The final night at the Hartford Fair was a show of endurance, skill and speed. It was big bulls and brave riders, fast horses and skillful speed doing turns about a point. And the crowd went wild!
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull riders stand for the National Anthem before the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull rider Derek Drake prays before competing in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Young fans shout for a t-shirt at the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Mason Vallance, 19, center, of Centerberg, reads his Bible before competing in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. Vallance says he wanted to start bull ring after seeing a Clint Eastwood film. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
A bull rider adjusts the straps on his boots before competing in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, Aug 15, 2026. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Joao Paulo Fernandes gets ready to compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. Fernandes came to the U.S. to ride bulls and decided to stay after getting married. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull riders compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Bull rider Henry Pinnick, 17, of Lebanon relaxes in the back of a pick up truck before competing in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. Pinnick has been riding since he was 13. 
Barrel racers compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Barrel racers compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Barrel racers compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026. 
Barrel racers compete in the rodeo on the last night of the Hartford Fair, August 15, 2026.
Jessica Phelps is a Columbus-based freelance photographer covering the Hartford Fair for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.