About the Event
In the dead of winter, silent January, ranchers and farmers have a brief reprieve before calving and lambing begins. At a time when snow softly blankets the world-famous grasslands of our Big Sky Country, winter wheat is sleeping and everything on four legs is carrying a baby. Life is silently growing! The earth is renewing life and its energy. Montanans are pausing to celebrate the agricultural lifestyle we love! Montana Winter Fair, with roots of origin going back to 1946, is a celebration of Montana’s world-class agricultural production and enviable “western way of life”.
The public is encouraged to attend and participate! There are no gate fees for the overall Winter Fair. The skijoring and equine clinic do charge a small spectator fee. If you choose to participate in an event, please check the individual events for participation fees, rules and registration.
Schedule of Events:
9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Western Expo Trade Show
Montana Winter Fair's Western Expo Trade Show brings together a unique blend of farm, ranch, home, art and food booths that highlight Montana's western way of life.
Attendees
There is no entry fee for this event.
View vendor list below
Western Expo Vendor Registration
Western Expo Booth Pricing and Information
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
9:00am - 4:00pm: Qulilt & Fiber Arts Show
Exhibit open during the Montana Winter Fair
Gallery Reception
All are welcome and encouraged to attend the Fiber Artists' Reception on Saturday, January 18th at 10am. This is a great time to visit about the exhibition and meet other artists!
Registration
Please review rules, print registration form and attach to your entry.
There are no entry fees
Quilts and Fiber Art pieces must be delivered to Lewistown's Sew Pieceful between January13th & 16th or mailed to the LSP at 214 W Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457 (Entries must be postmarked by 1/06/25). There will be a maximum of 5 entries per person.
Qulilt & Fiber Arts Show Rules & Information
Qulilt & Fiber Arts Show Registration
Location:
Ag Building
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Ag Ambassador Contest
The Ag Ambassador Contest is open to ANY junior high or high school student. You do not need to be a 4-H or FFA member to participate. The Prepared Speech portion of the event will take place in Lewistown, MT on the morning of Saturday, January 18th. All other portions of the contest will be completed virtually.
Awards (4 categories)
Prepared Speech: 1st Place - $150, 2nd Place - $75
Newspaper Article: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $50
Radio Spot: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $50
Social Media Posts: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $50
There is no registration fee
Ag Ambassador Rules & Information
Ag Ambassador Contest Registration
Location: Trade Center/ Virtual
Cat Show
Schedule:
1:30 pm - Registration
2:00 pm - Show
Registration
Review Rules, print registration and bring with you for on-site registration the day of the event.
Cat Show Rules & Information
Cat Show Registration
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Chili Cook-off
Schedule:
10:00 am - Registration
11:00 am - Judging
Chili served immediately following the judging.
Registration
Print registration form below, fill out and bring with your entry on the day of the event.
There is no fee for this event
Chili Cook-off Rules & Information
Chili Cook-off Registration
Food Safety Information
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Cinnamon Roll Bake-off
Schedule
10:00 am- Registration
11:00 am- Judging
Cinnamon Rolls served immediately following the judging.
Registration
Print registration form below, fill out and bring with your entry on the day of the event.
There is no fee for this event
Cinnamon Roll Bake-off Rules & Information
Cinnamon Roll Bake-off Registration
Food Safety Information
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Dog Weight Pull & Clinic
Dog Weight Pull (Saturday), extra harnesses for others to try.
Dog Weight Pulls, 10am and 1pm
Dog Weight Pull Registration, January 18
$20/ dog/ pull
Morning Pull:
Weigh In: 9:00 am; Pull Start: 10:00 am
Afternoon Pull:
Weigh In: 12:00 pm; Pull Start: 1:00 pm
No charge for spectators both days.
IWPA Dog Pull Information
Location: Main Fairgrounds Entrance
Fiddle & Picking Contest
Schedule:
8:00 am - Late Registration & Warm up
9:00 am - Round 1 (3 required tunes)
1:00 pm - Round 2 (3 tunes)
6:30 pm - Round 3 (3 tunes)
Age Divisions
Class 1: Peewee – 8 & under
Class 2: Junior-Junior – 9-12
Class 3: Junior – 13-18
Class 4: Adult 19 and over
Class 5: Junior Picking (12 & Under)
Class 6: Picking (13 & Over)
Registration
Please read all rules, regulations and registration info by clicking the buttons below.
Fiddle & Picking Rules, Fees & Information
Fiddle & Picking Registration
Location:
School of Music
Montana Day Building
224 W Main St
Lewistown, MT
10:00am: Lewistown Hoppers
Jump Roping demonstrations and opportunities to try out your jump roping skills.
No Registration is needed.
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191
Fergus County Event Center
Lewistown, MT
10:00am - 4:00pm: Old McDonald's Barn
Please contact Rhonda or Randy if you would like to bring an animal to display.
All kinds of animals, big and small!!!
There is no cost to attend this event.
Please contact Rhonda or Randy if you would like to bring an animal to display.
Spectators
There is no charge for this event
Location:
Draft Horse Barn
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Poultry Show
Schedule:
2:30 pm - Registration
3:00 pm - Show
Registration
Review rules, print registration and bring with you for on-site registration the day of the event.
Poultry Show Rules & Information
Poultry Show Registration
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191
Fergus County Event Center
Lewistown, MT
Rabbit Show
Schedule:
3:30 pm - Registration
4:00 pm - Show
Registration
Review rules, print registration and bring with you for on-site registration the day of the event.
Rabbit Show Rules & Information
Rabbit Show Registration
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
3:00pm - 5:00pm: Saddle Fits, Bits and Sore Horses
This casual, interactive session will be conducted by Candi Zion of Winifred, MT, rancher and horsewomen who has over 50 years experience training colts and barrel horses.
Candi will share her knowledge of bit types, how they function, and when and what bit to use. With the help of Candi's ranch horse, Diamonds for Romance, a practical demonstration of saddle fitting and a discussion of what is making your horse sore will follow.
Registration
No registration is needed.
Location:
Trade Center
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Skijoring
Schedule:
10:00am: Competitor meeting followed by track inspection.
11:00am: Races begin
Spectators
Regular Seating
$5 per day, 12 and under free; Bring blankets for warmth; Concessions will be available.
You may NOT bring your own heaters.
Enter the 3rd gate at the Fergus County Fairgrounds and watch for signage.
The public is not allowed in the competitor staging area or on the track.
Hot Spots
$50 per day, Includes 8 seats and 1 patio heater. Limited number, must be pre-purchased.
Contact Jennifer at 406-366-1677 with questions.
Registration
Review Rules, then complete online registration.
Skijoring Rules and Information
Skijoring Intent to Enter
Skijoring Information
Location
Grandstands
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
6:00 pm: Skijoring Party, Calcutta & Auction
Join us for a live band, skijoring calcutta and live auction! More information coming soon!!
Location:
Stockyard Bar
Hwy 191 North
Lewistown, MT
Stick Horse Rodeo
Schedule:
10:00 am - Registration
11:00 am - Stick Horse Rodeo
Registration:
Children ages 3 to 8, as of the day of the event, may participate.
There is no charge for this event.
Please register on location the day of the event.
Stick Horse Rodeo Rules and Information
Stick Horse Rodeo Release Form
Location:
Livestock Pavilion
Heated Sale Barn
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
Lewistown, MT
Yearling Horsesmanship Clinic
Training and techniques for yearling horses. Groundwork exercises to help prepare your young horse for saddling, riding and liberty work.
Schedule:
10:00am - 12:00pm: session
1:00pm - 3:00pm: session
Registration & Fees
Auditors - $10 for all sessions
Handlers - $50 for 2-hour session
Contact Chris (406-366-2606) for more information and registration
Location:
Livestock Pavilion
Hwy 191 North
Fergus County Fairgrounds
We want to hear from you if you have an event to share or updates to this event.
Saturday, Jan 18, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. MST 
12:00 p.m. ET • 11:00 a.m. CT • 10:00 a.m. MT • 9:00 a.m. PT 
