County 4-H Facebook page.

Bottom Pictures:  

Fair1 PCHA queen and Wheatland resident Kaylee Rasnake peeked over her horse Sunday morning as she was a participant in the horsemanship competition showing off her horse.

Fair2 Glendo incoming senior Tess Palen relaxes before the trail ride competition in the Sunday horse show at the Platte County Fair. Palen was riding a quarter horse that was actually given to her.

Fair3 Wheatland’s Peyton Unrein participated in the barrel racing event at the Horseshow Sunday at the Platte County Fairgrounds outdoor arena. Unrein competes in several events outside of the horse arena.

Fair4 The 2022 National Cowgirl of the year, Rayne Grant from Slater carried the Wyoming State Flag at the Platte County Fair rodeo sponsored by the Platte County Chamber of Commerce and held at the Platte County Fairgrounds Saturday night. It was Wheatland’s second rodeo in the past 25 years.

Fair5 Some of the riders didn’t fare well in the bronc riding and the bull riding contests. One unnamed contestant had a horse fall on him during Saturday’s competition and was taken by ambulance to the Platte County Hospital.

Fair6 Rodee Brow, a 2022 graduate of Wheatland High School and 3A state track athlete of the year participated in the Platte County Fair’s rodeo Saturday night in the team roping competiton. Brow has a scholarship for track at Weber State University.

Fair7 Wheatland’s Jadea Graves who will be a senior this year at Wheatland High School was one of the participants in the barrel racing at Saturday night’s rodeo sponsored by the Platte County Chamber of Commerce. Shawna Riechert, Guernsey resident and Platte County Chamber executive director said that there was a great turnout for the Saturday night rodeo.

Fair8 The Platte County fair kicked off Friday night with a fashion show with Platte County students who actually designed and created their own fashions. The runway event was held to showcase these talented students and their award-winning creations.

Fair9 Chugwater’s Allie Van Why who will be a senior this coming year at Chugwater High School (left) and Sabella Douglas from Wheatland High School mug for the camera during the Platte County Fair Fashion Revue held at the Platte County Agriplex last Friday night.