Columbia County Fair celebrates 130 years

DAYTON-"Timeless Traditions" is the theme of the 130th Columbia County Fair, and from the time of the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., on Fri. ,Sept. 6, until the fair close, at 5 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 9, young and old alike are sure to enjoy this year's line-up.

Entertainment

Freddie Prez's popular Crazy Contests will return this year.

See Freddie Prez at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., on Friday, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., on Saturday, and at noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Also, catch Freddie Prez's $5,000 Frisbee Challenge at 4 p.m. on Friday, noon on Sat. and at 9 a.m. and noon, on Sunday.

Professor Bamboozle is back with his amazing Critter Show, balloon animals, and Grand Illusions.

See the Grand Illusion at 3 p.m. on Friday, and have fun with balloon animals at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Bamboozle will be on the Midway at 11 a.m. and, again, at 9 a.m. with balloon animals. His Critter Show is at 3 p.m. and the Grand Illusion is at 6 p.m.

On Sunday, he will be on the Midway with balloon animals at 9 p.m., and at 3 p.m. The Grand Illusion is at 2 p.m.

Look for more balloon fun with Big Top the Clown, on the Midway, on Friday, at 3 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.

Banyon Moss will perform on the ukulele on Friday at 1 p.m.. The musical sounds of singer Kit Crawford will take place at 7 p.m., and folk singer/songwriter Mari Gisele will perform at 8 p.m.

Mari Gisele will perform on Saturday, at 10 a.m., followed by the music of Scarlet Barton, at 11 a.m. Then, Banyon Moss will perform at 2 p.m., followed by Kaelee McCauly at 5 p.m., and Kit Crawford at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, Mari Gisele will perform at 1 p.m., followed by Banyon Moss, at 3 p.m.

Henna tattoos and face painting, anyone?

Face painting by Alisha Cunha takes place beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, and at noon on Saturday, and, again, on Sunday, at 10 a.m.

Hatti's Henna Tattoos begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, and at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and, again, at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

As you stroll the fairgrounds, watch for Banyon the Stilt Walker on the Midway, all three days.

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 have changed over the years, the results are just as important.

Baked goods, crops and forages, needlework and furniture, wine and beer, gardening and food preservation, junior science exhibits, quilts and clothing, art and photography, crafts and hobbies, and floral entries will be on display in the Pavilion during the fair.

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

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, said 4-H Coordinator Donna Hangar.

Hangar said nine 4-H clubs will have displays featuring food preservation and gardening, quilts, still life, baking and crafts, and more.

Hangar said because this is the 100-year celebration of 4-H in Columbia County, there will be a special display of some older memorabilia from 4-H clubs of the past.

A special celebration with cake is planned during the Ice Cream Social on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Hangar said there is to be a quilt raffle this year. The Amerein Family is donating a treadle machine- sewn quilt. Tickets are $2 in the Pavilion and the raffle will take place following the Ice Cream Social.

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 4-H and FFA livestock showing, classification, and judging, which takes place in the beef barn on Friday at 9 a.m., for cattle, goats, pigs and sheep. Small animals will be shown and judged in the sale barn, at noon.

A Round Robin Fitting and Showing contest for Top Showman for each animal type is planned for 3 p.m. on Friday. James Farms will offer a cash prize to the winner

Don't forget the Mutt Show, at 5 p.m.

"This will be a fun thing for the kids," Hangar said.

4-H and FFA Youth will kick off Saturday with a Livestock Judging contest at 9:15 a.m.

The Market Livestock sale will begin at 12:30 p.m., in the sale barn. Hangar said sales of livestock are not just restricted to businesses.

A Livestock Costume Contest is planned for Sunday at 2 p.m. in the sale barn. This event is to give youth and their animals a chance to play dress up.

"Some years they get real creative," Hangar said.

KidZone

Children are invited to visit the KidZone at the east end of the fairgrounds to see baby ducks, baby chicks, bunnies, goats and pigs during the fair.There may be a calf, too, Hangar said.

Open horse show

Events in the Open Horse Show will begin with a judging contest in the indoor arena for classes in Halter, Riding, and Hay beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, youth in the 4-H/FFA Horse Division and the Open Horse Show will perform in back-to-back classes for Halter, Pleasure and Western Riding. Anyone in the community can enter to be in the Open Horse Show," said Supt. Carolyn Laib.

Entry forms are available at the WSU Extension office in Dayton.

Demolition Derby

A full afternoon of racing will take place on Sunday, beginning at noon, said organizer Johnny Brown.

Directly after time trials, children weighing up to 70 lbs. will get to have their own Demolition Derby driving 12 volt Power Wheels.

"That has been pretty popular," Brown said.

Brown said the crowd will also get to vote for the Best Looking Car and the winner will receive a trophy.

Races will be held for the Main Drivers, Powder Puff, Mechanics, and Aussie races, right after the Best Looking Car contest. There will be events for small cars, trucks, and full size cars in the Demolition Derby as well.

Brown said cars can be entered in the Demolition Derby before noon, on the day of the derby, online at crashmaniaderby.com.

Jackpot rodeo and mutton bustin'

If you enjoy rodeo, you will get to see lots of action in the arena on Saturday beginning with Mutton bustin', at 5 p.m. followed by the Jackpot Rodeo at 5:30 p.m..

"We have a great line up of contestants for this year's rodeo. We have added more purse money to each of the events," Greg Fullerton said.

Bull riding, ranch bronc riding, chute dogging, calf roping, break a way roping, team roping, open barrels, junior barrels, and pee wee barrels, steer riding, a calf scramble, and the hilarious wild cow milking are on tap, this year. Steer wrestling has been added as new event.

"We had a great turnout and crowd last year, and we're hoping to put on a great show again this year," Fullerton said.

Eat

This is your chance to eat something wonderfully sinful!

Kiwanis, Lions, 4-H and other vendors will offer the usual array of goodies, from elephant ears to hamburgers and hotdogs.

Admission to the fair and special events

Single day admission for adults, 13 years of age and older, is $10. Seniors who are sixty and older pay $5 and youth between the ages of 7 and 12, also get in for $5. Children six years of age, and younger, enter for free.

A three-day all-event pass is $22, for adults, and $10 for seniors or juniors. Children under the age of six get in free.

Admission to the ORV Rodeo Challenge on Friday at 6 p.m., the Demolition Derby, the $5,000 Frisbee Toss Challenge, the Beer Garden, and Corn Hole Tournaments is included with gate admission.