The Courier

News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding

July 19, 2023

Lincoln County Fair & Rodeo

This Saturday, July 22, Lincoln County Fair & Rodeo events will kick off with the Ardis Swan Memorial Junior Rodeo.

The Jr. Rodeo is open for contestants ages 0-6, 7-11, 12-14, and includes Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Goat Tying, Brakaway Roping, Ribbon Roping, Steer & Calf Riding. Pee Wee Events (ages 0-6) include Barrel Racing Goat Tail Untie, Mutton Busting, Stick Horse Barrels, and Dummy Head roping. Entry forms are available at: lincolncountyfairandrodeo. There is an early entry price and late entry price. Early entries must be received by Friday, July 21st, at noon. Saturday check-in is at 8 a.m. Rodeo begins at 9 a.m. All events are 75% payback prizes along with High Point Buckles. For more information, contact Amber Sluder at (208)720-5732 or mcmurdocvt@aol.com

4-H & FAA shows begin on Monday, July 23rd, with the Horse show at 8 a.m. Tuesday livestock shows include Dairy at 10 a.m. and 4-H Gymkhana at 7 p.m. Wednesday shows start at 8:30 a.m. with Goat followed by Sheep. The Small Animal Show will be at 2 p.m. Swine show on Thursday and Beef on Friday. Round Robin will be held Friday, July 28th, at 12:30. Next Wednesday, the rodeo arena will host an ATV Rodeo at 7 p.m. On Thursday, July 27th and 28th, the arena will host the 2023 Lincoln County Rodeo at 8 p.m. each evening. This year's competition is an Open Rodeo, meaning there will be a lot of beginners trying their hands at the various events. Come on out and cheer them on!

And... don't forget the 2023 Parade on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Seats Available in Trapper Education Course

Idaho Fish and Game will host a trapper education course in Salmon on Friday, July 28. The course will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fish and Game Regional Office, 99 Highway 93 North.

Advanced registration is required, and class size will be limited. To register, go online to Fish and Game’s website or visit the Fish and Game office in Salmon. The cost is $9.75 when registering online or $8.00 in person. Participants must be at least 9 years of age.

The interactive course provides students with hands-on training from experienced trapping instructors. Basic trapping techniques with safety, ethical trapper behavior, and avoiding non-target catches are emphasized throughout. Other topics covered include trapping regulations, equipment selection and maintenance.

Idaho trappers who purchased their first trapping license after June 30, 2011 are required to attend a mandatory trapper education course before they can purchase a trapping license. Anyone intending to trap wolves must attend wolf trapper education course prior to purchasing wolf trapping tags. Those who intend to trap wolves that did not possess an Idaho trapping license prior to 2011 are required to take both trapper and wolf-trapper education courses.

For more information, contact the Fish and Game office in Salmon at 208-756-2271. --- --- --- --- ---

Idaho F&G regulates the harvest of eight furbearer species: Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Red Fox, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, and River Otter. Badger, Bobcat and Red Fox may also be hunted.

Coyote, striped skunk, spotted skunk, long-tailed weasel, raccoon and ermine (also considered furbearers) are classified as predatory wildlife and are open to hunting or trapping.

There is no open season for lynx, wolverine, or fisher. Idaho's furbearers provide recreational opportunities, viewing enjoyment, and an economic return from fur pelts. Furbearers provide not only recreational, harvest, and aesthetic values, but also social, cultural, scientific, and genetic values. Furbearers and their harvest are managed in order to benefit wildlife populations and to ensure a long-term return from the animals to humans.

Notices of Upcoming Events & Meetings How to Spot Spotted Knapweed

Gooding Senator Reunion

Its time to reunite! Senators are gathering at the Elks Lodge on July 21 & 22. Friday is alum/faculty open house at 7 with no-host bar and light appies. Saturday is Class of 78 catered dinner at 7 p.m. - $30 per person. Contact Shannon Tucker (208-297-0305) to reserve for Saturday and spread the word for alum night!

Camas County Fair

The 2023 Camas County Fair "FAST CARS & FREEDOM" will be held August 3rd thru 6th. The 4-H Public Speeking Contest will be held next Tuesday, July 25th, at the Fairfield LDS Church (west end of Spruce Avenue) at 6 p.m. All 4-Hers are encourage to participate. To sign up, contact the Extesion office at 208-764-22390.

New at this year's Camas County Fair will be Junior Bull Riding and Mutton Busting at the C Me Later Arena. Mutton is for ages 6 and under - Mini bulls are for ages 6 thru 14. For more information, contact Donnie Landis at 209-840-0602.

The Amazing Race!

July 19 & 20 at Manard Hall

Come and discover the various types of wood and how to use them. Learn woodworking skills through fun activities and get to participate in a Pinewood Derby! To register, get a sign-up sheet from the Camas County Extension Office. Registration Deadline: July 18, 2023.

Time: 2 to 4 p.m. Cost: FREE Youth Ages: 8-18

Manard Hall is located at 231 Ponderosa Ave E. in Fairfield (near Camas County School)

Pinewood Derby Woodworking

Skill Challenges  Learning & Fun

University of Idaho Extension, Camas County

517 Soldier Rd. Fairfield, ID 83327 - 208-764-2230 - camas@uidaho.edu

by Camas Bug Crew

While there are many knapweed species in Idaho, there is one that loves the cooler, shorter growing seasons of Blaine and Camas counties. This species is most commonly known as Spotted knapweed. This plant is pleasant to look at, and some would even say beautiful; but don’t let its good looks fool you, it is indeed very invasive and noxious.

Spotted knapweed is an herbaceous, short-lived, perennial reproducing entirely by seed, producing up to 25,000 seed per plant can remain viable in the solid up to 8 years. Flowers range in color from pink to light-purple and bloom from July to October. The bracts of the flower heads are black-tipped, giving the plant its characteristic “spotted” appearance. Seeds are brown to black in color, smooth, and less than 0.25 inch long. Stems are typically 2 to 4 feet tall with lower leaves that are deeply lobed and upper leaves that are more linear. Spotted knapweed prefers moist rangeland habitats, but is common in waste areas, along roadsides, and in pastures. To date, thirteen biological control agents have been approved for release for the knapweed complex, which includes spotted knapweed. Now, lets discuss this plant’s insect predator.

Larinus minutus is an abundant biological control agent that can utilize spotted, diffuse, and squarrose knapweed. LA overwinters as an adult. Adults emerge in the spring when they begin to feed on knapweed foliage. Females produce between 28 and 130 eggs which they lay in clusters in open flowers. Eggs hatch and larvae feed on seeds and receptacle tissue for about a month. Larvae construct cocoons within the round hole in the top of the cocoon that is visible when viewed from above.

Like any other noxious weed, the sooner we deal with it the less chance it has to become a problem. Now that you know what this plant looks like you should be able to spot this plant rather easily. If you happen upon an infestation of this weed please call Terry Lee at (208) 764-3512.

FFA Golf Scramble

On Saturday, September 9th, the Gooding FFA Chapter will be sponsoring a Golf Scramble at the Gooding Golf Course.

Participants are invited to the course for donuts and coffee at 8 a.m. with tee-off at 9 a.m. Event includes an 18 hold golf scramble, prizes, lunch, and lot of special surprises.

Each team will consist of five members with a $25 per member entry fee. All funds raised will go to support the Gooding FFA Chapter.

Apartments for Rent

D&G Apartments in Fairfield has clean, attractive apartments available from time to time. These federally assisted affordable housing units offer rental assistance with rent adjusted to your income - ranging from $0 to $600 per month - water, sewer and trash are paid. For more information, contact Gordon Schmidt at 208-421-6723 For the hearing impaired, contact: TTY 1-800-833-6388. Equal Housing Opportunity. We Are An Equal Opportunity Provider