Columbia County Fair celebrates Dreams in a Small Town
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People love the Columbia County Fair, now in its 135th year, because of the dreams of Columbia County youngsters who have a place to show off the fruits of their labor...where young people learn and grow and have a chance to succeed thanks to the support from our "Small Town." This sheep exhibitor from last year was especially delighted to be at the fair with her projects and have a weekend of food, entertainment, Pavilion and Youth Building exhibits, Friday's Jackpot Rodeo, Saturday's Demo Derby, culminating Sunday with the Youth Livestock Sale, Stick Horse Races and Farmer Olympics.
DAYTON–The 135th edition of the Columbia County Fair will highlight those "Fair Dreams in a Small Town," celebrating all that is good about rural living when it gets underway this weekend, Friday through Sunday, September 8-10, at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. 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., including a couple new ones: Stick Horse Races and Farmer Olympics.
It should be a great weekend for fair goers. Friday is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 81° F., according to the National Weather Service. Rodeo-goers Friday night shouldn't get too chilly and temperatures are supposed to be in the mid-eighties for the weekend.
The 2023 Fair's two exciting new events, Stick Horse Races and Farmer Olympics, require registration to participate. Young people under 10 years of age can sign up Saturday afternoon for the racing at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Outdoor Arena, according to Matt Johnson, president of the Fair Board.
And farmers–or anyone!–from around the county can team up to compete for cash prizes in Sunday afternoon's Farmer Olympics. Entrants must be 18 or older and teams of four must register by 5 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Fair office, or by calling Tracy Hanger at 509-540-2809.
Events include the Swine Showdown, Straw Shot Put, Holy Cow, Egged On, Get the Sheep to Sleep, Broken Buckets, Pie in the Sky, and Rancher's Relay. "There's a good chance you'll leave dirty if you participate," Johnson said.
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 Columbia County Marksman 4-H Club, and on Sunday, the Dayton FFA serves a complimentary breakfast, sponsored by the AgWest Farm Credit, with donations welcome.
There'll be livestock judging in the morning on Friday.
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.
The Pavilion and Youth Building will be open daily for the public's enjoyment.
Saturday will be full of livestock showing, culminating at 2 p.m. with the Round Robin Competition, which pits the Grand Champions in Fitting and Showing of various breeds against one another.
Topping off Saturday's activities will be the Demolition Derby. The action gets going at 5 p.m. in the arena.
On Sunday, attend services in the Chicken Chapel at 9 a.m., courtesy of the Touchet Valley Ministerial Association. The Livestock Market Sale will be at 12 noon and the Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Fair Board, starts at 2:30 p.m. That's also when the Stick Horse Races will be a prelude to the Farmer Olympics in the Outdoor Arena.
The One-Man Zipper Band will offer strolling entertainment up and down the Midway each day and another crowd favorite, Professor Bamboozle, will be on hand to delight young and old alike. Long-time food vendors from the Dayton Lions Club, Dayton Kiwanis Club and Columbia County 4-H Clubs, and other vendors, will be serving their usual fare. R & B Barbecue will offer a barbecue meal each day of the fair.
A few musical performers have been signed to sing and play their instruments, showcasing their talents along the Midway at various times.
The Fair Board includes Matt Johnson, president; Grant Griffen, vice president; Donna Hanger, Secretary/Treasurer; Directors-Rose Engelbrite, Tracy Hanger, Mary Ann Ward, Donna Hanger.
