Fairgrounds gets ready to sparkle with rock show

The annual Madras Rock, Gem and Mineral show is coming to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds June 20 through 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The locally run gem show attracts vendors and visitors from across the country, with rocks and gems in many forms, from raw materials to artisanal crafted jewelry pieces.

The local show also features field trips to local mines near Madras. Caravans will leave from the fairgrounds for the fieldtrips. On Friday and Saturday, there will be a trip to Friend’s Ranch and Rayne Dance and Polka Dot mines. Saturday also adds the Ochs mine. A field trip along Fossil Road will be held Sunday.

On Friday there will be a live auction of vendor-donated jewelry, rocks and gems from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday brings kids day activities like a scavenger hunt and rock painting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food vendors Dig-A-Dee’z, Ranch Boss Coffee and Sangers will also be at the event