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The role of Montrose County Fair and Rodeo Royalty is one of honor, hard work and dedica-tion.

The four young ladies chosen to serve as queen, queen attendant, princess and princess attendant represent Montrose County throughout the year as well as promote the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo at a variety of events and parades across the state including the Colorado Association of Fairs and Expos Convention, the Colorado Profes-sional Rodeo Association Finals and the National Western Stock

Show. Royalty are required to par-

ticipate in a number events at fair including the CPRA Rodeo’s grand entry, the fair parade; and they must perform a horseman-ship pattern, a personal interview and a written test. In addition, royalty participants must also give a three-minute speech, model a western-style dress and answer impromptu questions from one of the judges. Incoming royalty will be crowned at ommunity Night on July 23 at the arena.

“This year we have a lovely group of ladies competing for our 4 positions,” said Rhonda Castle,

Montrose County Fair Board member and royalty chairperson.

She said the ladies who compete in the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo Royalty competition do a considerable job in representing Montrose County and appreciate your support and attendance.

Biographies of royaltyQueen — Taylor Gibson. I have

had the honor and privilege of being the 2013-2014 Montrose County Fair and Rodeo queen. It has been a wonderful experience to represent Montrose County in multiple parades, rodeos,

banquets, meetings, community service and social events. It is an

Montrose County Fair and Rodeo Royalty hard work

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Eggs, bales, buckets and much more will be gathered to make an agriculture-themed obstacle course at the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo for the Ag Olym-pics.

This year, eight teams will come together to compete for the title of Ag Olympic champion.

Competitors are coming from both Montrose and Olathe schools.

This event takes place dur-ing community night, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 23 in the arena.

This contest acts as a fund-raiser for high school athletic teams and clubs in Montrose County. Businesses and members of the community can participate by purchasing a team from the

grandstands. Each team will be auctioned off by none other than Hubert Kimberlin immediately prior to the event.

The events in an Ag Olympic contest vary from year to year and location to location, but can include egg tosses, pie eating contests, tug-o-war, hay bale toss, greased watermelon carry, bob-bing for apples and many more events.

Although the teams are set, Ag Olympics is a game that is almost more fun to watch than to com-pete in.

For more information on the event, visit the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mon-troseCountyCOFairandRodeo.

Ag Olympics tests unique skills in obstacle course

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The Ranch Rodeo is an annual event that serves as a living tribute to our western heri-tage.

The Ranch Rodeo promotes our unique history and lifestyle by featuring competi-tion between real cowboys from real working ranches.

The cowboys and their ranch horses compete in four events that showcase the necessary skills and know how ranch hands practice daily.

Spectators enjoy action, excitement, thrills,

and laughs in a wholesome environment as they root for their favorite teams.

Fans can actively participate in the fun by purchasing one of the teams in the event Cal-cutta.

Events IncludeTeam Sorting: Cowboys sort numbered cattle

from the herd and move them across the finish line.

Team Doctoring: Teams rope the head and heals of a designated animal and apply a mark

to the animal simulating an injection.Team Branding: A team member on horse-

back ropes the calf, bringing it out of the herd. Two flankers remove the rope and pin the calf to the ground. A third team member “brands” the animal usually with paint that simulates the brand.

Team Loading: Teams rope a steer, load the steer in the trailer along with their horses and get into the truck before the clock is stopped.

The ranch rodeo is set for 6:30 p.m. July 26 at the arena.

Keeping western heritage alive through ranch rodeoUnlike regular rodeo events, such as the one above and on the next page, ranch rodeo features different events aimed at preserving western heritage.