WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016
FROM PAGE A1
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A11
Parade kicks off Umatilla County Fair
By JADE McDOWELL
Staff Writer
The best of Umatil-
la County was on display
Saturday in a miles-long
parade to oficially kick off
the 101st Umatilla County
Fair.
The Kick-Off Parade
drew thousands to line the
streets of Hermiston for
more than two hours of
loats, horses, free candy and
more.
Rose Jurcich, a Herm-
iston High School sopho-
more, said her favorite part
of the parade was spotting
her friends waving from var-
ious loats, representing FFA
and marching with the high
school’s band.
She came along to watch
the parade with Arely Ama-
ya, who said her favorite part
of the parade was the horses.
“I liked it when ... the
horses were dancing to the
music,” she said. “I thought
it was pretty great overall.”
Both girls said the parade
put them in the mood to go
to the fair, which they were
looking forward to this week.
Pat Brown of Hermiston
also said the horses were her
favorite part of watching the
fair parade each year.
“There were awfully pret-
ty cowgirl outits and hors-
es,” she said.
Her favorite loat was the
one celebrating Filipino her-
itage, which featured tradi-
tional Filipino clothing and
music.
Alan and Donna Vore of
Portland were in town vis-
iting family, and said they
were glad that the visit coin-
cided with the parade.
“I loved the parade,”
Donna said. “It’s small town,
and I just loved the feel of it.”
She said there’s a certain
kind of pride that comes
from living in a small town
that’s fun for big-city resi-
dents to see — not to men-
tion a taste of farm life.
“I loved the tractors, be-
cause you don’t get to see
those in the city,” she said.
Alan said one of his fa-
vorite parts was watching
his grandchildren run around
collecting candy thrown
from loats.
“They got a lot of loot,”
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL
A John Deere tractor from
Amstad Farms drives down
the road at the Umatilla
County Fair Kick-Off Parade
on Saturday
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL
Happy Canyon Princesses
ride in the Umatilla County
Fair Kick-Off Parade on
Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL
FFA students ride a loat
at the Umatilla County Fair
Kick-Off Parade on Saturday.
he said. “It’s better than Hal-
loween.”
There was plenty of can-
dy for the kids, but the adults
got excited about a few
handouts too.
All ages were scram-
bling in the streets when the
Tillamook Cheese contin-
gent walked by, scattering
shrink-wrapped samples
of their famous cheddar
cheese. And there were
plenty of adults who didn’t
mind jumping up and down
to catch the attention of the
children and teens handing
out free watermelons from
Bellinger Farms and Wal-
chli Farms.
The parade was the of-
icial kick-off to the Uma-
tilla County Fair, which
opened its gates to the pub-
lic Tuesday morning and
continues through Satur-
day.
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL
Sheriff Terry Rowan waves as he walks down the street
during the Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off Parade on Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO BY ALEXA LOUGEE
Children observe the sheep at the 4-H barn.
FAIR:
continued from Page A1
Check out the backyard
bbq contest or watermel-
on seed spitting contest.
Hang around at the robot-
ics workshop or take in one
of many featured variety,
magic or comedy shows.
Even the snakes at the
exotic animal exhibit are
ready for visitors.
If someone is bored at
the 2016 Umatilla County
Fair, they have nobody to
blame but themselves.
There is something sure
to appeal to everyone,
young and old, city slicker
or country hick.
The fairgrounds open at
to the public 9 a.m. daily.
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL
Members of Cub Scout Troop 645 ride a loat in the Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off Parade Saturday.