We spent the day at the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Fair is held in early August, this year from August 5-14. The fair is held off of College Road. A wide range of competitions are on display: agricultural (animals & plants), sewing, baking, crafts, knitting, artwork, etc. They have several stages with entertainment such as area bands, native dancers, and even larger draws such as Steppenwolf. The fair hosts a two day rodeo the first weekend and has fireworks the second weekend. All of the food trucks/stands you would expect are present as well as some other local businesses. There is a petting barn, pony rides and a Midway. This is a great way to spend a day in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks hosts the Tanana Valley State Fair
Giant cabbage on display at the Fair
We had a great time checking out the exhibits. The animals shown by the local 4-H groups were a highlight. There were cows, goats, sheep, pigs, turkeys, geese, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. During our visit, the goats were being judged.
Angora Goats
Holstein cow
Mother pig and her piglets
Goats
A rabbit on exhibit
We enjoyed visiting the other exhibit halls which represented a wide range of competitions. There were at least 4 halls other than the animals.
Knitted items on display
Native craft items
The Midway included the usual rides: Himalayan, Inverter, Swings, Tilt-a-Whirl, Ferris Wheel and more. They also featured a separate kids ride area. They had the games typical of such a fair with the oversized stuffed animal prizes.
Rides on the Midway
The Midway at the Fair
We attended the rodeo touted as “The Northern Most Rodeo in America”, which we greatly enjoyed. Events included Team Roping, Ribbon Roping, Double Mugging, Calf Riding, Mutton Busting, Chute Dogging, Ladies Breakaway, Barrel Racing and the main event, Bull Riding. The rodeo featured Professional Rodeo Clown Backflip Johnny Dudley. The young sheep riding mutton busters stole the show. Miss Teen Rodeo Alaska was in attendance.
Barrel Racing at the rodeo
The bull riding event was the main draw
