The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - This year's Columbia County Fair held Sept. 9-11 will bring new entertainment, more education, bull bash and beer garden that will surely delight fairgoers.

T h e event, held at the fairgrounds in Dayton, will cost $5 for adults, $3 for kids and children under the age of 6 are free each day.

The fair will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Shane Laib, who is in his second year as fair manager, said he and his team are working harder than ever to bring people through the gates.

When he came on board, Shane said the fair needed a bit of a makeover and he wanted to bring in some big attractions to entice fairgoers. Also, he wanted to bring back some fair classics that he believed were missing.

Laib and his team are bringing back rodeo games in the style of Bull Bash and will offer a beer garden to provide entertainment for adults.

"People like to have a beer when they watch the rodeo," Laib said.

Last year, he said the winning cowboy walked away from the fair with about $1,000 in prize money.

"Cowboys are coming from all over the Pacific Northwest (for our fair)," Laib said.

Also returning to the fair to draw a crowd is the demolition derby. It is making its first return since 2005, Laib said, and should be a crowd pleaser.

The classic fair essent ials Laib is bringing back include games such as three- legged races, egg tosses, balloon tosses and festive flags and banners. An education station will be set up in the pavilion where visitors can learn about baking, hear about the Blue Mountain Station and learn from Smokey the Bear.

One element that is still missing from the fair this year is a carnival, but Laib is getting close to that. The fair is featuring a Bounce Universe, large inflatable toys for kids, and a ride called a Gyro for those who are brave enough. Kids will also be able to enjoy an activity center with a pedal tractor, maze, old McDonald's Farm and they can even rope a steer.

Since Laib came on board and the gate fee was reduced, he said about 4,500 people attended the fair last year.

"The numbers were up drastically last year," he said.

He's hoping for attendance to hit 5,000 this year.

The fair royalty, hostesses Ashley Myrick and Lexus Ward, and host Chris McHaffie, traveled to 13 fairs this summer spreading the word of Columbia County's event. The court's float was so good, it has come in first place in the fair floats category in every parade so far from Waitsburg to Milton Freewater, Laib said.

And if Bull Bash, the demolition derby and fun for kids isn't enough to get you through the gate, the fair has booked some entertainment to target all ages.

Between Walla Walla County Sheriff 's Deputy Gerrod Martin, who teaches the traffic safety course, and Waitsburg fifth-grade teacher Deanna Coulston are her class' patrols for 2011-2012: Riley Witt and Jaden Hancock down in front. From left to right: Honesty Alexander, Evan Denison, Haylee Crow, Daltin Lambert, Jacob Bradshaw, Kelsey Alleman, Leena Baker, Mackenzie Forney, Sierra Vezina, Devon Harshman, Brayden Miller and Lexus Gallardo-Benson.

Laib said adults will love pianist Brady Goss and Countryside Ride, a bar band with great music. Kids will love Adam the Great, a magician who is performing during the entire fair. Older folks will enjoy Nevada Slim & Cimarron Sue, Minstrels of the Old West. Teens won't want to miss Bronkar's Circus of Sound. Bronkar is called the "vocal prince of percussion" and does beatboxing performances, Laib said. The county fair team saw Bronkar perform at the state fair convention and the members knew they had to book him, Laib said.

Sparkle the clown will return this year to enchant kids, and those who walk on the wild side will enjoy the Blue Mountain Raptor Show.

Funding for the fair this year was typical, with about $65,000 as a total budget, Laib said. However, the Legislature cut fair money for the next two years and the Columbia County Fair may take about a $7,500 hit next year.

Laib said there will be small cuts next year, likely to prizes and premiums for winners, and the fair will need to go out into the community and find some sponsors to continue to put on a quality event. He is practicing being thrifty this year by re-using fair decorations and refurbishing ribbons and trophies.

"We don't throw anything away," Laib said.

Laib is most excited to take the Columbia County Fair to new heights and continue to improve each year.

"We want to get it moving forward," he said.