104th Crow Fair Well Attended

The 2023 Crow Fair at Crow Agency, Montana, is in its 104th year. Parades, traditional dancers, drums, rodeos and horse races were among the events at the week-long celebration that began on August 17.

On August 20, the last day of the fair, the best dancers competed in the dancing. Although the day was hazy, it was comfortable, and there was a good crowd for the dancing.

The Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard was on hand and the announcer talked about the veterans who were in the honor guard.

Other flags included the Montana flag, the Crow Flag, Chief Plenty Coups Flag

Jerome Hugs, who carried the Crow Flag, and served in the US Marine Corps, explained who Chief Plenty Coups was and talked about the honor guard.

Ellsworth Goes Ahead who also served in the Marines, carried the Chief Plenty Coups flag, and had this to say about the upcoming Chief Plenty Coups Day of Honor to be held over the Labor Day Weekend at the State of Montana Chief Plenty Coups State Park, near Pryor.

Danielle Arnoux who is of Crow and Blackfoot heritage, talked about the fair and the way the fair started. She said the Crow Reservation in Montana is very large and that Crow Agency is near the center.

She added that in the early days, families would come together in the fall to pick chokecherries in the area. They would camp out for several days, exchange news of the family, hold horse races and parades, or just be together, much as they do today. The fair evolved from there.

One booth was the Western Native Voice, and Buddy Windy Boy, volunteer, talked about what it was

There were many horses, and signs informed drivers that horses had the right of way at the fair.

The dancing was held under the new dance arbor, and it was filled nearly to capacity with spectators enjoying the dancing and the drums. Several vendors had clothing, toys, food and drinks as well.

The Crow Fair has been called the Tepee Capital of the World, with over 1500 tepees being set up at the fairgrounds at Crow Agency, Montana.

The Crow Fair draws around 10,000 people each year to watch and take part in the parades, the rodeos and the dancing.