Wampum auction to support Wheat Land Communities Fair coming

RITZVILLE — A small fair will be supported in a big way next weekend. 

Wampum, the annual auction for the Wheat Land Communities Fair, will take place Saturday at the Wheat Land Fairgrounds in Ritzville. The event will include a barbecue dinner and a live and silent auction. 

The auction is as old as the fair itself, said Lori Williams, a member of the fair board. 

“It’s been going on since we changed from the East Adams County Fair to the Wheat Land Communities Fair back in 1981,” Williams said. “Back then they showed under tents out by the old high school. Since then, we’re on about 20 acres at the fairgrounds, and we do this annual dinner and auction to help cover our operating costs and some entertainment options for the fair.” 

The auction usually draws between 100 and 140 people, Williams said. Dinner will be catered by Rollin’ Coal Barbecue of Washtucna and the auction will be conducted by volunteer auctioneers Jerry Snyder and Gus Tracy. 

“They donate their time,” Williams said. “They’re good supporters of our community events.” 

In addition, the Wheat Land Communities Fair Ambassadors will be there to tell the guests about the work they’ve been doing representing the fair. The Fair Ambassador program is something the Wheat Land Communities Fair came up with instead of the royalty pageants some other fairs use, Williams told the Columbia Basin Herald last year. The current ambassadors, Maeve Korthuis and Alyssa Williams, serve as the public face of the fair.  

“Those two gals are just really good youth representation, and they are very passionate about animal agriculture and our community,” she said. 

The $25 ticket includes dinner, dessert, soft drinks and coffee, according to the fairgrounds’ website. For those who like something stronger, drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.  

Williams wasn’t sure how much was raised at last year’s Wampum, but she estimated about $15,000. That’s not a huge amount compared to the budgets of the Grant County Fair or the Othello Fair, but for a fair the size of the Wheat Land Communities Fair, it makes a difference. The fair, which bills itself as “The biggest little fair in Eastern Washington,” celebrates the agricultural heritage of Ritzville, Lind, Washtucna and Benge, according to its website. The focus is on the 4-H and Future Farmers of America show animals, and most of the other events, exhibits and food are homegrown. Wampum is the only fundraiser the fair holds, Williams said, although local businesses and individuals buy sponsorships as well. 

“Community support has kept us going all these years, and we appreciate the ability to support the community,” she said. 

Wampum event and tix 

March 29  
Social hour 5 p.m.
Dinner 6:30 p.m.  

Wheat Land Fairgrounds  
Knuth Building  

811 E. Main Ave., Ritzville  

Tickets $25
Ticket locations:
Java Bloom in Washtucna
Jim’s Market in Lind
Ritzville Drug in Ritzville
Online: https://bit.ly/Wampum25Tix. 

    This quilt, one of the items available at a previous Wampum auction, shows a theme dear to the heart of the Wheat Land Communities Fair.
  

    Some of the items available for auction at a previous year’s Wampum auction.