Experience the Grant County Fair
Be sure to mark your calendar for the Grant County Fair, set for Aug. 14-18 in Moses Lake.
There is truly something to entertain and enthuse almost everyone during the day and on into the evening. Musical performances, animal exhibitions, carnival rides, art, photography and food displays, just to name a few.
For those with small children with short attention spans and early bedtimes, a trip to the animal barn to pet a sheep, small rabbit or a horse can be fun, simple and educational.
For both adults and kids, the fair is a convenient way to reconnect with old friends and maintain current relationships. Kids likely see their friends showing an animal or recognize their names on their displayed painting or sculpture. The experience gives them pride in their work and accomplishments, helping to broaden their horizons by seeing their peers' work and the qualities noticed by judges.
Students in 4-H and FFA learn life lessons during the yearlong preparation for the event, leading up to the competing and showing in front of community members, family and friends.
Teamwork, communication skills, learning grace under pressure and budgeting are practiced as youth interact with their peers, judges and other parents. Handling the victory of a first place ribbon and disappointment of a less than stellar performance mark the fair experience.
Youth have forged a relationship with their animals throughout the year and at the same time, learn the finances and time involved with caring and feeding the animal.
They are skills kids can carry into school, their personal lives and into adulthood. The experience makes them stronger and better prepared for the uncertainties of life, the complexities of relationships and challenges of the working world.
Parents learn from their kids' fair experiences by helping and supporting their preparations and offering a positive and caring environment. The event is an example of people truly setting their lives aside for a week. Some families even bring travel trailers to camp at the fairgrounds, so their children can be close to their show animals, attend to their needs and help with barn duty.
For parents unable to house or provide a large animal for their child's fair experience, other opportunities exist by taking part in art, cooking and other non-animal projects.
The fair provides us with the opportunity to learn more about family history and the area's rich agricultural heritage. The event can prompt new conversations about the importance of farming and where our food comes from.
The fair is a long-standing tradition in Grant County, with the first one held Sept. 27-28, 1911 in Wilson Creek. The 1913 fair was held in Ephrata, now the county seat, and later moved to Moses Lake, now the largest town in Grant County.
If you want to learn more about the fair's history, visit the history barn at the fairgrounds. History buffs may enjoy seeing the fair premium books and old newspaper clippings.
Back in the day, Grant County celebrated the fair with a parade through Moses Lake in the 1940s and 1950s.
Don't forget the Moses Lake Rodeo Roundup and Demo Derby also take place during portions of fair week.
Remember the events couldn't happen without the sponsors, hard work of employees and the many volunteers who staff the entry gates and food booths. Don't forget volunteers are giving their time and talents when they prepare your meal and employees are putting in long hours, working during their busiest time of the year.
When you support the food and other nonprofit booths and causes, you help local service clubs and other community groups.
They help the community with their projects and make it a better place to live.
- Editorial board