Eastern Idaho State Fair Native American Department staff.
BLACKFOOT — Every year the Eastern Idaho State Fair Management tries to make positive changes throughout the fairgrounds and with the help of the Shoshone Bannock Tribal Council, the Fair is excited to bring back Anna Bowers as the Native American Department Superintendent.
Joining Anna will be Mary Chix Washakie as the Assistant Superintendent. Anna and Chix have many years of experience working on both sides of the table. They both have entered in many categories in the department, and both have either supervised or helped with entering and displaying for many years in the Native American Department.
Every year people come from all over to enjoy the Eastern Idaho State Fair. The Native American Department showcases amazing hand crafted items according to a press release. You can see buckskin clothing with detailed beadwork to jewelry as small as rings. Each piece is a work of art.
Anna and Chix will be visiting numerous district meetings to promote their department. They will able to answer any questions that exhibitors might have. One major change that Anna has implemented, is a new day for entering which will make it that much easier for everyone who would like to showcase their work to be able to.
Entry dates, times and locations: Tuesday, August 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shoshone Bannock Tribal Office, Dome Room, where entries will be taken for the elderly or disabled exhibitors who are unable to enter on Wednesday or Thursday at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds.
• Wednesday, August 28 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the E.I.S.F. Harvest Plaza – Building No. 8 (third building on the east side of the Food Court) – north door.
• Thursday, August 29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) at the E.I.S.F. Harvest Plaza – Building No. 8 (third building on the east side of the Food Court) – north door.
Each year the Native American Department has Special Prizes. The Shoshone Bannock Tribe provides cash awards of $100 and the EISF provides trophies and rosettes for each.
These classes change each year and for 2019 the EISF Native American Superintendent, Anna Bowers and the Shoshone Bannock Cultural Department have chosen the following classes:
Indian bread; bead work with story; quill work; buckskin jacket; any traditional woven basket; wrapped beadwork (any item); two—any handmade children woven basket ($50 each, two awards given); any beaded old style high top moccasins; traditional completed women’s outfit (made within the last five years); traditional completed men’s outfit (made within the last five years); pipe bag with quill work fringes; medallion cut bead necklace four inch or bigger; largest immediate family participation.
You can find the complete rules and entry forms at https://funatthefair.com/join-in/exhibitors/ or a copy can be picked up at the Main Office of the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Remember entering starts on Tuesday, August 27 and ends on Thursday, August 29, see rules for complete times and entering requirements.
Come “Taste the Fun!” at the Eastern Idaho State Fair runs Friday, August 30, through Saturday, September 7. Complete schedules and 2019 Fair information can be found at www.funatthefair.com.