Be amazed, startled, bewildered and amused!
August 13-16
Three Shows Daily
at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
on the Midway Stage
Dan Mink and Lucky Joe are favorites of young and old. The 40-minute show begins with a musical number in which Dan sings and does rope tricks as he introduces his assistants. He attracts a crowd and holds them in rapt attention with expert trick roping, bullwhip cracking, six-gun spinning, fast draw and Wheel of Death knife throwing. |
The show opens with Dan singing as he executes butterflies and rollovers, ocean waves, and dances in and out of his wedding ring loop. Then he skillfully performs flat loops, dogtrots, wedding rings, body juggles, handshakes and lift-ons.
The Bowie knife was a favorite tool on the frontier. Dan takes great pride in the gasps he hears as he throws fourteen-inch knives around his assistant as she spins on "The Wheel of Death." This part of the show has audiences holding their breath until the last knife has found its target.
Even crowds who think they know what’s coming jump in surprise with the first crack of the bullwhip. Dan uses whips of fine braided kangaroo hide. Volunteers are chosen and Dan begins cracking the whip. As a finale, he takes a whip in each hand, cracks them simultaneously, alternately, and then in a spectacular syncopated four-count pattern.
The Guns that won the west are featured in the Rhinestone Roper Show. Dan uses .45 caliber single action six shooters and .45 caliber lever action Winchester rifles. Dan straps on his fancy double rig holster and performs well-known gun spinning maneuvers and tosses with one gun, some with two and some alternately. As the pistols twirl, Dan jokes and explains the tricks, how the guns work, and gives safety tips to the kids.
Before the show is over, several kids and adults have taken the stage and learned either to spin a rope or to hold a bullwhip target. |
 The star of the show is the amazing Lucky Joe. Lucky is the most versatile trick horse in the business, performing many humorous and unusual tricks, and always stealing the show.
Among other things, Lucky Joe can bow, rear, lay down, count his age, come when called, and answer yes and no. He also reaches back with his mouth and throws his saddle pad off when Dan tries to saddle him, and when Dan bends over to pick it up, Joe grabs Dan's hat off of his head. If Dan makes the mistake of bending over in front of Joe, then Joe trots up and boosts Dan in the rear with his nose. Lucky Joe also retrieves Dan's hat when the wind blows it off.
When Lucky Joe lies down, Dan pretends they are bedding down to sleep and drapes the saddle blanket over both of them. But Joe doesn't want to share so he reaches up and pulls the blanket off of Dan and onto himself. Additionally, while lying down, Dan plays rowboat with Lucky Joe's legs and then rolls Lucky Joe onto his back with all four hooves in the air. Lucky Joe's newest and most amazing skill is that he can balance himself completely upside down with his legs in the air.
 Audience participation rope tricks such as half hitch throwing are used in the show. Additionally, five volunteers are chosen to spin loops and always get a big cheer.
During the show’s finale, Dan ropes to familiar cowboy theme songs as he performs every rope trick that most people can imagine plus a few that they cannot. He performs one- and two-rope routines and uses ropes as short as 7 feet long and as long as 60 feet long.
Have you ever wondered how a cowboy's lariat was made? Dan instructs how to turn the crank of the Old Time Rope Making Machine to make a souvenir lariat, just like Great Grandfather used to make. Dan finishes the rope with a honda knot and presto: a real cowboy lariat of multicolored twine. The young love to make their own cowboy rope and the young at heart love to watch and reminisce.
After the show, Dan, provides specialized ropes and instruction for those who want to learn the lariat arts.
 Dan and Lucky Joe have performed at County and State fairs and festivals ranging from Washington State to Florida. In fact, they have performed for 7 years in a row at the Utah State Fair; 6 years at the Clackamas County Fair in Canby, Oregon; 9 years at the Linn County Fair in Albany, Oregon; and two years at the Iowa State Fair.
The Rhinestone Roper Dan Mink has been honored to receive the following Awards and Achievements through out his career:
* 2009 World Champion All Around Wild West Performer
* 2009 World Champion Knife Performer
* 2009 World Champion Whip Performer
* Two-time inductee to The International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame
(2006 and 2007 Western Performing Family of the Year)
* 2007 Gunspinning Champion (Master's Division)
* 2007 World Champion Gunspinner
* 2005 Joe Bowman Master Gun Spinning Showmanship Award
* 2005 Outstanding Showcase Award, Will Rogers' International Wild West Competition
In addition to these great awards, Dan has also had the opportunity to appear on the Fox Network TV show "30 Seconds to Fame", ABC Family Show "Wife Swap", "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" as well as many news and TV specials.
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Gaze into their shining, bright eyes. Marvel at the lightness of their touch. Thrill to their feats of grace, intelligence and skill. Ignite the free-flying spirit within you!
August 13-17
Three Shows Daily
at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
on the Midway Stage |
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Nancy Kobert's Amazing World of Birds show wows crowds like nothing else! Combining interesting and surprising natural behavior; unusual, entertaining trained performances; audience participation and a lively presentation, the show draws us in, makes us laugh and makes us think.
Parrots talk, sing and fly free. Unusual species like Australia's laughing kookaburra and a rare Egyptian sacred ibis display natural behavior in amazing ways. A hornbill "hops among the branches" on the arms of twenty delighted volunteers while the lilac breasted roller swoops and dives feather-light through the crowd.
Lively dialog coupled with trainer/audience interaction serves to enlighten and entertain. Folks learn how and why the birds "do what they do," gaining insight into training and natural behavior. Lots of audience participation, including free flight into the hands of volunteers make this a terrific show.
The feathered performers have impressive resumes like The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno, the DreamWorks movie, Paulie, The Martin Short Show, The George & Alana Show, America's Funniest Animals, Talk Soup, America's Greatest Pets, CBS This Morning and more. |
  Nancy Kobert began as an animal handler at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1982. By 1990 she needed to devote all her time to her bird and animal shows.
Today Nancy owns and trains more than two dozen birds representing 14 different species.
Entertaining, personable and innovative, Nancy's candid style draws audiences to her. Her unique show gives you an intimate look at the true beauty and comedic nature of birds.
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Turkey legs go fast at the fair, and animal racing will never be the same!
August 12-17
Three Shows Daily
and at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
on the Forestry Lawn
What is The Wild West Turkey Stampede? Well, in an "egg" shell, it’s turkeys, lots of turkeys, tearing around a pint-sized rodeo arena, and sharing a common goal: CATCH BIG RED! Big Red is a remote control trick truck towing turkey treats tucked in its tail.
Their athleticism will surprise you. Their colorful, full-throttle racing form will blow you away. All the while you will barely be able to catch your breath from laughing. Words cannot do justice to the buffoonery of the award-winning Wild West Turkey Stampede. You have to see it to believe it.
With the only trained turkeys in the world, this show is an industry award winner and a fair fan cult hit, truly a spectacle of agricultural proportions. Featured on the Discover Channel's Dirty Jobs with host Mike Rowe, these talented toms and their Big Red nemesis are sure to leave you laughing.
Be sure to check out the Wild West Turkey Stampede when we come thundrin' through town!
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 Ag-Venture Educational Kids' Area
Cowboy
Boot Camp!
August 18-22
11 am - 8 p.m.
on the Forestry Lawn
This interactive and educational agricultural exhibit features old west themed hands-on activities and crafts. With a village type atmosphere, fairgoers are immersed in the feel of the old Wild West with fun activity stations:
 Cowboy Campout: Pitch an old-fashioned cowboy tent and have a cowboy cookout over a faux fire just like in the old west days.
 Horse Saddling: Life-size stuffed animals that kids can brush and put real saddles and bridles on. From cinches to curry combs, kids get to practice and learn how to care for a horse.
Gold Panning: Pan for gold like in the Gold Rush days out west.
Horseshoe Toss: This is a classic, old fashioned, cowboy game. Fun for all ages!
 Dress like a Cowboy or Cowgirl: Chaps, hats, and boots. Dress like a real cowboy.
Learn to Lasso: Practice the cowboy art of lassoing.
Rope a steer: Steer horns, straw, and a saddle set on a barrel with a rope. Talk about fun! Even adults love this station.
Cowboy Crafts: Learn to make a rope and more.
General Store: This old fashioned mercantile stand features agriculturally themed toys and western gear.
 Milk a cow: A life-size, fiberglass Holstein cow kids can milk. Of course it’s water that re-circulates through the bucket, a clever way to teach kids how to milk a cow.
Pedal Tractor Area: A fair favorite! Kids have great fun pedaling authentic old fashioned die cast replicas of traditional farm tractors in a fenced off area in the center of the activity stations.
 Founded in 1983 by David and Dianne Linderman, The Great American Animal Entertainment Company was created to inspire the love of animals. Along the way, they also found that bringing troubled teens to work around animals was a great way to help young people build character, confidence, and find their self-worth. In the 1990's, David and Dianne founded Kids & Critters Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children through working with animals.
Today, The Great American Animal Entertainment Company is owned and operated by Animal Adventures Unlimited, Inc., a small company with a big heart whose owners started as employees of The Great American Animal Entertainment Company in the late ’80s. Then they were young adults seeking adventure, opportunity and, most of all, a sense of family. Now they are grown up and dedicated to providing the highest quality animal attractions in the country, keeping the wholesome family experience alive and well in America.
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Ride anywhere! Dirt roads, grass hills, skateparks, single track trails, bmx tracks, ski resorts. With a mountainboard your terrain is limitless and you can ride ALL YEAR LONG! 
