Adams County Fair begins Wednesday
Columbia Basin Herald file photo<br> Exhibit Building Superintendent Sandi Dodge, right, is reflected in a mirror as she talks with judges, including Joann Rowley, left, at last year's Adams County Fair. This year's event starts Wednesday.
OTHELLO — Adams County Fair Board President Roy Dodge expects between 21,000 to 23,000 people to attend this year’s Adams County Fair, starting tomorrow.
“But a lot depends on the weather,” Dodge noted.
A major change this year is a $1 charge for parking.
The funds go to the Nazarene Church of Othello’s youth group to support their trips and activities.
The group collects fees and directs parking. No parking funds go to the fair.
Groups rotate annually to receive the parking funds, he explained.
Parking was changed from parallel style to diagonal parking since last year, he said. Also, the parking lot was extended by nearly half a mile.
“The engineers tell us we can get more cars in the lot,” Dodge explained. “Hope-fully, we can get another 400 cars in.”
The fair takes place Wednesday through Saturday, featuring displays, carnival rides, entertainment, rodeo and demolition derby.
Entertainment includes a band called “Nothing,” karaoke and a break dance group.
Admission at the fair costs $5 per day for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children ages seven to 11. There is no entry fee for children age six and younger.
A new event is the draft horse pulling contest, starting at 5 p.m.. Friday, at the Adams County Fairgrounds Horse Arena, located at 831 S. Reynolds Road, Othello.
The Othello PRCA Rodeo is be held nearby on Friday and Saturday, at 821 S. Reynolds Road in Othello. The rodeo starts at 8 p.m. both days.
Rodeo tickets can be purchased at the following Othello businesses: Time Out Pizza, 1025 E. Main St., Ace Hardware, 420 E. Main St., Del’s Feed & Farm Supply, 210 E. Columbia St. and Kix Stand Espresso, 1350 E. Main St. Rodeo tickets are also available at the fair grounds ticket booth during the fair.
The cost of rodeo tickets bought before the event is $12 each for adults and $7 each for children, ages seven to 12. There’s no charge for children ages six and younger.
For more information about rodeo tickets, call 509-488-2604.
This year’s rodeo queen is Ashley Jahns, a 16-year-old Othello High School student. Her parents are Bob and Jessica Jahns.
Ashley is appearing in the rodeo riding her horse, Roosevelt, an American Paint Horse gelding.
The demolition derby is Wednesday, at the Othello Rodeo Grounds, 821 S. Reynolds Road. Time trials begin at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
For more information about the derby, call the Othello Chamber of Commerce, 509-488-2683, or 866-684-3556.
The fair parade begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, in Othello.
The parade route is from the intersection near the Othello Bowl, at 1312 E. Main St. and 13th Avenue, to Third Avenue.
Starting Jan. 1, there were organizational changes at the fair, with the fair becoming the nonprofit Adams County Fair Association, Dodge said.
Fair board members were previously appointed by Adams County commissioners.
Now the county is in charge of the fairgrounds and the association is charged with putting on the fair.
It’s because the county has better access to equipment and is able to better maintain the grounds, Dodge explained.
The association has 14 board members and 11 auxiliary board members, who cannot vote.
But auxiliary board members can live outside of Adams County, increasing the number of people who can volunteer for the posts.