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By Michele Smith
The Times 

Columbia County Fair: Fun for Young and Old!

The 126th Annual Columbia County Fair runs from Sept. 9 - 11

 

Michele Smith

Columbia County Fair 2016 Fair Hostesses Ally, Kianna and Emily showed off some historic photos of Dayton about the fair float at the fairgrounds last week.

DAYTON-From Pioneer Days to Modern Ways is the theme of the 126th Columbia County Fair, and from the beginning of opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, until the fair closes at 5 p. m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, expect to see a mix of new and traditional activities.

New for this year are; a performance by the Wenatchee Youth Circus, sponsored by Columbia REA, a magic act featuring Professor Bamboozle, and a comedy juggling act called The Curt Show, performed by Curt Carlyle, as well as some new learning activities at the Agricultural Education Building, and carnival games for children.

Wenatchee Youth Circus

Expect to see flying trapeze, wire and fire acts, and singing and clowning when the Wenatchee Youth Circus performs in the Arena on Friday from 7 – 9 p.m.

"People are pretty excited," said Fair Board President Matt Johnson. "We've seen pretty good reviews (of the circus) from Facebook activity."

The Wenatchee Youth Circus is billed as the "Biggest Little Circus in the World," and has been performing in the Pacific Northwest for over 60 years. It is one of four top non-professional traveling troupes in the nation, and some of its alumni have gone on to perform with Ringling Brothers, Cirque du Soleil and the Wallenda Family, to name a few.

"This is one of the big ones," Johnson said about the circus.

Professor Bamboozle

Expect to see anything when Professor Bamboozle brings his magic show to the fair, including flying furniture, cards and coins, and an audience member or two.

"I slice them! I float them! I make them disappear," says Bamboozle, who claims his show is one of the largest one-man illusion productions traveling in the Northwest.

See Professor Bamboozle perform on the midway stage, and around the fairgrounds during all three days of the fair.

The Curt Show

Yo-yos flying at amazing speeds, and juggling of the highest order, is on tap when Curtis Carlyle brings his "seriously funny" juggling and vaudeville extravaganza to the fair.

The Curt Show, recognized for its fresh and innovative take on classic American comedy tradition, promises a unique show combining training, talent, and passion.

See the Curt Show on the midway stage and around the fairgrounds during all three days of the fair, as well.

Agriculture Education Building

Fair board Co-vice president Aileen Warren invites you to take a stroll from the Midway, toward the Horse Barn, and to the newly painted Agriculture Education Building.

"This building has not been used in twenty or thirty years," said Warren, who said the building now sports a fresh coat of sky blue paint.

Activities around a "seed and soil" theme will be in the Agriculture Education Building, and are open to everyone, she said.

Also new for this year, are carnival games for children, Warren said.

"We're trying to incorporate new fun kid activities into the fair," she added.

Warren said that for 25 cents a child can select from games such as Mystery Key, Match the Ducks, Ring Toss, Ping Pong Ball Toss, and others. Prizes are also involved, Warren said.

The Fair wouldn't be the same without some old standbys like the Demolition Derby, the Rascal Rodeo's Exceptional Rodeo, and the Jackpot Rodeo.

Rascal Rodeo

The Exceptional Rodeo, produced by the Rascal Rodeo, offers an opportunity to people with special needs to participate in faux rodeo events.

Participants of all ages will be paired with fair royalty volunteers, champion cowboys and cowgirls, and others to help them learn calf and steer roping, bronc riding, stick-horse barrel racing, bull riding and wild cow milking. Don't worry. Participants will only be on horses, or ponies.

The Exceptional Rodeo will be held in the main Arena, on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and is free of charge.

Mutton Bustin' and Jackpot Rodeo

Jackpot Rodeo coordinator Kari Newman, invites everyone to watch kids as they try to stay astride sheep on the run, at 5:30 p.m. right before the Jackpot Rodeo.

"Mutton Bustin'" is for local kids, ages 5-7, Newman said.

"All kids are winners, and each will receive buckles from the New York Store in Walla Walla," said Newman.

The 7th annual Jackpot Rodeo will take place at 6:00 p.m. and events include barrel racing, bull riding, steer riding and team roping.

"So far there are twenty teams competing in the team roping event," Newman said. "We've seen that one grow over the years."

During the intermission there will be goat tail tying and untying, and a performance by the Walla Walla Wagonette Drill Team, Newman said.

Then local folks will get to participate in "Shoot Doggin'", which is a non-mounted version of steer wrestling.

There will also be tie down roping, along with a version for the ladies called breakaway roping, and ranch bronc riding, for which a ranch saddle is used.

A calf scramble for youth, ages eight through 12, is also planned, with winners taking first, second, and third place prizes.

Finally, teams of three participants will compete in the wildly popular cow milking event, Warren said.

Warren said that she and two mounted Royal Court girls, Devon Harshman of Waitsburg, and Lani Deck of Dayton, have been busy this summer promoting the Columbia County Jackpot Rodeo at other community rodeos in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

"We love it!" said Newman.

Demolition Derby

Expect standing room only as the sixth-annual Demolition Derby gets underway at the fair on Sunday.

According to Don Brown, who is the Demolition Derby coordinator, there will be a full day of dirt track racing in the Arena, followed by two Demolition Derbies; one for small cars with less than a 108-inch wheelbase, and one for big cars with larger than a 108-inch wheelbase, he said.

If there is enough interest there could be lawnmower races, too, said Brown.

The Demolition Derby will get underway around 3 p.m. Sunday, in the Arena, Brown said.

Contact Brown at: (509) 301-7161 if you are interested in entering cars, or lawnmowers, in the Derby.

Traditional Displays

Homemakers have displayed their skills and farmers have displayed their crops at the Columbia County Fair since its inception in 1888, and though production methods may have changed over the years, the end results are just as important as ever.

Wine and beer, baked goods, crops and forages, needlework and furniture, food preservation, crafts and hobbies, junior science exhibits, quilts, clothing, vegetables, art and photography, and floral entries will be displayed in the temperature-friendly Pavilion.

4-H Still Life

There are around 17 4-H clubs in Columbia County, and 4-Hers are active throughout the year, according to Ashley Trevino, 4-H Program Coordinator. Everything the 4-H clubs do, with the exception of animal life, will be on display in the Youth Building during the fair, she said.

Baking and canning, fruits and vegetables, quilting, sewing, photos, and educational posters will be displayed, with some live demonstrations taking place, as well, Trevino said.

4-H Animal Life

Animal Exhibit Director Tracy Hangar's job is to sort out the large and small animals, appoint superintendents in charge of each class of animals, and help get them registered for the livestock showing, classification and judging that will take place on Friday beginning at 9 a.m. in the Beef barn for cattle, and in the Main barn, for all other large and small animals.

Hangar invites you to stick around for the Round Robin 4-H/FFA Competition, for all breeds, at 3 p.m. Friday in both barns, and see how livestock owners are judged on showmanship. This event is sponsored by James Farms.

Then at 5 p.m. there is a nonprofessional Mutt Show, open to the public, where children can bring the family pet in for judging.

"They get to walk their pet in a circle, and perform a trick, like sitting, and everybody's a winner!" said Hangar.

On Saturday at 9:15 a.m., all 4-H and FFA participants are invited to the livestock judging contest in the Main Show Barn.

Following that, the Market Livestock Sale for sheep, swine, goats and beef will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Then, be sure to see the livestock costume contest, on Sunday, at 2 p.m., where the youth play dress-up, usually with goats and sheep.

"It's hilarious," Hangar said. "The kids dress themselves to match their animals."

Also, be sure to attend the 4-H, FFA, and open horse show on Sunday in the indoor arena at 9 a.m., where you can watch participants in walk/trot, cart driving, English pleasure riding, western equitation, and bareback equitation events, to name a few.

Until Sunday at 8:30 a.m., anyone can enter the open class division, and all entrants will compete in different age groups and classes, according to Carolyn Laib, Horse Superintendent.

Kidz

Kidz visit Old MacDonald's Farm in the KidZone to see a bottle-fed calf, two mini horses, piglets, chicks, goats, and a tortoise named Archietta.

The KidZone is located just behind the fair office, and the Young Life group is planning lots of other fun activities for kids in the KidZone.

Eat

Eat something delightful while at the fair! There will be five or six vendors offering an assortment of goodies from elephant ears to hamburgers and hotdogs.

And don't forget the free fair breakfast on Friday from 6 – 9 a.m. under the grandstand, with paid gate admission.

On Saturday, breakfast is by donation and will be held between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m. and is sponsored by the Columbia County Marksmen 4-H Club.

On Sunday a free breakfast will be held between 8 and 10 a.m., and will be prepared by the Columbia County Robotics 4-H club and the Dayton FFA. Breakfast is sponsored by Northwest Farm Credit Services.

Also, be sure to attend the ever popular ice cream social on the Midway on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Pray

Don't forget to pray! The Touchet Valley Ministerial Association is sponsoring Church in the Chicken Chapel, in the Livestock barn, on Sunday at 10 a. m.

New Fair Admission Fee Schedule

A new fair admission fee schedule is in place this year, and includes single-day passes, or three-day passes.

The new schedule will allow entry into the fairgrounds and into all fair events with a single-day $10 pass for adults, a $4 single-day pass for senior citizens, a $5 single-day pass for juniors, and children six years old and under can attend free of charge.

There is also a three-day all-event pass available to adults for $25, to seniors and juniors for $10, and free of charge to children six years old and under.

Courtesy Photo

Members of the Wenatchee Youth Circus show off for the camera.

On Friday between 9 a.m. and noon, Seneca Foods is sponsoring a single-day pass with a contribution of five cans of food, which will be donated to the local food bank.

"We've gotten lots of positive feedback," Johnson said about the new fair admission fee schedule.

Thanks to Volunteers and Sponsors

Fair President Johnson said a debt of gratitude goes out to the many volunteers and sponsors who have made the fair possible. The exhibition, entertainment, vendor, operations and administration committees have met as often as twice a week for the past year to bring it all together, he said.

Johnson said the Fair Board members have been tweaking and improving functional tasks, and they are focused on building the volunteer base, in order to create fun for fair attendees.

 

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