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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, July 5, 2001 Page 11 Columbia County Fair prepares for its 86th year of family fun Regardless of budget prob lems, the Columbia County Fair Board, director Evelyn Hudson — and lots of volun teers — have the 86th annual fair ready for four days of crowd-pleasing favorites, a va riety of entertainment and some events that allow people to participate in new ways. New events this year in clude a Baby Contest, County Talent Show and Pee Wee Rodeo. The Baby Contest will be on Thursday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m., with judging of infants from birth to 18 months in three cat egories - Outfit, Smile and Per sonality. The infants will appear on Stage 1 in age groups. Par ents must register between 9:30 a.m and 12:30 p.m. on the day of the contest. Another stage event is the first annual Columbia County Talent Show. Tryouts are on Wednesday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m. on Stage 1 at the fair grounds. Semi-finals will be on the first day of the fair, Wednesday, July 18, at 7:00 p.m., with the finals on Friday at 7:00 p.m., all on Stage 1. The talent contest will be in two age groups, 15 and under, or 16 and older. Contestants must use official entry forms. They may be picked up at the fair office weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and returned before the tryouts. Two restrictions ap ply: no instrumental bands will be accepted; the contest is open only to county residents. The winner of this contest will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to compete at the State Fair in September. The third new event for this year will be Pee Wee Rodeo, on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the fairgrounds rodeo arena. Youngsters will compete in age divisions in barrel racing, goat tying, bull riding, team roping and calf riding. Participants do not need to be affiliated with Pee Wee Rodeo, but the orga nization’s rules and regulations will apply. My Fair Lady Pageant will be on opening day, July 18, at 1:00 p.m. on Stage 1. This fea tures senior women from around the county and is a family favorite. Stock car races, plus hard- tops, dwarf cars and modifieds, will be running on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Like all events dur ing the fair, the price of admis sion is included in the fair’s regular gate fee. Two favorites will be fea tured Sunday, with the Logging Show starting at 11:00 a.m. and the Tractor (and Garden Tractor) Pull at 2:00 p.m. The Logging Show is one in a series of contests that culmi nate in selection of the Colum bia County Logger of the Year at the Vernonia Jamboree in August. No Columbia County Fair would be complete without the ground pounding action of the NPRA Rodeo, Friday and Sat urday nights at the rodeo are na. Queen Heather Thomas of Rainier will reign over the ac tion as cowboys try to stay on bucking, bone jarring bulls and broncos for eight seconds that feel like an hour. There is always good coun- Queen Heather Thomas try music following the rodeo, as well as a variety of enter tainment throughout the four days of the fair. One outstanding act that has been a great crowd pleas- er is The Gentlemen Jugglers, whose one-liners fly even faster than their equipment. Whether juggling with pins, knives, rings, flaming torches or rubber chickens, they’ll keep you laughing. Stiltwalker Teruka Moseler will be wandering around the grounds during the fair; Ronald McDonald will make an ap pearance, and there will be much more entertainment. The roots of county fairs were in the skills used in an agrarian society and many of those skills are still featured. So don’t pass up the barns or the many displays in the pavil ion, or the floral building, or the farm museum or the master gardeners’ garden plot. Catch some of the 4-H Showmanship competition or attend the live stock auction. You’ll enoy it all. Stop in at The Independent office for a schedule of fair events For further information about events or Fair schedules, call the fairgrounds office at 503- 397-4417, weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fair & Rodeo Friday, July 20 8:00 AM Gates Open 7:00 PM NPRA Rodeo - Rodeo Arena 7:00 PM Columbia County Talent Show Finals Stage 1 AFTER RODEO - Les Richardson Band R&R Country - Stage 2 MIDNIGHT Gates Close Saturday, July 21 8:00 AM Gates Open 1:30 PM Old Time Threshing Machine Demonstration Farm Museum 3:30 PM 4-H Livestock Auction - Sheep Barn 7:00 PM NPRA Rodeo - Rodeo Arena AFTER RODEO - Barny Connolly Cahoots- Stage 2 MIDNIGHT Gates Close Rodeo Thrill and Chills! Friday and Saturday!! Stock Car Races Wednesday!! Logging Show Action on Sunday! Sunday, July 22 8:00 AM Gates Open 9:00 AM Church Services - Stage 1 11:00 AM Logging Show - South Gate 2:00 PM NW Tractor Pullers 6:00 PM Fair Gates Close The Fair is Over for another year!
