A8
Blue Mountain Eagle
GRANT COUNTY FAIR
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Taking stock of this year’s fair
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
A young competitor rides around the barrels during the Junior
Rodeo.
JOHN DAY — With the
113th Grant County Fair and
Rodeo in the books, the fair-
grounds manager looked back
at this year’s fair and dis-
cussed plans for next year’s
fair.
Mindy Winegar said this
year’s fair saw 7,000 peo-
ple come through the gate
throughout the fair week,
slightly down from last year.
However, she added, the
fair also saw a record num-
ber of vendors and the rodeo
had the best turnout since the
1980s, with over 1,300 people
showing up over the event’s
two-night run and more than
150 contestants entering the
junior rodeo.
She said the fair’s Friday
night concert, which featured
Eddie Montgomery of Mont-
gomery Gentry as the head-
liner, did not sell enough tick-
ets to break even.
Winegar said she needs the
community to tell her what
attractions they would like
to see at the fair other than a
carnival.
With roughly $2.2 million
coming in grant funding this
year, Winegar said the fair-
grounds would start working
on projects that will include
a renovation of Keerins Hall
once they have the money in
hand.
In the interim, she said
planning for next year’s fair
is starting now. That plan-
ning will include deciding
whether to book another con-
cert with a big name touring
act as the headliner. Addition-
ally, she said, she is thinking
about changing the dates so
Grant County Fair is not hap-
pening at the same time as
the Crook and Baker County
Fairs.
Having the fair the same
week as Baker and Crook
Counties, Winegar said,
aff ects Grant County’s overall
numbers.
“Being in Grant County,”
Winegar said, “we need to pull
from everyone around us.”
Faces in the crowd
Photos from the 113th Grant County Fair and Rodeo
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Headliner Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry kept the audience entertained on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
Tate Waddel leads his market steer into the auction pen
during the Grant County Fair Youth Livestock Auction.
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
A fl oat in the Grant County Fair and Rodeo parade honors longtime volunteer Mary Ellen Brooks.
Singer Jesse Leigh warms up the crowd at the Grant County
Fair on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
Columbia Power Cooperative
Proudly Celebrating being a part of Grant County’s Agricultural
Industry since 1948
• Irrigation
• Plumbing
• Electric
311 Wilson St.
Monument
541-934-2311
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
A young fair-goer reaches out to pet a goat.
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
A young steer rider holds on during the Junior Rodeo.
Grant County Chamber of Commerce
We would like to recognize all the
Grant County Fair participants for
their hard work and dedication in
making the 113th County Fair
a Great Success.
Licensed in the State of Oregon
Family-Owned for 37 Years
Providing Grant County’s youth with feed
& supplies for 4-H and FFA.
Congratulations to all 2022 Grant County Fair participants. Job well done!
311 N Canyon City Blvd, Canyon City
541-575-2050
Lori Hickerson, Principal Broker, GRI • Office: 541-575-2617 • ljh@ortelco.net
Sally Knowles, Broker, GRI • Office: 541-932-4493 • sknowles@ortelco.net
Babette Larson, Broker, GRI • Office: 541-987-2363 • ddwr@ortelco.net
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