By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio/Blizzard Broadcasting.
The Grand Marshals of the 112th Routt County Fair in August are Jocko and Coleen Camilletti, who live just east of Hayden.
“Honored to be chosen. Thank you. We’re just pleased that we’ve been able to take our kids and our grandkids through 4H at the Fair in Hayden. And we’d like to see that tradition continue. And it’s very important to keep ag going.”
Jocko and Coleen (Kirby) first starting dating at the Routt County Fair in Hayden, right after graduating from high school in 1973. They were married two years later. Jocko went to Steamboat Springs High School. Coleen was from Toponas, and went to SoRoCo High School. Both were from third generation ranching families in Routt County.
Jocko’s grandparents moved to Milner from Italy in the early 1920s. His family ran the Steamboat Motel which is where Wells Fargo is now.
His dad leased the Pine Grove Ranch, which is the barn where the Pine Grove restaurant is now. That’s his dad in the picture.
They went through Routt County 4H, as did their three boys, and now their grandkids. Jocko also served on the Routt County Fair Board for nine years.
Now, they’re still ranching cattle on the east side of Hayden.
“So Jock and I are very fortunate in that we own some of the Hereford Haven, which was a nationally known ranch, and we lease the Carpenter Ranch so between the two ranches, we have the privilege of running cattle, operating on two of the iconic ranches in at least northwest Colorado. And that way we are continuing our ranching legacy that we grew up as and that we want our kids and our grandkids to grow up as.”
The Camillettis will be honored and recognized as Grand Marshals at the Routt County Fair, which is Aug. 7-16, in Hayden this summer.
The Routt County Fair is holding a contest on who can come up with the best drawing for the 112th Routt County Fair logo this year. Those 18 and under could win a Yeti Cooler. The theme is “Celebrating the Bounty of Routt County.” Drawings are due by March 11. Send them to KHayes.RC@gmail.com