Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2012)
Special Edition • Morrow County Fair and Rodeo • Heppner Gazette-Times. Wednesday. August 8, 2012 - Page 27 The Morrow County Fair through time The Morrow County Fair is now celebrating its 99th birthday, with the first fair held in 1913. Other interesting facts belo notation o f a three year-cancellation o f the fair during World War II. 1913 1915 1918 1919 1920 First Morrow County Fair held in the area of what is now the park and museum on Main Street. There were 200 entries o f livestock and land products, no premiums were paid. Paid out $ 1,500 in pre mium money. Fair held in early September. In January the first Oregon State Extension Office was established in Heppner. The 4-H program began in the early 1900s under the supervision of the Ex tension Service. Lucy Rogers, then school superintendent, was instrumental in helping to activate the county’s 4-H program. County-wide par ticipation was noted as Irrigon won first in community exhibits, and Boardman was awarded the best school exhibit. Boardman had its first commercial fair in September; exhibits were then sent express 1922 1923- 1930 1937 to Salem for the State Fair. It was the only county fair that year. Fairs in the south end of the county were held intermittently for a number o f years. Rodeo area was established when L.V. Gentry donated that site for rodeos. The adjoining fairgrounds accommodations came about when the county traded the block on Main Street to the city of Heppner in exchange for the disbanded Civil ian Conservation Corps site (workers had been housed in barracks buildings). County Extension agent and volunteers stage the fair. County court then appointed a three-person fair board to oversee activities. Beginning o f FFA (Future Farmers of America). The program became an integral part o f rural county fairs. Participation included 1939 1942- 1945 1946 1949 1952 R e a lly ? O ur partner agencies receive every penny of every dollar you contribute through the United Way! 1954 U nited Way L IK E us on facebook U m a tilla & M o rro w C o u n tie s w » w.u m u tillu m o rn m u n ilid w ay.org 1955 livestock and shop projects, judging con tests, demonstrations and tractor driving contests. Pole building sheds were erected to accommodate live stock exhibits for both open class and youth. Volunteer labor was contributed by ranchers and farmers. County fair in Heppner became an annual event after it was relocated to the present day rodeo/ fair site. Old wooden buildings from the CCC site were convert ed into space for fair exhibits and became the permanent site. 1961 1965 1968 No Fair was held for three years during World War II. A wooden bam build ing became the site of the newly formed Wrangler Riding Club; the club managed a horse show in conjunc tion with the fair activi ties. Beef and Sheep Build ing built. Brought about better exhibit space, construc tion of a large cinder- block building, (pavil ion). A wooden dance floor was also installed for rodeo dances, community events and other activities through out the year. Expanded areas of interest, in addition to home eco nomics, land products and livestock classes, flower crafts, arts and hobby interests were added. Restrooms and dressing rooms built, used during football and baseball seasons, as well as rodeo and fair. Fairs in the north end o f the county were discontinued when it became a state law limiting one fair per county. Dormitory built for overnight accommoda tions for those youth exhibitors living some distance from the fair. 1975 1983 1985 1996 1997 4-H snack shack was built on the grounds to provide meals for fairgoers and a source of revenue for 4-H programs by using volunteer labor. More livestock exhibit space was needed; a steel enclosed bam building was erected. 1998 Bleachers seats inside were added in 1966. Though limited in space this bam build ing has accommodated numerous horse-related events, including cow cutting and other events throughout the years. Additional outside 1999 show rings were added. A south grandstand was built to replace an old wooden structure. A large portion o f the rodeo area was seeded to grass, thus accom modating school sports, summer baseball and other events. 1986 re- 2001 carpeted. Building converted 2005 from Wrangler Riding Club to house a col- 2007 lection of antique farm equipment donated to the county by Harold Peck. It is now by the Farm Museum. Fair growth necessitat ed installation of sewer lines; by hooking up to the city sewer system outdated septic tanks 2008 were eliminated. Trailer house donated by county court to help with overcrowding. 2009 A five member fair board was expanded to 2010 seven members, as fair interest continued to grow. Installation o f new water mains throughout Fair complex and new water lines to all build ings. 2011 Building and moving o f rodeo area to smaller profession size rodeo arena and permanent steel spectator seating was added, instigated by the rodeo com mittee. Community support and volunteer labor helped fin a n c e .................. include new lighting for the grounds to provide illumination for night time rodeo events and football games. Ad ditional parking areas for the rodeo were ac complished by filling in an area adjoining those grounds. Installation of new bathrooms in Fair pavilion. New eight-inch water main-line from grade school to Fair entrance to accommodate fire protection for the Wilkinson Arena and all out-buildings. Through many vol unteer hours and fund raising, the Wilkinson Arena was built to be used for 4-H and open class livestock exhibits. Other times of the year it is available to the public for barrel racing, roping or just riding. FFA discontinued in the county FFA started again in Irrigon and Boardman FFA started again in Heppner. Old dormitory remod eled, new floors, show ers installed in outside restrooms. New floors installed in inside bathrooms. Replaced pavilion roof with tin. Small animals area built, now a storage area Fair buildings painted. 4-H kitchen extended/ remodeled Eric Chick painted and carpeted football bleachers as a scouting project. High school built a new snack shack and re modeled the restrooms on football field. 4-H annex roof re- placed/repaired. Ticket booth painted. Grounds flooded on June 2. Fire by fair office on Monday, August 15 (fair week).
