Rodeo spectators watch from the stands as the sun sets at the Western Night Rodeo at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
As a photojournalist, sometimes a story just grabs you and pulls you in.
For the Deseret News’ Tess Crowley, the assignment earlier this summer was to document through her lens the culture of America’s county fairs for Deseret Magazine.
Initially, the plan called for some portraits, maybe a few behind-the-scenes photos, but the project quickly turned into a passion project, with Crowley spending extra hours and days off photographing the people in Utah County who are also passionate about fairs, culminating with the Utah County Fair in late July/early August.
The visual assignment was a success for Crowley, and the photographs will pull viewers in as well, through beautiful moments, extraordinary summer evening light or just imagery of Americana.
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Because space is often limited in our magazine or newspaper, it is fitting that we share all the amazing photojournalism captured last month by Crowley.
Tinley Rindlisbacher, 11, washes her pig at Payson High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter’s barn in Santaquin on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair, where Rindlisbacher will be showing her pig. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Cohen Hooper, 9, left, pretends to be a judge while his siblings Maya Hooper, 18, center left, and Daven Hooper, 13, center right, practice how to set up their lambs before competing in the upcoming Utah County Fair at their family friend’s property in Eagle Mountain on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The Hooper family showed three lambs and four goats at the Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Jonah Hooper, 14, puts a collar on his goat before practicing how to set up his animals and showmanship skills before the upcoming Utah County Fair at his family friend’s property in Eagle Mountain on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The Hooper family showed three lambs and four goats at the Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Cohen Hooper, 9, walks to fill up water for the goats and lambs that he and his three siblings raise to show at the fair at their family friend’s property in Eagle Mountain on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The Hooper family showed three lambs and four goats at the Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Gabby Lund, 14, a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA), pets her pig at Payson High School FFA Chapter’s barn in Santaquin on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair, where Lund will be showing her pig. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Kade Terry, 14, prepares to train his pig after washing it at Payson High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter’s barn in Santaquin on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair, where Terry will be showing his pig. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Maya Hooper, 18, practices how to set up her lamb before competing in the upcoming Utah County Fair at her family friend’s property in Eagle Mountain on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Their goal is to look intense for the judges. The Hooper family showed three lambs and four goats at the Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Gabby Lund, 14, Paisley Terry, 16, Tinley Rindlisbacher, 11, and Hayley Rindlisbacher, 10, from left, train their pigs at Payson High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter’s barn in Santaquin on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair, where they will be showing their pigs. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Taygan Johnson, 17, poses with her goat Biggi in her barn in Benjamin on Friday, July 25, 2025, before showing Biggi in the market show at the upcoming Utah County Fair. Johnson won Grand Champion Senior Showman and 4th Overall Heavyweight Lamb at the Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Hayze Johnson, 15, poses with his sheep Walter while holding a 2024 award for Reserve Supreme Champion Wether Dam Ewe at the Grand National Junior Livestock Show in her barn in Benjamin on Friday, July 25, 2025, before showing Walter in the market show at the upcoming Utah County Fair. Johnson won Grand Champion Market Goat, Grand Champion Goat Showman, Supreme Champion Goat Showman, Grand Champion Market Lamb, Supreme Champion Lamb Exhibitor, 3rd overall Senior Lamb Showman, and Champion Senior Livestock Judging. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tylee Johnson, 6, poses with her doe Sevy while holding a 2024 award for Reserve Champion Beginner Goat Showman at the Grand National Junior Livestock Show in her barn in Benjamin on Friday, July 25, 2025, before showing Sevy in the market show at the upcoming Utah County Fair. Johnson won Grand Champion Peewee Showman and Reserve Grand Champion Lightweight Market Lamb at the Utah County Fair this year. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Cohen Hooper, 9, left, Jonah Hooper, 14, center, and Daven Hooper, 13, right, bring their goats and lambs into the barn at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after weighing in their animals. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tylee Johnson, 6, center, competes in the Peewee Lamb Showmanship at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Johnson won Grand Champion Peewee Showman and Reserve Grand Champion Lightweight Market Lamb. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Charlotte Tibbals, 17, of Springville, hugs her goat after winning 8th place in the Senior Goat Showmanship at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
A participant holds her cow during the Beef Showmanship at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Autumn Dansie, 9, of Salem, does a pull-up after the Beef Showmanship at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Julia Hanson, 11, of Eagle Mountain, left, hugs her mom Cathryn Hanson, right, after winning 4th place in the Junior Goat Showmanship at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Twin sisters Nayvee Bateman, 9, left, and Brynklee Bateman, 9, right, pose with their goats before competing in Junior Goat Showmanship at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Oaklie Wride, 19, is licked by her cow Cardi B at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Milo Jones, 13, left, and father Travis Jones, right, make last minute repairs to Milos’ car during driver check-in before the Demolition Derby at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Saturday, August 2, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Travis Jones helps fix his son Milo Jones’, 13, car during driver check-in before the Demolition Derby at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Saturday, August 2, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Fisher Jacobsen, 14, of Nephi, prepares to ride in the Demolition Derby at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Saturday, August 2, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Jason Davis poses on top of his car in his garage in Elk Ridge on Monday, July 28, 2025, before driving it in the demolition derby at the upcoming Utah County Fair. Jason painted “007” on his car because his brother, Josh Davis, loves James Bond. “It’s an homage to [Josh] because he’s done so much work on it.” Josh did all the welding on the car. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Greyson Davies, 9, left, and father Seth Peterson, right, cheer during the Monster Truck show at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
People watch the Monster Truck show at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Friday, August 1, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Alex Collett fixes her daughter Eva Collett’s, 9, hair as she picks Rose of Sharon flowers she will be entering in the Open Class floriculture competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at her home in Spanish Fork on Monday, July 28, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Eva Collett, 9, left, holds flowers she will be entering in the Open Class floriculture competition as Kristen Collett, 13, center, holds cabbage and Andrew Collett, 4, right, holds a pumpkin they will be entering in the Open Class vegetable competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at their garden in Spanish Fork on Monday, July 28, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Alex Collett, left, shows son Andrew Collett, 4, the pumpkin he grew that he will be entering in the Open Class vegetable competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at her home in Spanish Fork on Monday, July 28, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Mary Dame, center right, teaches Bryce Rawlings, center left, woodworking tips at the Payson senior center in Payson on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair, where Dame and Rawlings will be entering their woodworking creations in the Open Class competition. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Leon Olson poses with his woodworking creation that he will be entering in the Open Class competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at the Payson senior center in Payson on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Ann Davis poses with her ceramics creation that she will be entering in the Open Class competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at the Spanish Fork senior center in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Cathy Black poses with her apple and concord jelly that she will be entering in the Open Class competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at the Spanish Fork senior center in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Richard Anderson poses with his woodworking creation that he will be entering in the Open Class competition at the upcoming Utah County Fair at the Payson senior center in Payson on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Rodeo spectators put their feet up during the Western Night Rodeo at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah County Fair Rodeo Director Steven Money shows off his belt buckle at his home in Spanish Fork on Monday, July 28, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah County Fair Rodeo Director Steven Money poses with his horse Cadillac at his home in Spanish Fork on Monday, July 28, 2025, before the upcoming Utah County Fair. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
A rodeo rider participates in the bareback competition during the Western Night Rodeo at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
A child rides a sheep during the Mutton busting competition at the Western Night Rodeo at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Gage Rowbury, 18, right, looks at his girlfriend Ella Barlow, 18, left, at the Western Night Rodeo at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
A rodeo rider participates in the bareback competition during the Western Night Rodeo at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Raelynn Hall, 2, of Spanish Fork, center, eats ice cream at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Saturday, August 2, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Raelynn Hall, 2, of Spanish Fork, eats ice cream at the Utah County Fair in Spanish Fork on Saturday, August 2, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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