Othello readies for fair

OTHELLO — There won't be an Adams County Fair this year.

But only because organizers decided to change the name. It's now the Othello Fair.

“We're going to have a great fair,” said Fair President Anthony Dailey. “The only thing that has changed is our name.”

The fair, which beings on Wednesday, Sept. 12, and lasts through Saturday, Sept. 15, got the name change after an audit of Adams County found that the county needed to exercise more control over the fair if it was going to be the Adams County Fair.

“We could give control to the county, no longer be the Adams County Fair, or not have a fair. Those were the options the (Adams County) Commission gave us,” Dailey said.

“The last option was not an option,” he continued. “So we decided to change our name to the Othello Fair.”

The fair will still feature the usual assortment of animal showings by FFA and 4-H kids from across the region (if it clucks, oinks, bahs, moos or just sits there and wiggles its cute little nose, it is being judged), a draft horse pull, a performance by equine drill Sequins n' Spurs, as well as entertainment from parody rappers the Peterson Farm Bros and country singer Kathryn Stredwick.

There's also a parade on Saturday, Sept. 15, beginning at 10 a.m.

“We're going to have a fabulous fair,” Dailey said.

Tickets for the Othello Fair at $7 per day for adults and $5 per day for kids. Passes are also available for $21.

The Othello Fair also kicks off with the Othello Demolition Derby on Wednesday, Sept. 12, with gates opening at 3 p.m. and the derby itself starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, six and under is free.

In addition, the Othello Rodeo Association is staging the 70th annual Othello Rodeo Friday, Sept. 14, and Saturday, Sept. 16, beginning at 8 p.m. both nights, in the Adams County Fairgrounds. Tickets for Friday are $15 for adults and $10 for children 7-12. Children 6 and under are free.

Saturday tickets for the rodeo are $15 each.

For more information on the rodeo, call 509-488-2604. For more information on the Othello Fair, call 509-488-2871.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com