'Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats' Adams County Fair opens Wednesday in Othello
Competitors line their steers up for the judge during the 2014 Adams County Fair. The 2016 fair begins Wednesday.
OTHELLO — Livestock and exhibits, the annual rodeo, the annual demolition derby, the parade, bed races and competition among Dutch oven cooks will be among the highlights of the annual Adams County Fair, beginning Wednesday and continuing through Saturday
Most of the action will be at the fairgrounds, 831 South Reynolds Rd., Othello. The parade and bed races are in downtown Othello.
Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Daily admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 years of and older, and $5 for children ages 7-11. Children ages 6 and under are free. There’s also an all-week pass, $21 for adults, $15 for seniors and children. There is no charge for parking.
Entries for the sawhorse decorating contest must be brought to the fairgrounds between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday. Sawhorses must depict an animal; bonus points will be awarded for the best depictions of the fair’s 2016 theme, “Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats.” Entry is free.
Eagle Scouts will be conducting a stuffed animal drive during the week of the fair, with dropoff boxes at the fair office and the entry gates. The scouts are asking for new or used stuffed animals in good condition. The Scouts won’t be accepting dolls.
Exhibitors are invited to a special fair kickoff breakfast at 6 a.m. Wednesday, and there’s a mandatory livestock exhibitors meeting at 8 a.m. Judging for all non-livestock classes begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday, along with market classes for livestock. Horse competition begins at 9:30 a.m.
Entertainment begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday and continues all week. Children who want to try riding a sheep are invited to the “mutton busting” arena behind the rabbit barn at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. each day.
The annual demolition derby is scheduled for Wednesday night. Gates open at 3 p.m., with time trials at 6:30 p.m. and racing to follow. People who want more information on the demo derby can contact Adam Robertson, 509-346-7115.
Thursday features livestock fitting and showing for all classes except rabbits. Rabbit competition begins at 1 p.m. All riding competition begins at 8:30 a.m.
Friday begins with FFA and 4-H livestock judging at 9 a.m. and horse judging at noon. Round robin fitting and showing competition begins at 1 p.m. Awards for 4-H and FFA competitors are announced at 4 p.m.
Draft horse competition is an Adams County Fair tradition, and is scheduled for the traditional time, 5 p.m. Friday in the horse arena. Draft horse competition is like a tractor pull, except it’s real horsepower. Horse teams pull a sled across the arena, as it’s filled with heavier and heavier weights.
The first of two performances of the Othello PRCA Rodeo begins at 8 p.m. Friday. The program includes all the rodeo favorites, from broncs and bulls to barrel racing. The second rodeo performance is 8 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday begins with the third annual “Dream Race,” bed and wheelbarrow races on Main Street in front of Othello City Hall, 500 East Main St. Entry is free.
Beds and wheelbarrows are supplied, and it’s all human power; no motors. Racers can register until 8:30 a.m. with the flag dropping on the first race at 9 a.m.
The annual Adams County Fair parade steps off down Main Street at 10 a.m. Parade entries will be accepted through 8:30 a.m., with judging at 9 a.m. and lineup at 9:30 a.m. Parade participants will assemble on the corner of 13th Avenue and Main Street; the route ends at Main and Third Avenue.
The annual “Diaper Derby” is scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds. It’s for babies 15 months old and younger – and their parents, of course – but the children must be crawling.
The annual FFA and 4-H livestock sale begins at noon at the show ring. Kids who’ve spent the summer raising animals find out just how much their work pays off – in cold hard cash.
The fair winds up for the year with the second rodeo performance at 8 p.m. Saturday.
An earlier version of this story, which also appeared in Tuesday's print edition, included the chuckwagon competition, which will not be at the fair this year, and also misstated the location of the draft horse pull. The Herald regrets the error.