Jasper County Fair riding high after rodeo turnout

Organizers estimate between 1,200 and 1,500 people were in attendance at the Jasper County Fair Rodeo and Ty Carlson Memorial Bull Ride on July 15. Such a large turnout should quell the worries of fair board members who were hesitant about moving the rodeo up one day ahead of the 2021 schedule.

In years past, the rodeo and memorial bull ride have served as a pre-kickoff event for the fair, but organizers changed the formula in 2021 by having it as a main source of entertainment during the fair. Alan Guy, board member of the Jasper County Fair, was more than pleased with the “fantastic” turnout last year.

“I think we were all optimistic. It made sense and it seemed like it was going to work very well,” he said. “When that night happened, we were thrilled. Just a phenomenal turnout with lots of people. Which is exactly what we wanted: to get people down to the fairgrounds and spend the afternoon or evening down there.”

Having the rodeo scheduled on the first Friday night of the fair shows the board is making it clear the event is becoming a more centerstage priority. Guy said there has always been a slow buildup to the fair. It is well-attended throughout, but the crowds do not tend to gather as heavily right away. The rodeo may change that.

“By Saturday and Sunday you’ve really hit the ground running,” Guy said of past fairs. “We’re kind of throwing that out the window by moving a big event to the first night … If you look at it this way, and this is a little bit how I look at it: We have kind of added another night to fair. It’s a little shake-up now.”

When folks settled from moving their livestock to the fairgounds, Guy and fellow board members hoped they would enjoy the exciting fair offerings of Friday night. Judging by the amount of people who watched the bull riding, barrel races, bucking broncos and mutton busting, it was a move that certainly paid off.

Laurie Moffitt, who regularly volunteers at the Jasper County Fair, helped start the rodeo alongside Guy. When they initially brainstormed the idea, they wanted an activity that would draw more people to the fair. The rodeo does just that. Moffitt said it even brings people who normally wouldn’t come to the fair.

“It was a beautiful night. I just can’t say enough good things about it,” she said. “We have to order in additional bleachers just for the event. It’s kind of a big event for us to have … And I was kind of worried to have it on Friday night and not Saturday night. But it shocked me we had just as many people. If not more.”

Families enjoyed the typical rodeo action but also the wild antics of comedian and rodeo clown “Scuba Steve.” The hometown clown paraded through the arena in facepaint, brightly colored cowboy garb and a red 10-gallon hat that just might actually hold 10 gallons.

All the while, patrons were paying tribute to a departed bull rider “who left us far too soon,” the announcer of the Jasper County Fair rodeo said. The Ty Carlson Memorial Bull Ride is named after a 19-year-old Colfax man who died in 2017 in a single-vehicle car accident. The event honors his memory every year.

At the start of the rodeo, the Carlson family was recognized: father Todd, mother Kari, sister Taylor and brother Tate. They stood at each corner of the arena and met together in the center for a warm embrace while the audience stood in solemn silence with hats to their hearts and tears on their cheeks.

“Ty Carlson may not have been in every one of our lives, but he impacted it in a way that may not be described with words,” the announcer said.

“He’s part of the reason we join tonight. He’s part of the reason this great rodeo is continued on. And he’s part of the reason we can go forward from this day and live just each and every one of our lives just eight seconds at a time, to enjoy the moments as they happen. To set a goal, catch it by the tail and set our sights on a new one.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 6560 or at cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com