The 2025 Butte/Lawrence County Fair will soon be upon us! The 104th annual event starts July 28 and runs through August 2 at the Nisland Fairgrounds.
The fair kicks off with the 4-H and Open Horse Show at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 28. The next day, July 29, exhibit buildings open at 8 a.m. along with entries for open class non-livestock exhibits, 4-H and open class wool, 4-H non-livestock and horticulture, 4-H and open livestock, and 4-H beef. Participants will also set up both Individual and CFEL Club booths throughout the day, which will be judged and awarded prizes later in the week.
On Wednesday, July 30, activities will be aplenty! From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., there will be a Fishing Tournament. The 4-H and open class Dairy Cattle Show begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 4-H and open class Dairy Goat Show at 10 a.m. and then the Meat Goat Show at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon brings fun events including Chuck-a-Duck at 1 p.m., Turtle Races at 2 p.m., then the AAU Wrestling Pancake Feed at 6 p.m. and Pig Wrestling at 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 31 is another big day, starting with the 4-H and open Sheep Show at 8 a.m. At 12 p.m. will be the Bum Lamb Dress Up Contest and Catch-a-Sheep Class Show. 2:30 p.m. brings the Talent Show. At 3 p.m., the 4-H and open class Poultry Best of Show & Showmanship Awards will take place at the grandstands. Balloon Man Howard Ugland will be performing from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday evening brings the free BBQ sponsored by Butte Electric and West River Telephone Company, plus the Silent Auction and a performance by the Cowboy Band at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Nisland Fair Ranch Rodeo begins, followed by the Catch-a-Sheep contest at 7 p.m. Jessica Loobey will perform live music from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Friday morning, August 1 brings the 4-H and open class Rabbit Show at 8 a.m. and Beef Show at 9 a.m. At 11:30 a.m. judging will commence for the 4-H and open class Companion Animals and Cats. The 4-H Small Animal Round Robin begins at 4:30 p.m. followed by the 4-H Large Animal Round Robin at 5 p.m. Then, at 5:30 p.m.before the auction there will be a Livestock Sale Buyer Appreciation Supper, sponsored by Cenex of the Black Hills. Finally, at 7 p.m. the Butte-Lawrence Livestock Sale takes place! The Wilt Brothers will provide live music that night at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 2 is the final day of the Fair. The Youth Rodeo will start in the arena at 9 a.m. By 11 a.m. all livestock will be released and non-livestock exhibits picked up. From 11 a.m. to noon, the 4-H Best of Show Winners Awards will be released. The Fair Office and Exhibit Buildings will close at 1 p.m. Don’t forget to stop by the fire hall in Nisland on 2nd & Oak St. for the annual Nisland/Arpan Volunteer Fire & Rescue Brisket Feed and Pie Sale, starting at 10 a.m.
“The main highlights will be the Pig Wrestling on Wednesday night, the free barbecue, and then Catch-a-Sheep and the Ranch Rodeo, and then we have entertainment,” said Chad Mackaben, Fair Board President. Mackaben also highlighted the Heifer Calf Giveaway on Friday, a yearly fair event that his family sponsors. Kids who are interested in the heifer calf giveaway must compete for it; Mackaben said, “They write an essay, a reason why they want it, and send it in. And then we interview them and then we award it to the winner.”
Be sure to stop by the Nisland fairgrounds sometime during the week to support local 4-H youth, enjoy your local community members, and have fun! There will be something for everyone at the fair!
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