The Casper Journal :: Casper's Community Newspaper

More than 100 years after Casper’s first fair was held as a state-wide celebration, the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo remains a showcase for community spirit. This year’s Parade Day on July 7 again will kick off a week of carnival rides, exhibits, entertainment and rootin’ tootin’ rodeo.

The biggest “wow” for parade goers this year may be the Budweiser Clydesdales, back after an absence of eight years. The six-foot-tall, 2,000 pound symbols of the St. Louis brewery will pull their distinctive red draft wagon in the parade. The Clydesdales will be stabled at the Fairgrounds from the Sunday before the parade until the following Sunday and will perform every night at the rodeo.

The Casper Lions Club has organized the fair parade through downtown for 50 plus years, according to Lion member Hank Washenfelder. The Casper native remembers when there were “literally blocks of horses” in the summer parade. Lions volunteers also sold rodeo tickets from a white wagon parked on the corner of Wolcott and Second Streets, next to the old Woolworth’s store.

Eventually most of the horses were replaced by cars, trucks and other types of transportation and ticket sales moved to the Fairgrounds. Even with changes, the public acceptance has remained high.

“Several thousand people every year line the streets,” Washenfelder said, to participate in an open event that gives any community group a chance to enter a float. Some organizations, including several local churches, antique car clubs and Casper College have participated for years.

“It’s a chance to show off what they’ve accomplished, to build a float,” he said.

The 2009 “Legends of Wyoming” theme parade will follow the same route as the parades of the last several years, through downtown starting from A and Kimball at 10:30 a.m. So far, there are approximately 105 entries for the parade, down a bit from last year’s election year total of 156 entries.

Lion’s president and parade chairman Tom Phillips expects the number of entries to increase by Parade Day.

This year’s parade won’t include the Troopers, who are on tour, but the Casper Municipal Band will participate as they have for more than 30 years.

Honoring Kevin Anderson

The parade grand marshal is Casper College archivist, Kevin Anderson, who is being honored for his “great work” with the Casper College Library, Washenfelder said.

The grand marshal is always a native or resident of Natrona County who has been active and contributed a great deal to the community. Past grand marshals have included business people, doctors, lawyers and community leaders like Jack Rosenthal, Tom Stroock, John Wold, Alice Bubeck, Edna Kennell and Edness Kimball Wilkins.

The parade also honors the Lion of the Year, who is selected for work within the fraternal organization. The 2009 honoree is Dr. Ken Morse of Wyoming Optical.

There are five categories of entries in the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Parade. The entry fee for a decorated float or vehicle is $25, as it has been for many years, and the best float is eligible for a $500 grand prize. There is no fee for antique and classic autos, equestrian groups or bands.

For information about entries after June 30, call Phillips at 472-4926.

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