Kissed a Pig Lately? Cantaloupe Festival Brings Fun and Families to Fallon

You missed a great time if you did not make it to the Rafter C3 Events Complex and Churchill County Festival for the annual Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair. Fear not, here's the scoop.

With cooler temperatures and fairly cooperative weather, Cantaloupers enjoyed a whirlwind of activities and events.

Ranking high as festival favorites, the Pig Races and Kiss a Pig drew sizeable crowds and plenty of hilarity. Meanwhile, music abounded across two stages, delivering rock-n-roll, alternative, folk, country, cover songs, and even metal-mariachi. This year’s festival music offered a little something for everyone.

Visitors also raved about the Farmers' Market and the wonderful fresh produce, homemade preserves, baked goods, and more. Kids and adults alike were treated to great fun as local 4-H, FFA, and High Desert Grange students showed their animals and projects. The exhibition hall featured an impressive variety of categories for judging, showcasing Fallon's incredibly talented community. The festival served as a reminder of how much fun our community can have while recalling the joy that country fairs bring. 

Metal, chrome, and rubber overtook the complex's southwest parking lot. The Cantaloupe Festival Car Show attracted more than 80 vintage cars and trucks, with nine categories open for judging. Ronnie and Lora Seagraves, co-owners of Rustoration Garage, teamed up with the festival in 2023 and decided to help present the car show again this year.

The 20-year National Guardsman and author from Reno planted his roots here with his family in 2021 and stays busy in the community. 

The new grandparents are familiar to many car enthusiasts and spectators from The Fallon Cars and Coffee group, which the Seagraves started with Jim Sutton in 2022. Fallon Cars and Coffee meets monthly at 1555 S. Taylor St. Fallon. Contact Rustoration Garage from the Fallon Cars and Coffee Facebook group or visit https://rustorationgarage.net/.

Also, the inaugural Battle Born Junior Roughstock Challenge was a big hit. Presented by CC Communications, the City of Fallon, and Battle Born Handmade Boots, it was held in conjunction with the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair at the Rafter 3C Event Complex in the outdoor arena on August 23-24.  

Contestants ages 10-18 from Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, and Canada came to Fallon to compete at this direct qualifier for the YETI Junior World Finals, which will be held in Las Vegas this December at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.  

Battle Born Broncs producer Darcie Spero was hired by the Cantaloupe Festival earlier this year to organize the inaugural event and work with stock contractors and sanctioning associations to bring the direct qualifier to Fallon. 406 Rodeo owners Joe & Lacie DeMers of Aguila, Arizona, traveled to the Oasis of Nevada bringing Bareback and Saddle Bronc horses, Mini Bulls, and Bulls along with their crew to put on the two-day event.   

The winners of each division were determined on a two-go-around average and advanced to Las Vegas for the National Finals Event that runs alongside the National Finals Rodeo for professional rodeo athletes.   

Details for future events can be found at battlebornbroncs.com or @battlebornbroncs on Facebook and Instagram. All photos courtesy of Josh Lado. Visit 52photographyinc.pixieset.com to purchase prints.