Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Page A-5
Josephine County Fairgrounds continue upward trend
Annette McGee Rasch
IVN Senior Contributing Writer
The Josephine County (JoCo)
Fairgrounds is a hub of activity
- and its continued existence
is a testament to the power of
community involvement and
commitment. To prevent the
fairgrounds from shutting down
several years ago, the county board
stepped in with funding to keep
the venue afloat until it became
self-supporting - and now, in the
past few years, the fairgrounds has
earned it’s keep.
“The fair has done an
amazing job, they were in the red
and now they’re sustainable,”
said JoCo County Commissioner
Lily Morgan, who serves as fair
board liaison. “I’m impressed with
where the fair board has taken
the fairgrounds. There’s events
year round now, and we want to
continue to invest in shoring up the
fairgrounds so that it can be used
for another 100 years.”
“We’re continuing to upgrade
facilities,” said fairgrounds
manager Peggy Anderson.
“Last year we painted the Floral
Building, added new tables and
chairs, upgraded counter tops
and installed new sinks and
toilets; and two years ago we did
improvements to the Arts and
Crafts Building. In the Commercial
Building, in partnership with
the Winter Growers Market and
VISTA, we put in new gas utilities.
Also, the Winter Growers Market
people put in over-head heaters, to
make the building comfortable for
events year round. We’re moving
forward with the support of the
community and the fair board,” she
added. “JoCo’s fair can be what it
used to be and more. We have great
opportunities and we’re ready to
take it and go.”
A new partnership with Dutch
Bros. promises big things for
the county’s soccer community.
Morgan said Dutch Bros
approached the fair board about
putting a regulation soccer field
inside the horse track.
“We’re working out final
details for this new sports facility
- it’s been several months in the
making,” Morgan said. “There’s
an amazing amount of soccer buzz
in JoCo. It’s a growing sport here
and now we have the opportunity
to have a good soccer field for our
youth. It’s kind of like the Field of
Dreams; if you build it they will
come.”
“We’re really excited for
our whole community about our
growing partnership with Dutch
Bros.,” Anderson said. “There’s
92 soccer teams in Grants Pass,
including Cave Junction and all the
outlying areas. This is really a big
deal and will support so many kids
county wide.”
The fair board met November
to establish long-term planning
goals for the next three-to-five
years; and one idea gaining traction
is to build a convention center on 7
acres of county property behind the
fairgrounds.
Several fair board appointees
were recently reinstated for another
four-year term on the seven
member board. “I expect this board
to have boots on the ground and
be involved with the hands-on
work that we accomplish with such
limited staffing,” said Anderson,
who took over as fairgrounds
manager about 18 months ago.
As the only fulltime
fairground employee Anderson
is assisted by two part-time
administrative staff members and
two part-time maintenance staff.
She utilizes funds from grants,
rentals and donations to “keep
going forward, including the cost
of maintenance and upkeep. This
is a 50 plus acre complex, so we’re
always looking for volunteers to
help with painting, landscaping
and more.” She added that “during
fair, I hire additional temporary
workers, but we always need more
volunteers to help monitor vendors
and keep the parking lot flowing.
Our volunteers are ingrained in
the community and understand
the importance of volunteering.”
Morgan, who has volunteered at
the fairgrounds agreed: “You share
your love for your home this way.”
The county fair will take
place Aug. 16 through 19; and
horse racing runs from May 1
through mid-July. Around those
dates many other events occur.
The Home Builders
Association, which traditionally
put on a home show each year,
has opted out. So this year,
fairground management developed
a committee to take over that event
and “put an extra twist on it.” Thus
a Recreational and Home Show
will take place April 1 and 2. “The
home improvement aspect will
remain,” Anderson said, “but the
recreational themes added in are
broad - and range from fly fishing
and camping gear to ATVs and
motor homes.”
The Grants Pass Growers
Winter Market happens on
Saturdays, from December through
mid-March; and a monthly flea
market in the pavilion runs in
tandem with the market. “Our last
event was so big, you couldn’t
even find a parking space,”
Anderson said. Then, at the end
of April, the Spring Fling annual
garden show will take place.
The annual Gun and Knife
Show took place last weekend;
and twice weekly, Sunday and
Wednesday, the Friends of the
Josephine County Fairgrounds
host bingo in the Arts and Crafts
Building.
Fairground buildings are
rented out for weddings, concerts,
veteran’s events, trade shows,
conventions, banquets, meetings,
raffles and more. Check out the
calendar on the fairgrounds’
website to see all the events - and
take note of the new electronic
reader board on Redwood Highway
that helps publicize these and other
community activities. (Vendors buy
ads on this board.)
The fairgrounds also make
it possible for many people to
indulge their love of horses.
Numerous equestrian events take
place and the fairground is home to
four high school equestrian teams.
Horses are also boarded at the
fairground stable; and the facilities
also support the county’s 4-H
programs.
“Without that fairground, lots
of kids wouldn’t have a place to
ride,” said longtime Illinois Valley
High School equestrian coach
Desiree Eddy. “We have kids who
don’t have their own horses, so this
gives them the opportunity to care
for an animal on a lease and gain
that experience, which is really a
good thing to happen before people
go out and buy horses. These horse
programs are really great for the
youth and we could use a lot more
community support. A lot of kids
benefit.”
Halona Jackson makes an impact in first meet
BOISE, Idaho – The Northwest
Christian University (NCU) women’s
track & field team launched the 2017
indoor schedule this weekend, competing
at the Jacksons Invitational, hosted by
Boise State University.
The weekend included the
debuts of multiple new NCU athletes,
including freshman Halona Jackson who
established new indoor standards in both
the 60m and 200m events. Jackson ran
an 8.04 in the 60m and followed that up
with a 27.02 in the 200m.
Jackson’s 14th-place finish in the
60m was the Beacon’s highest on the
weekend, along with senior Madeleine
Nelson who re-established her own
school mark in the triple jump with a leap
of 10.19m.
60m: Halona Jackson (8.04), Karrin
Shriner (8.13), Ruth Meeker (8.32), and
Danielle Willyard (8.44).
ALL Custom JeweLRy designs
& RePAiRs done in house!
Tues - Fri 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
sAT 10 AM - 2 PM
sun & Mon Closed
23772 redwood Highway
K e r b y , or
200m: Halona Jackson (27.02),
Karrin Shriner (27.80), Abigail Spencer
(27.84), Danielle Willyard (28.19), and
Ruth Meeker (28.34).
4x400m Relay: Halona Jackson,
Ruth Meeker, Karrin Shriner, and Kelly
Willyard (4:13.23).
Jackson and her NCU teammates
will be back in action Feb. 12, traveling
to Seattle to compete in the University of
Washington Indoor Open.
(Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
IVHS band members play the national anthem Feb. 3.
2 WEEK SPECIAL
Flora
Big Friends
Multi-Vitamin /
Mineral Chewable
Super 5 Lozenge
Probiotic
14 69
$
$
ea.
Special Features
Smart Chicken Organic
Party Wings
100% organic birds.
Free range. Perfect
appetizers for Super
Bowl Sunday.
$
Reg.
$4.49 lb.
Party Trays
12” Trays
Reg.
$28.99
19
$
3 29
Salami, Organic
& Natural
Cheddar Cheese
Reg. $31.49
lb.
ea.
Two flavors,
Original & Jalapeno.
Snack foods for the Big Game!
22 99
$
WednesdAys
Hamburgers for sale
520 e. river street, CJ
Groceries
open to tHe public
Asstd. Flavors
Field Day Salsa
Root Beer &
Cream Soda
2
59
6:15-7:15 pM
at Healthy U
535 E river St.
541-761-4342
Reg. $6.09
+dep.
ea. +dep.
Asstd. Knudsen
Cantina
Dippers Chips
Sparkling Juice
5
00
Reg. $4.49
Reg.
$4.29
Grill Menu
6
$ 39
Sourdough bread, pesto
mayo, Rst. turkey, bacon
ea.
& Havarti cheese.
Reg. $7.99
With side salad.
Grab-N-Go
Hoagie Sandwiches
3
$ 59
ea.
Asstd. meat & cheese, veganaise, mustard,
lettuce, tomatoes on a prezzel bun.
Reg. $4.99
Table Five
Asstd. Pizzas ....................
p
2 59
$ 89
5
$
ea.
Reg. $3.59 ea.
Reg. $2.19 lb.
Asparagus ........................
Reg. $10.39 lb.
Cilantro.............................
Large Avocados ................
Salad Case
Southwest
Quinoa Salad
Pepperoni & Mozzarella Cheese.
Quinoa, black beans, corn,
red bellpeppers, green onions.
Tastes like a Taco Salad
w/o meat.
Goat Fetta cups.
2
lb.
ea.
ea.
Cheese
ea.
Breakfast Menu
lb.
Reg. $1.99 ea.
2 19
$
1 99
$ 59
5
99 ¢
$ 59
1
Red Bellpeppers ............... $
Fiornucci
6 oz.
100% Natural ...................
Breakfast
Muffin
ea.
Reg. $8.09 ea.
Produce
Reg. $1.39 ea.
Deli
Gooseberry
Delight
Nature’s Path
Asstd. Waffles .................
99
$
ea.
Mondays & Wednesdays
$5 Drop-in
3
Reg. $4.19
Late July
2 for $
Reg. $13.79 pkg.
NEW Lower Prices!
Virgil’s Zero 4 packs
$
pkg.
lb.
Reg. $1.59 lb.
Reg. $9.99 ea. +dep.
iv senior Center
Lisa Sherier
1
$ 19
99
ea.
+dep.
17 gAMes 6:30 - 9:30PM
with
Grapefruit
6
$
eArly Bird 6 - 6:30PM
Reg. $5.99 pkg.
Frozen
ea.
Caldera Beer 6 Packs
pkg.
Organic Prairie
Summer Sausage ...........
99
4 79
$
10 79
$
Beeler’s Lil Bites .............
No nitrates or nitrites.
Vegetable Tray
Asstd.
A ll A ges
ea.
Meat
Meat Tray
for
9 09
Reg. $12.99
Reg. $18.29
541-592-4838
B ingo
Natural
Factors
$ 09
ea.
English muffin, one egg & your choice
of meat, cheese & condiment. Reg. $2.69
3
$ 39
lb.
Reg. $5.69
Montchreve .......................
4 oz.
4
$ 99
2
$ 79
4
$ 59
ea.
Reg. $6.19 ea.
ea.
Reg. $3.99 ea.
Tofurky Sausage ................
Andouille, Chicken & Apple,
14 oz.
Spinach Pesto.
ea.
Reg. $6.39 ea.
We support our local farms!
We Accept Oregon Trail Cards • Prices effective Weds., 02/01/17 - Tues., 02/14/17 Ad Specials - Whil e Supplies Last.
1201 Redwood Ave. • 541-471-2700 • Open Mon. - Sat. 8 am - 8 pm • Sun. 10 am - 6 pm