Wojo’s Rodeo is coming to the Fair

Red Lake County Fair is coming to Oklee June 23-24-25. This year marks the first time the Red Lake County Fair has offered a Rodeo as part of the events. The two day Rodeo will be a fun and exciting event to go to this year. Advance Tickets will be sold for Rodeo and Baja Race until the 20th of June. After that time tickets will be available at the gate.

Red Lake County will kick off fair week with an opening ceremony on June 23, at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Red Lake County Central School. After the ceremony there will be donuts and coffee for the public. Starting at 9:00 a.m. the public is welcome to enter their projects in the Open Class entry. The Fair is looking forward to many new exhibitors for the Open Class. This is where you can shine with your project or gardening skills can be entered and win premiums. 

At 1:00 p.m. Senior Citizens are invited to attend the Senior Citizen event at the Oklee Community Hall where an Outstanding Senior Citizen Award will be given out. Play bingo to win prizes. Grab a friend and meet at the East side of the RLCC High School for a scavenger hunt and medalion hunt in the afternoon. 

There are lots events being planned including movies for children in the Cafeteria, demonstrations at the Hall, Hot Wheels Baja in front of the school. and the Tractor Pedal Pull (This is one of the favored events of the year). Times and dates to be announced. 

More on the Rodeo

The Red Lake County Fair’s Rodeo is coming with two days of rodeo events. It is the 1st year that the Fair Board has hosted the rodeo. Friday night’s rodeo event starts at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 will be held at 6:00 p.m. This rodeo has been dubbed “the best little rodeo around” and provides up close and personal views of rodeo livestock and dangerous bulls from the Wo Jo Rodeo Company. There are bucking broncos, trick riders, rodeo clowns, barrel racers, steer wrestlers, calf ropers, and bull riders to keep you entertained throughout the show. Many of these riders are competing for monetary prizes, and some local riders are trying to vie for prize money for their very first time. There are nine full events for both evenings, and there will be a rodeo activity for the little buckaroos during intermission both evenings. 

After the Rodeo, come on down to the Dance at the Barn. The band playing on Friday night is Gravel Road. And Saturday night the Barn Dance will be a DJ, yet to be annouced. There will be a beer garden and food available at the event.

On Saturday, June 24 at 8:15 a.m. 5K registration begins on the South side of the RLCC High School. If you are interested in taking part in the 5K, contact Tracy Hamm  or Suzie Gunderson. More contact information later.

At 9:00 a.m. the Open class entries and business booths open up for the day, so stop back in the gym to check out those. 

4-H awards will be given out at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

On Sunday, June 25 at 1:00 p.m. the South Park, will be the 3rd Annual BAJA race at 3:00 p.m. Watch for more details later.

Bingo will be played at the Oklee Community Hall for anyone that is interested at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. 

There will be a Variety of Talent Show, blow up games, and much more.

At 5:00 p.m. the release of exhibits will take place in the gym. Anyone who participated in Open Class entry needs to collect their entries and pick up their awards. 

Red Lake County 

Fair History

As early as 1902, Red Lake County Agricultural Society was hosting the annual county fair. At that time it was a fall event, but has gradually been moved up to its summer home.

It was originally held in Red Lake Falls, the County Seat, and the fair grounds were located just north of the present Homark Home plant in Red Lake Falls. It was complete with a covered grandstand, dance pavilion, and mile race track. The fair grounds were destroyed sometime between 1939 & 1941 by a severe windstorm.

The 4-H program was started in Red Lake County in 1936 reviving the spirit of competition. The traditional 4-H Achievement Day began. The fairground was used for the judging of livestock. Interest in 4-H grew and so did the need for more room. The Community Hall in Red Lake Falls was used as exhibits and the animals were shown at buildings where the Red Lake Falls baseball and hockey arena are now located. 

In 1955, the Fair Board purchased 10 lots along the Clearwater River. In 1960, a Quonset building was erected for 4-H exhibits and a second Quonset was built for the livestock and a third pole building was used for animals. The sports arena was rented from the City, housed open class exhibits, the 4-H concessions stand, grand stand and commercial booths. 

In 1980, the Fair Board sold the buildings to the Red Lake Falls Schools with the agreement that the Fair Board could continue to use the building during the fair. In 1981, the Fair Board could no longer use the arena because artificial ice had been installed. All the exhibits were moved to the other buildings. Commercial booths were no longer available because space was limited. Livestock exhibits were also limited because of space.

In 1982, the Red Lake County Fair moved to a new home, Oklee, and many people put in a lot of hard work to organize the move. The Oklee School housed all the commercial exhibits, 4-H exhibits, and open class exhibits (except for livestock) and the Fair Board Office. Inter County Community Council garage, Melby’s Fairway warehouse, Oklee Car Wash and the vacant wool shed housed the livestock. The 4-H food stand was set up in the school Home Economics room. The carnival was set up around the main street of Oklee. Everything looked good for the new home of the Red Lake County Fair.

It was less than 48 hours until the fair was set to open, when a tornado swept through Oklee. Luckily none of the buildings that were to be used by the fair were damaged beyond use. The town was a mess with scattered building parts and trees, wires down, electricity off and everyone in a daze. A call went out to the County Extension Agent, Dave Kabes and he was on his way to help the people of Oklee organize and clean-up. A disaster headquarters was set up and hundreds of volunteers were on hand to work. Area people, 4-H’ers, and many outsiders came into Oklee and cleaned up the debris left behind by the tornado and the Fair opened on schedule with an exceptionally clean downtown, while signs of the tornado still could be seen. 

That fall the Fair Board purchased three lots in Oklee and constructed a 48x80 pole shed for the livestock exhibits.