Carter County - Enduring Events
Background Info / Historical Story
Carter County has been home to many fairs, picnics, parades, and rodeos. One of the longest ongoing annual celebrations is Days of 85. In 1885 the town of Ekalaka gained a post office and thus the town identity was established. In the years to come these events would be put on hold with more pressing matters like the second World War. When there was more time for jubilation, Days of 85 commenced.
“There had been no fairs in connection with the rodeos or Days of 85 celebration for some time, but after considerable effort on the part of a few, the Fair was once more revived in 1955 and has been an annual event since that time. The County Commissioners appointed a Fair Board consisting of Clarence Crystal, Bud Asbury, Mrs. Effie Brewer, Ivan Jardee and Frank Arbuckle. Ray Nickerson was Clerk and Recorder and he worked hard to get the Fair started again as did County Agent Gene Hoff. Because of his strong interest and hard work to get the Fair started again, Clarence Crystal was chosen Chairman of the Board. Mrs. Frank Buck took charge of the exhibits which were displayed in the Old Charters building. The livestock was kept in pens under a tent between the courthouse and the Grade School. Feek and Ernest
Tooke had leased the arena from the County, and they put on the rodeo. The Chamber of Commerce took charge of promotion and the parade. This event held on July 30 and 31, 1955 was billed as the first Fair in many years and the seventieth birthday of the town of Ekalaka. The next year the exhibit hall was built at the Fairgrounds, the old race barns were cleaned and made usable, but the next year were torn down and replaced with the sheep pens and the cattle and horse barns.
Each year the Days of 85 Fair and Rodeo celebrates the founding of the town when the first post office was started in 1885 and named Ekalaka. This is really a joint effort by all in this small town. The Carter County Fair Board is responsible for all fair activities, 4-H exhibits and livestock, as well as open class entries. The Fair Board also handles the show and sale of the fat stock and are responsible for the upkeep of the grounds. The Lions Club runs the one food stand on the grounds. The Chamber of Commerce handles the good Western parade each year and helps with promotion. The Carter County Belles have sponsored the Rodeo Queen contest every year since 1964. Some of the churches rescheduled their Sunday morning services so that the congregation may watch the parade. The Ekalaka Track and Arena, Incorporated has sponsored the rodeo for the past dozen years. At the Days of 85 rodeo this past summer, 1975, there were two hundred ten (210) contestants entered; fifty-two of these in the bareback riding and fifty in the bull riding.” - Excerpt from Volume 1of Shifting Scenes, written by Zelzo Hedges
Collections Spotlight
Photos, Maps, etc
- Carter County Fair exhibit from 1922
- Exhibits pavilion at Carter County Fair
- Belle Fourche Band at Carter County Days of 85 Fair and Parade
- Carter County Museum Jeep and triceratops fossil cast at Days of 85 Fair and Parade.
- Float at the street parade during the 1935 Ekalaka Jubilee
- Street parade at the 1935 Ekalaka Jubilee
- Street parade at the 1935 Ekalaka Jubilee
- Main street Ekalaka, Mont.