Three days of rodeo competition, children’s activities, classic cars, food and longtime Fisher County traditions will pack Roby Aug. 27-29 as the 82nd annual Fisher County Fair and Rodeo brings another full weekend of activities to the community.
Some of the youngest competitors will get things started Thursday evening, when mutton bustin’ preliminaries begin at the Fisher County Fair Grounds.
Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. for children ages 4-8 weighing no more than 60 pounds. The entry fee is $30, with contestants competing for spots in the Friday and Saturday night rodeo performances.
Plenty is waiting for those who qualify.
Organizers are billing the $4,000 purse as the largest mutton bustin’ payout in Texas, with $2,500 going to the champion, $1,000 to second place and $500 to third. The top prize remains unchanged from last year, while the addition of second- and third-place money expands the overall purse.
IREN returns as a major Fair and Rodeo sponsor for the second year, with its support helping fund the mutton bustin’ purse and improvements at the rodeo grounds. The company is also sponsoring Saturday’s children’s sand treasure hunt and helping support the Two Types of Horse Power Car Show.
Before
Thursday’s young riders climb aboard, the Snyder Chamber of Commerce will hold a 5:30 p.m. ribbon cutting at the rodeo grounds recognizing the Fisher County Fair and Rodeo Association as one of its newest Chamber members. Professional competition gets underway Friday with slack beginning at 9 a.m. The first rodeo performance follows at 8 p.m. at the Fisher County Arena on South Fifth Street in Roby.
The rodeo is sanctioned by the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association and United Professional Rodeo Association, with $7,500 in added money and Byrn Rodeo Co. providing the stock.
Spectators will also see some changes around the arena. Organizers have spent months preparing a new two-level VIP seating structure expected to accommodate more than 100 spectators upstairs while providing additional shaded seating below. The project is among several improvements undertaken as the association works to accommodate the larger crowds seen in recent years.
“We as a committee have raised the bar high and every year this event will get bigger and better,” said Event Coordinator Casey Terry.
Saturday morning, much of the activity shifts to downtown Roby.
The Fisher County parade begins at 10 a.m., with floats lining up between the track and football fields beginning at 9. Prize money has doubled this year, with $1,000 for first place, $800 for second and $500 for third.
Meanwhile, the third annual Two Types of Horse Power Car Show will surround the Fisher County Courthouse. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the show at 9.
Car enthusiasts will compete for $500 and a customized Lone Star Silversmith tumbler for Best in Show, while Best Interior, Best Engine and Best Paint each pay $250 and include customized tumblers. The Top 25 will receive custom belt-buckle awards, with presentations scheduled for 2 p.m.
But visitors will not need a show car to find something to do around the square.
Food trucks and vendors will begin setting up around 8 a.m., joining the Fisher County Fair Bake Sale, raffles and silent auction. A live auction featuring children’s artwork begins at the pavilion at 11 a.m., while the silent auction concludes at noon.
Children can also search for hidden prizes during IREN’s sand treasure hunt on the north side of the courthouse.
“Make sure to bring your kiddos down to enjoy the 82nd Fisher County Fair & Rodeo that brings our community lots of fun and memories,” the Fisher County Fair & Rodeo Association wrote in a Facebook post promoting the hunt.
The bake sale keeps one of the Fair’s traditional elements among the growing list of activities. Desserts can be entered from 7-9 a.m. Saturday with judging beginning at 11. There is no entry fee, and entries will be sold afterward to benefit the Fair and Rodeo Association.
Back at the rodeo grounds, supper can provide another way to support the community. The Fisher County Firefighters Association will operate concessions during both Friday and Saturday night performances, offering steak fingers, burgers, nachos, hot dogs, drinks and other items while raising support for the Roby and Rotan volunteer fire departments.
Saturday’s activities ultimately return to where the weekend began, with the final rodeo performance starting at 8 p.m.
Along with professional competition and the mutton bustin’ finalists, Saturday night will mark the traditional changing of Fisher County rodeo royalty as the 2025 court of Berklee Pippin, Evie Rasberry and Mesa Dennis gives way to the newly crowned 2026 court.
“This has been a blessing for our community and our treasured event,” said Terry. “It has been really special to see everyone pull together to make this happen.”
After 82 years, the rodeo remains at the heart of the Fisher County tradition, but the weekend surrounding it continues to grow. This year, families can move from mutton bustin’ and professional rodeo to a parade, classic cars, children’s activities, food, vendors and longtime fair traditions before gathering again around the arena Saturday night.