Columbia County Fair: Fun for Young and Old

DAYTON-"Dirty Hands and Country Fans" is the theme of this year's 128th Columbia County Fair. From the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. on Sept 7 until the fair closes at 5 p.m. on Sept. 9, expect to see a mix of new and traditional activities.

"Things are coming together. We have a pretty good team right now," said Fair Board President Matt Johnson.

Johnson said a few more reliable volunteers would be welcome, to help with fair activities.

"There will be even more variety at this year's fair," said Johnson. Here's what the line-up looks like:

Musicians and Entertainers on the Midway

Big Top the Clown will bring smiles and laughter to children of all ages when he performs daily on the midway. Watch out, though. Big Top is a former Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Red Unit Circus clown, with a penchant for pie fights.

Penelope the Clown, one of Calgary's favorite entertainers, has spread her unique brand of humor all across North America. Catch Penelope's interactive performance on the midway each day at noon, 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7 p.m., as she entertains with amazing face painting, juggling, magic and balloon animals.

If you like comedy and juggling be sure to catch Paul Isaak at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. each day.

Toilet Plunger, Bingo, Can You Karaoke, and Oreo Cookie Throw are just some of the Crazy Contest games Freddie Prez has in his entertainment line-up. Catch Freddie Prez and his Crazy Contests at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p. m., and 8 p. m. daily.

Friday on the Midway

Singer-pianist Kit Crawford will entertain at 2 p.m., followed at 3 p.m. by folk singer-songwriter Hannah Nicole. Country singer-songwriter Daniel Mark Faller will perform at 5 p.m. Mari Gisele, folk singer song-writer will perform at 8 p.m.

A dance party for all ages with music by Shank's Pony is planned for Friday at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday on the Midway

Ukulele musician Banyan Moss will perform at 2 p.m. Barroom poet Michael Parker will perform at 3 p.m. Mari Gisele will entertain at noon. The Steve Laws Band will perform at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday on the Midway

Mari Giselle will perform at noon. Banyan Moss will perform at 2 p.m. and Kit Crawford will perform at 4 p.m.

Rascal Rodeo

Share the adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment of the western way of life with special needs athletes at the Rascal Rodeo, on Saturday, at 10 to 11 a.m., in the arena. This event is free to people of all ages with handicapping conditions. Registration is at: rascalrodeo.org.

Mutton Bustin' and Jackpot Rodeo

Mutton Busting takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in the arena, followed by the Jackpot Rodeo at 6 p.m.

Barrel racing, break-a-way roping, calf team roping, chute dogging (which is steer wrestling without the horse), ranch bronc riding, bull riding, wild cow milking, steer riding, and a calf scramble for the younger crowd, are all on tap, said Greg Fullerton, rodeo coordinator.

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram of Walla Walla is loaning a Dodge truck to the rodeo and event winners will get to take a championship lap in it. Winners will receive cash prizes and buckles. The Walla Walla Wagonnette Drill Team will also perform, said Fullerton.

Fullerton invites diehard rodeo fans to stick around after the rodeo and watch 10-12 slack teams compete.

ORV Rodeo Challenge and Demolition Derby

If ATV barrel racing, side by side drag races, an Aussie race and a wildcard race sound like something you might want to try, then the ORV Motorsports Rodeo Challenge might be up your alley.

New for this year, the ORV Rodeo Challenge will take place at 6 p.m. in the arena, on Friday. Entry is open to the public. The cost is $15 per event, and registration is at the gate, said event coordinator Johnny Brown.

Expect standing room only as the 10th annual Demolition Derby gets underway at the arena on Sunday at noon.

"The numbers are up a little bit, and hopefully we will have 60 cars," said Brown.

Heat races, powder puff, mechanic races, figure eight races and an Australian pursuit are planned for this year, along with the demolition derbies; for four or six-cylinder cars, for full-size trucks, and for full-size cars. A $3,500 purse will be shared among derby winners, Brown said.

The Crash Mania point series winner will be crowned as well, and the winner will receive $1,000. This is the finale of the Crash Mania point series that has been taking place all summer, Brown said.

"There are a lot of people gunning for that," he said.

Anyone wanting to enter the races can register at the gate beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday. The cost is $30 per driver. Winners will receive cash prizes, said Brown.

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.

Fraternal organizations, businesses, non-profit organizations and government entities will have booths in the pavilion.

Wine and beer, baked goods, crops and forages, needlework and furniture, gardening and food preservation, crafts and hobbies, junior science exhibits, quilts and clothing, art and photography, and floral entries will be displayed in the pavilion during the fair.

All entries are due on Tuesday, Sept. 4 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., except for floral, which is due on Thursday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., said Pavilion Coordinator, Rose Englebreit.

4-H Programs

Everything the 4-H clubs do, with the exception of animal life, will be on display in the youth building during the fair.

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 goats, sheep and pigs, and in the main arena at noon for small animals.

Hangar invites visitors to stick around for the round robin 4-H FFA competition for all breeds, at 3 p.m. on Friday, in both barns, where you can see how livestock owners are judged on showmanship.

At 5 p.m. on Friday there is a non-professional Mutt Show, open to the public, where children can bring the family pet in for judging.

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.

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 youth get to dress themselves to match their animals.

On Saturday, in the indoor arena, 4-H members will hold a horse and hay judging contest.

On Sunday, the 4-H Horse Show and Open Horse Show will run together in the indoor arena at 9 a.m. Classes will be halter, English equitation, English pleasure, western equitation and western pleasure, bareback equitation, lead line, a walk trot class, and driving.

People may enter the open portion of the horse show at the Dayton Extension Office, or until 8:30 of the day of the show at the indoor arena. Open Show is $5 per class or $25 per day.

"Come down and enjoy the livestock programs the kids have worked on all year," said Hangar about the tremendous amount of effort 4-H kids and FFA kids have put into it.

Kids

Kids can visit Old MacDonald's Farm in the KidZone, located behind the fair office, and see and touch a miniature donkey, rabbits and other assorted small animals.

Young Life will have games for youth from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on Sunday, also in the KidZone.

Eat

This is your chance to eat something wonderfully sinful! Fair vendors will offer the usual array of goodies, from elephant ears, hamburgers and hotdogs, to ice cream.

On Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., Chicken Bill's will serve BBQ brisket, pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw.

And don't forget breakfast. On Friday at 6 to 8 a.m., the Columbia County Cattlemen/Livestock Association is offering a free full breakfast with paid gate admission, which will take place under the grandstand.

On Saturday, breakfast is sponsored the Columbia County Marksmen 4-H Club and will be held in the Youth Building at 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. Donations are appreciated.

Free breakfast, sponsored by NW Farm Credit Services and served by the Robotics 4-H Club and Dayton FFA, will take place on Sunday from 8 to 10 a.m.

Admission

A single day pass to the fair includes admission to all events. The cost is $10 for adults 13 years and older, $5 for seniors, 60 years and over (Saturday and Sunday), $5 for Juniors, 7 – 12 years of age, and free to children 6 years and under.

A three-day all event pass is $22 for adults, 13 years and older, $10 for Seniors 60 years and older (Saturday and Sunday), $10 for Juniors 7 -12, and free for children 6 years and younger.

Admission for arena and special events is included in the gate admission.