Dave Calobeer moves a little slower than the other members of the Northwest Montana Fair’s maintenance crew, but at “close to 80,” he is still a critical part of the team that brings the five-day festival to life.
Coworkers and fair management say Calobeer is an “old school” gentleman who hasn’t missed a day of work since he first started at the fair in 1973. Maintenance supervisor Tim Harmon said Calobeer has a work ethic few people possess nowadays.
“You’d wear out a good pair of boots finding better guys than that,” Harmon said.
Calobeer was born and raised in Utah, but moved to the Flathead Valley after he married a local girl. In 1973 a friend of his was working at the fair and offered Calobeer a job. In the early days he worked year round, but in recent years he has only stayed on for the busy summer season.
At the fair, Calobeer has worked every maintenance job available, from picking up trash to putting up signs. He said there is no task he won’t do.
Some of Calobeer’s busiest days are during the fair itself, when he helps set up exhibitors’ booths and makes sure everything is ready to go. Even after working the fair for nearly four decades he still loves the event, especially the rodeo.
“You get to talk, laugh and giggle because the fair is (almost) over and you don’t have to be serious anymore,” he said.
Some of Calobeer’s favorite memories involve rodeo nights. One year, more than a decade ago, a bull tried to slam its way through a gate. Ever since, Calobeer and the crew have parked a tractor at each gate just in case. During another rodeo, an attractive young woman walked up to Calobeer and asked if she could get a picture with him, although he said Harmon put her up to it.
Harmon said it is an honor to work with the 39-year veteran and he often pairs Calobeer with young fair workers who have a bit of an “attitude.” Within a few days that attitude is gone.
“Guys like Dave are men of integrity,” he said. “It’s a style of work ethic that everyone could learn from.”
Calobeer said in all his years working at the fair, not much has changed, except some of the buildings, which he said are a lot easier to take care of. He downplayed his role a bit, saying that he is simply a member of a “hell of a team.” But talking to some of his co-workers, it’s clear Calobeer is respected among his peers.
As for when he might work his last day at the fair, Calobeer said, if he has his way, not anytime soon. He’s too busy to retire.
“It’s all been good times for me. You can’t take that away from me,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad day here.”