Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–The 133rd edition of the Columbia County Fair is ready for the public to enjoy when it gets underway this weekend, Friday, September 10-12. Following 2020's COVID-altered event, the theme of "A Blue Ribbon A-Fair" is getting a second go-round.

There's plenty of activities, entertainment and fun events planned for this year's Fair, open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Visitors to this year's fair are advised to wear a mask at all times.

Friday opens with a free fair breakfast with paid gate admission, courtesy of the Columbia County Cattlemen/Livestock Association. On Saturday, the fair breakfast is by donation to the Col. Co. Marksman 4-H Club, and on Sunday, Friends of the Fairgrounds serves a breakfast, sponsored by the Northwest Farm Credit Services.

There'll be livestock judging all morning and into the afternoon on Friday. The Pavilion and Youth Building will be open for the public's enjoyment.

If you're wandering up and down the Midway, be sure to take a breather and check out the various entertaining performers on the Midway Stage-all three days.

Friday's premier event will be a one-night Jackpot Rodeo. It gets going with Mutton Bustin' at 5 p.m. and the rodeo gets underway at 5:30. It'll be a night packed with action, like steer wrestling, ranch bronc riding, bull riding, chute doggin', calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping and barrels. Don't miss the wild cow milking!

Following the rodeo, Austin Lindstrom will perform live in the Underground Saloon. Please, 21 years and older. This country band is based in Redmond, Ore., and Lindstrom's early years were spent in Pendleton.  He has opened up for Craig Morgan, James Otto, Jason Michael Carol, and Sunny Ledford.  In July, 2019, he opened the entire LRS Country Music festival, which had over 3,500 attendees.  Some venues he has played at are Ponderosa Lounge in Portland, OR, Three Rivers Casino in Florence, OR, and Blue Lake Casino in Blue Lake, Calif.  Austin has a special ability for engaging with crowds and gains new fans everywhere he goes.  He is a talented songwriter and provides a special experience for his audience.

Saturday will be full of livestock showing, culminating at 3 p.m. with the Round Robin Competition.

Don't miss the Demolition Derby Saturday evening in the arena. The action gets going at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, attend services in the Chicken Chapel at 10 a.m.

The Livestock Sale gets underway at 1 p.m. and at 4 p.m., the Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Fair Board, serves up creamy deliciousness.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

6 a.m.-8 a.m. – Free Fair Breakfast, with paid gate admission by Col. Co. Cattlemen/Livestock Assn. The full breakfast consists of pancakes, ham, and fruit, in the youth building.

8 a.m. – 4-H & FFA Livestock Judging Contest

9 a.m. – Fair opens to the public

9:30 a.m. – 4-H & FFA Horse Judging Contest in the indoor horse show arena

9:30 a.m. – Goat, Sheep and Swine classifications & judging in the livestock barn areas

10:30 a.m. – Beef classification & judging in the beef barn

1 p.m. – Small Animal Showing & Judging

All Day – Various entertainment on the Midway Stage, KidZone activities, Old McDonald Farm, Entertainment to be announced, Commercial and Food Vendors

4 p.m. – Livestock Costume Contest. See who can dress up their exhibit animal the best. Check the livestock barns for the fun with Special Awards!

5 p.m. – Mutt Show - Kid's Zone

5 p.m. – Mutton Bustin'

5:30 p.m. – Jackpot Rodeo

9 p.m. Building exhibits close

10 p.m. Fairgrounds closes for the night

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

7 a.m.-9 a.m. – Columbia County Marksmen 4-H Club breakfast in the Youth Building by donation.

9 a.m. Fairgrounds open to the public

9 a.m.-9 p.m. - Exhibition of entries

9 a.m. – 4-H & FFA Livestock Fitting & Showing Contests - Barn Areas

11 a.m. – Cat Show - Kid's Zone

To Be Announced-All PeeWee Showman

All Day – Various entertainment on the Midway Stage, KidZone activities, Old McDonald Farm, Entertainment to be announced, Commercial and Food Vendors

3 p.m. Round Robin-competition between Grand Champions from all 4-H and FFA species to determine overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Showman for the fair in the livestock barn arenas, sponsored by James Farms

5 p.m. – Demolition Derby - Arena

9 p.m. Building exhibits close

10 p.m. Fairgrounds closes for the night

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

8-10 a.m. Free Fair Breakfast, sponsored by NW Farm Credit Services, served and prepared by Friends of the Fairgrounds.

9 a.m. Fairgrounds open to the public

10 a.m. – Church in the Chicken Chapel – Livestock Barn. This non-denominational service is open to all who wish to attend and is coordinated by the Touchet Valley Ministerial Association.

All Day – Various entertainment on the Midway Stage, KidZone activities, Old McDonald Farm, Entertainment to be announced, Commercial and Food Vendors

12:30 p.m. – Livestock Barns Closed for Livestock Sale

1 p.m. – Market Livestock Sale

4 p.m. – Ice Cream Social sponsored by Columbia County Fair Board

5 p.m. Fair officially closes

The Fair Board includes Matt Johnson, president; Grant Griffen, VP; Donna Hanger, Secretary/Treasurer; Directors-Rose Engelbrite, Tracy Hanger, Ty Lane, Mary Ann Ward, Donna Hanger.