The family started traveling when his son was 2 years old.

BILLINGS – Most people take their kids on summer vacation, but with Thomas Carnival, one family has taken their son across America every summer for more than two decades.

“We’ve been doing this for 23 years. We chose this business because we wanted to work only in the summer and weekends and focus on raising our son,” Kim Sankowski, owner and operator of Speed ​​and Black Owl Rides, said Tuesday from the Montana Fair in Billings.

Her son, Armstrong Sankowski, now 25, was in trouble in elementary school because teachers believed he lied everywhere he went. But the Sankowskis love the travel life they’ve experienced so far.

“I don’t like traveling, meeting new people, working inside, so this is a good job for me,” Armstrong said.

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But life on the road isn’t always a good experience for Kim, especially when she tells someone what she’s doing.

“Because when you first tell them you’re in the carnival business, you’re a little judged,” Kim said with a laugh. The Sankowskis said missing big events like birthdays and weddings is sometimes difficult.

The Thomas Carnival is one of the main attractions of MontanaFair, which runs through Saturday at the Billings Metrapark. Carnival is a big deal for the workers, most of whom travel to places all over the country most of the year.

Six months on the road may seem like 23 years at once, but John Hansen’s time with Thomas Carnival is twice as long as his family.

Hanschen has worked with the carnival for nearly 50 years, having been president of the Thomas Carnival for 15 years.

Thomas Carnival travels to 12 states up and down Interstate 135.

“We start in February and go until mid-November,” Hanschen said.

Traveling a lot for ten months to attend can be exhausting, Hanchen said.

“I see my house for the first time in 10 months and I don’t remember where the light switches are and I forget what the neighborhood looks like,” he said.

Carnival has about 170 employees traveling with them. Duties for a working day include driving, conducting safety inspections and providing rides.

“Almost half of our population is H-2B workers. External energy. There aren’t enough travelers in this country to do the crazy schedule that we do,” Hanchen said.

But Hanschen never gives up on a life of travel and adventure from one city and state to another.

“It’s absolutely inspiring from moment to moment,” he said.