Individuals, businesses that supportthe annual Labor Day Fair recognized

By R.D. Tucker

There are a lot of moving parts that are skillfully manipulated by General Manager Brian Bullis and his accomplished staff and facility workers who present the annual Mariposa County Fair and Homecoming each Labor Day in Mariposa County. For years it has been recognized as the county’s favorite event.

In the background are dozens of individuals and businesses that step forward and dig into their wallets and purses to provide the awards, ribbons, buckles, saddles, rosettes and prizes that are awarded to the successful competitors and participants. There are also a number of local contractors and residents who lend a hand to assure each event or contest is pulled off without a hitch.

The western flavor of the Mariposa County Fair is heartily embraced by most of the residents of this rural region, and there’s rarely a lack of participation. The people and businesses listed in this report mirror the important contributors that abound in the shadows, rarely receiving public recognition. The contributors listed here were provided by the fairgrounds staff and the Mariposa Junior Livestock Auction leaders for the 2023 fair, and in many cases, the same individuals and businesses have been benefactors for years.

Larry and Lynn Johnson and the Mankins Family (Betty and Tim) provided the Top Hand Saddle for the horse show.

Frank Rose Construction sponsored the saddle for the High Money Header and High Money Healer, plus five breast collars. Cantrell Ranch provided the All-Around Youth Saddle and Rockslide Materials (Bill Verley) sponsored the Local Saddle Roping Saddle. Jewelry for the lady competitor with the fastest time in Saddle Roping was provided by the Taber family. Ropes for the kids’ dummy roping event were supplied by the Hutchings Family.

There’s a long list of sponsors who provided the beautiful, high-dollar championship buckles. Pelk and Dorothy Richards and Ranch Fence sponsored buckles for the winning Team Ropers. Chase’s Foothill Petroleum provided the buckle for Saddle Roping, and Yosemite Falls Well Drilling bestowed the Saddle Roping Mugger buckle. The buckle for the Champion of Champions competition was furnished by Wight Fencing (Coleman Wight).

Heath and Kelly Harris supplied buckles for both the girl and boy champs in the kids’ Dummy Roping competition. Jeremiah and Brandi Bean, Long Aggregates (Mark Long), Keith Williams Excavation, and Palmer Tractor stepped up to provide buckles for the Calf Branding. Palmer Tractor and the Beans also sponsored buckles for Team Penning winners.

The Mariposa County Contractors Association and Foster Ace Hardware provided the buckles for the Junior Team Penning, and Yosemite Glass and Window supplied the Overall Cowboy and Overall Cowgirl buckles for mutton busting.

Local residents also stepped forward to provide the championship buckles for the rodeo competition. Long Aggregates furnished the Champion Header and Heeler buckles. Dayhoff Cabinets (Alan and Staci Dayhoff) furnished the Mariposa Fair Rodeo’s Champion Barrel Racer hardware, and Rosalyn Allison, Realtor, provided the championship buckle for the Junior Barrel Racer.

AMJ Cattle Ranch, Amanda Martin, provided the high-point Gymkhana awards for all three placings.

Annette Palmer and her associate leaders of the Mariposa Junior Livestock Auction group pulled off a herculean effort coordinating all the livestock competitions and the sale itself. All the buyers and those purchasing “bumps” for the auction receive public recognition by various means, but there is also an extensive list of individuals and businesses that provide all the awards for the competing 4-H, FFA and independent youngsters.

They contribute the financial support that allowed for the purchase of the coolers, chairs, feed, halters, and other awards.

Contributors listed by livestock category; Beef Award Sponsors: Hornitos Beef, JulieGerken.com, Long Ranch, Mariposa Alarm, EK Ranch, Hutchings Family, Yosemite Falls Well Drilling & Pump Service, Family & Friends of Devin Smith, Lone Spring Ranch, EC Earthmoving, A.L. Gibson Water Truck, Ladybug Embroidery, Loucks Embroidery, Brandon & Jamie Bertram, The Poor Family, The Wardle Family, S&S Electric, Madrone Logistics, Allison Family, Simon Cattle, Suzanne & Sterling Cramer, Madrone Logistics, Harris Family, and the Wise Family.

Goat Award Sponsors: A.L. Gibson Water Truck, Ladybug Embroidery, Yosemite Falls Well Drilling & Pump Service, JulieGerken.com, Rosalyn Allison-Realtor, Loucks Embroidery, Mariposa Alarm, Gibson Livestock, Lisa Steele, Jeff Shaw-Farmers Insurance, Mountain Yoga, Bernie & Shaun Quinn, Justin & Kierstin Wight, Palmer Tractor, Kaitlyn Palmer, Jesse Adams, Rancho Del Fuego, S&S Electric, Madrone Logistics, Allison Family, Maddux Family in Memory of Jan Maddux, Suzanne & Sterling Cramer, and Twin Cities Club Lambs.

Hog Award Sponsors: JulieGerken.com, Ranch Fence, Jake & Sarah Bibby, Justin & Beth Allison, Tucker Family, Yosemite Falls Well Drilling & Pump Service, Krull Family, Lone Spring Ranch, Poor Family, Palmer Tractor, Fouch Farms, JWJ Cattle, Mariposa Alarm, A.L. Gibson Water Truck, Ladybug Embroidery, Brandon & Jamie Bertram, Darryl & Monica Nielsen, EC Earthmoving, Kevin & Carla Shelton & Family, Fouch Farms, Ladybug Embroidery, S&S Electric, Allison Family, John & Wendy Hagen, and Suzanne & Sterling Cramer.

Sheep Award Sponsors: Allison Sierra, Inc., Robin’s Bail Bonds, Rick & Sheila Orgeron, Kaitlyn Palmer, The Wardle Family, A.L. Gibson Water Truck, Ladybug Embroidery, Yosemite Falls Well Drilling & Pump Service, Bull Construction, Sterling & Suzanne Cramer, Family & Friends of Devin Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Lee, Rancho Del Fuego, The Wardle Family, S&S Electric, Jared & Carla Brandauer, JulieGerken.com, Justin & Kierstin Wight, Robin’s Bail Bonds, EK Ranch, Hutchings Family, Krull Family, Hagen Family, Lisa Steele, Madrone Logistics, Allison Family, Forsythe Ranch, Suzanne & Sterling Cramer, Forsythe Ranch, and Take-N-Bake Pizza.

Small Animal Awards Sponsors: Rancho Del Fuego, JulieGerken.com, The Allens, The Wardle Family, Williams Excavation Inc., Shelly’s Jellies & Sweet Stuff, The Haug Family, Mae It Be Home, Mariposa Mechanical, Angela Fried, Dr. Jim Byerly, Sierra Gateway Veterinary Clinic, Melissa Rios, Ladybug Embroidery, Mountain Fitness, 4-H Council, Infinite Ranch, Hornitos 4-H Club, Triangle Market in Memory of Helen Kwalwasser, Cooper & Jenny Fouch, Maddux Family-In Memory of Jan Maddux, Linda Mclean, Hansen Family, Kevin & Christina Packard, and Darryl & Monica Nielsen.

Specialty Awards: 1850 Restaurant & Brewery, Allison Sierra, Inc., Lauren Miller, Cory Family, Harris Family, Wise Family, Lauren Miller, Twiss Realty, Williams Excavation, and Mariposa Junior Livestock Auction.

Last but not least are all the sponsors of the rosettes for the exhibitor competitions.

The Boze family provides the awards for Senior Horticulture, and Debbie Lester (in memory of Gloria Palmer) sponsors the prize for Junior Crafts. Ivan Foley steps to the plate to supply rosettes for three winners in Mechanical Science. Randy and Leslie Foley provide the awards in Junior Fine Arts, and Linda Appling also provides a prize for that competition.

The Mariposa County 4-H Council bestows the awards for Junior Baked Goods (2), Junior Clothing (2), and Junior Rabbits (2). The Mariposa County Arts Council provides the rosettes in the Junior and Senior Fine Arts exhibitor competition. Mountain Yoga is the award sponsor for Junior Floriculture (2) and Junior Horticulture. Dan and Donna Wice provide four more awards in the Junior Floriculture and Junior Horticulture divisions.

Charles Phillips sponsors a rosette for Junior Photography. Kevin and Carla Shelton sponsor an award in Junior Fine Arts, and the Wices provide prizes in Junior Fine Arts and Junior Baked Goods. Tina Wiemer sponsors awards for Junior Fine Arts, Senior Baked Goods, and Senior Crafts.

Tom and Margie Williams provide a bundle of rosettes. Tom is on the Mariposa County Fair Board. Together they sponsor prizes for Junior Clothing (2), Junior Crafts (2), Junior Photography, Senior Preserves, Senior Spirits, Senior Clothing, and Senior Photo.

All of these sponsors provide the rosettes for the different competitor divisions and age groups, which vary widely from the best decorated melon in the Junior Horticulture contest to the Best of Show in woodworking division of the Mechanical Science competition.

There are a lot of pieces to this massive puzzle, but it is clear that community involvement and participation is the driving force behind Mariposa County’s favorite annual event, the Mariposa County