With the 75th Annual North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo taking place Labour Day weekend 2024, Jane Milburn is excited.
A fair and rodeo director, Milburn said the fairgrounds are being spruced up because of the historical milestone.
Thanks to a summer works grant, two young people - Cayden Johnson and Dylan Matthews - have been hired to work at the grounds.
"It's the first time we've hired summer workers for a very long time," Milburn said. "They are working 30 hours a week from July 2 to the end of August."
So far Cayden and Dylan have painted the grandstand, planted and painted garden boxes, helped volunteer Dan Hansen bed the horse stalls with shavings, are painting some of the buildings and they will be helping construct a gazebo.
Aside from wanting to make the grounds look nicer, organizers are planning for a jam-packed weekend of activities.
The Kamloops Rube Band from Kamloops will be part of the entertainment.
"They've been everywhere," Milburn said. "It's their 75th year too."
Entertainer Jack Jackson will be on the outdoor stage and doing a cowboy concert on Sunday night. Former queens will be in attendance, as well as this year's ambassadors.
"We replaced the queen program about five years ago with the ambassador program," Milburn said.
Through the ambassador program, the participants learn how to do such things as minor repairs on cars and public speaking, she explained.
"They learn a number of things and visit other ambassador programs in Vernon and other places in the Okanagan," Milburn said. "When they become ambassadors they represent our valley."
For the first time ever, the fair and rodeo is holding a raffle where tickets can be purchased both online and in person. There is a link to purchasing tickets on the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo website.
That draw will not happen until Dec. 22, 2024.
Another raffle will take place throughout the Labour Day weekend with multiple draws and the major jackpot at the end of the end.
There will be a silent auction in the exhibit hall with everything from produce, gift baskets, coolers, solar lights to fair memorabilia, afghans and quilts.
"We have all kinds of things. A real variety," she said. "The exhibit hall will be full of displays."
Saturday's parade is shaping up and activities such as the long tractor races, Bingo, heavy horse and light horse, will be back by popular demand.
Entertainment for teens and tweens will be on site with carnival games, a climbing wall and a dunk tank.
"We will also have a kids zone with face painting, crafts and other things for them to do."
The weekend's rodeo is the final of the BCRA circuit. This year for the first time there will be a jumbotron for immediate playback of rodeo events.
There will be a sunflower contest.
Last year the winner's sunflower grew 16.5 feet tall.
"We couldn't stand it up - we had to lay it down," Milburn said.
Around 15,000 people attend the fall fair and rodeo each year so it is always very busy.
Milburn started attending as a child and has volunteered since she was 10.
"It's fun," she said.
