John and Roberta Schaffner love Yuma County, and Yuma County loves them.
“Yuma County has been very good to us,” John said earlier this week. “Almost immediately when we came into Yuma County we were accepted as part of the county.”
The Schaffners have been selected to serve as the grand marshals at the 2025 Yuma County Fair Parade, which will take place Saturday, August 2, at 10 a.m. in downtown Yuma.
“It kind of surprised us,” John said, “but it’s quite an honor.”
They moved here in 1984 and have owned and operated Schaffner Auction Company just west of Wray for decades. John was inducted into the Colorado Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame earlier this year.
He also is a cowboy poet, and is famous for his delicious chuckwagon meals.
The Schaffners raised their three children in Yuma County, and now have 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren — with a ninth on its way.
The couple been involved with the Yuma County Fair, as well as 4-H and FFA, over the past four decades.
John was on the Fair Board for roughly 12 years, and was on the Yuma County 4-H Council as an adult leader for four to five years.
“I took a lot of kids to conferences in Denver, Fort Collins and other places,” he said, “and had a lot of fun with it.”
He still is on the Rodeo Committee, and has been providing chuckwagon meals to the rodeo contestants for the past 10 years. He said that has led to other jobs, such as providing meals at the Greeley Stampede for a few years. He served as a spotter during the Junior Livestock Sale for many years before he started doing the chuckwagon meals for the rodeo contestants.
Roberta has been involved in the holticulture exhibit for many years, and helps with the Senior Day activities during the fair.
“She’s already planning out this year’s Senior Day schedule,” John said. “We’re in our 70s but we’re too busy to be senior citizens.”
Make sure you give John and Roberta a big wave when they pass by on the parade route on August 2.
Fair stuff
The 2025 Yuma County Fair unofficially kicked off this past Tuesday with the 4-H Fashion Revue in Wray.
The official days of the fair are Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, August 3. However, there still are activities taking place before that. 4-H Interview Judging begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Yuma County Fairgrounds. A dog test will be held at 8:30 a.m. The Ranch Horse Show will be at 5 p.m.
Wednesday includes the 4-H and Open Dog Obedience Show at 8:30 a.m. Fair Queen tryouts are at 9 a.m., and Yuma County Fair Queen Jalyn Archer and Lady In Waiting Tatum Soehner will host the Princess Program at 5 p.m. Wednesday also includes Open Home Ec/Crops check in from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as the next morning from 7:30 to 9.
Things really get rolling on Thursday with weigh-ins, check-ins, and the judging begins for Open Home Ec/Crops, poultry and rabbit. The Dairy Show is at 2 p.m. next Thursday, the Draft Horse Show at 5 p.m. and Swine Show at 6.
Look for more on the fair in next week’s print edition.