WEDNESDAY
August 16, 2017
LeDoux riles up county fair crowds
Show draws people from
all corners of the county
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Ned LeDoux grins out
at the crowd during the
Grant County Fair on
Friday, Aug. 11.
Ned LeDoux played long into
the night at the Grant County Fair
to the enjoyment of a rambunc-
tious Friday-night crowd.
Many a beer bottle was
raised in cheers during Le-
Doux’s regular breaks between
his songs when he espoused the
virtues of rural America and the
hardworking people who live
there.
LeDoux played a handful of
his own songs as well as covers
of his father Chris LeDoux’s
tracks. After breaking a guitar
string, LeDoux took a brief
break and let the rest of the
band, Western Underground,
take charge. The group includ-
ed musicians who played and
toured with LeDoux’s father.
LeDoux was born into a
musical family and recently re-
leased his fi rst album, “Forever a
Cowboy.” He said he is working
See LEDOUX, Page B12
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Ned LeDoux reaches out to touch the crowd during the Grant County Fair on
Friday, Aug. 11.
Cowpokes and
superheroes join
in Kids Day Parade
Kids enjoy
sweet treat for
participation
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
UNBEAT-A-BULL
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Justin Josey avoids a bull during a bullfight at the Grant County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 12.
Bullfighters risk life and limb for entertainment
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
The grandstands were absolutely
packed for this year’s freestyle bullfi ght
at the Grant County Fair on Saturday
night.
Mud, hats and cowboys fl ew as bull-
fi ghters tried to stylishly avoid being
gored by the massive animals.
Their attempts at evasion met with
various degrees of success, but ulti-
mately Justin Josey won the $1,500
grand prize. This is Josey’s second year
in a row winning the event.
Despite the danger of the sport, there
were no serious injuries at this year’s
fi ght.
James Hankinson, in his fourth year
bullfi ghting, said there’s nothing like it.
“I can’t even explain it. It’s the most
natural addicting drug that you could
ever do,” he said. “When you’re right
there on their head and you have them
right there in your back pocket and
you’re stepping around them, it’s a re-
ally intimate feeling. You’re on top of
the world.”
Cowpokes, superheroes
and kids dressed in their red,
white and blue fi nest made their
way down John Day’s Main
Street on Friday for the Grant
County Fair Kids Day Parade.
A total of 20 children par-
ticipated, along with parents
and grandparents, in the event .
All the kids received free Dairy
Queen treats.
Several earned blue ribbons,
including Brook and Brett Bur-
ril and Coyle and Beau Van
Cleave in Group One and Kara,
Riley and Wyatt Hansen and
Azadae and Mordecai Soupir
in Group Two.
Sky Jisha and her dog Tia
won fi rst place in the Costumed
Individuals division.
For decorated vehicles, Si-
las, Allison and Ike Fansler
won fi rst place, and Alexa and
Kyra Averett won fi rst as a
business group fl oat.
In the mounted division,
Li’l Miss PRCA Rowdy Israel
had a fi rst-place fi nish.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Sky Jisha and her dog Tia
walk in Friday’s Kids Day
Parade.
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Coy Kraut, 15, places his hand on a bull’s head during a bullfight at the
Grant County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 12.
He’s been injured in the arena but
nothing severe, only torn ligaments, he
said. He’s passionate about the sport and
loves it despite the danger.
“It’s the love that keeps you going
forward,” Hankinson said.
Besides bullfi ghting, he also does
cowboy protection for bull riders.
See BULL, Page B12
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
A colorful crew of kids ride in Friday’s parade through
downtown John Day. See pages B2 and B3 for more
parade and fair photos.
4-H’ers impress at Grant County Fair Parade
Waddel wins
judges’ choice
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The 4-H youth were
among the highlights at Sat-
urday’s Grant County Fair
Parade in John Day.
From a large crowd of
youth walking together
alongside a fl oat to a young-
ster leading his calf with his
parents, the 4-H’ers and their
leaders took the spotlight.
The parade theme “Red,
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Grant County Fairgrounds Manager Mindy Winegar and
White and Blue — This
Fair’s For You!” was evident A dog on the Pioneer Feed staff member Dusty Williams keep the kids running for
candy at Saturday’s fair parade.
throughout with colorful en- float smiles at the crowd.
tries.
Parade coordinator Bren- High School parking lot, the “Having every one of them Waddel, who led his calf Moo
da Mosier said at times starting point, to the street riding and walking each year Moo down the parade route
brings a sense of pride.”
with the help of his parents,
tears came to her eyes as the that morning.
“Fair, to me, is all about
She was especially im- Simmie and Wade.
youngsters moved from the
Grant Union Junior-Senior the 4-H kids,” Mosier said. pressed with young Tate
The sight “made all our
Grant County Fair Grand Marshal Jean Kline waves to
spectators as she rides with grandchildren and great-
grandchildren in her late husband Dave’s ’66 Chevy,
named “Ole Red.”
hearts melt,” she said, adding
the young man received the
Judges’ Choice Award.
There were 37 entries in
all, and Mosier expressed her
appreciation for all who en-
tered, as well as the team of
volunteers who assisted her.
See PARADE, Page B12