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Grant County Fair begins Tuesday

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 7 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | August 10, 2018 3:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Exhibitors have worked with their show animals, gardeners have picked their best fruits and vegetables, bakers have experimented with their best recipes. There’s prep work at the food booths and the rodeo arena. It’s time.

The Grant County Fair, Moses Lake Roundup and Demolition Derby are scheduled for next week. The fair opens Tuesday and runs through Saturday, the demolition derby is Wednesday and the rodeo is Thursday through Saturday. The gates open every day at 10 a.m. The fair closes each day at 11 p.m., although the carnival is open to midnight each day.

The first day is free admission. For Wednesday through Saturday, admission is $8 for adults, and $5 for youths 8 to 17 years of age. Children 7 years of age and younger are free. Fair officials also sell week-long passes; they’re $18 for adults and $11 for youths 8 to 17 years of age.

The rodeo celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2018. From the beginning it’s been a classic rodeo, and a classic rodeo it remains, with the classic events. Bronc riding and bull riding, barrel racing and breakaway roping, team roping are all on the schedule, along with performances from trick rider Jessica Blair Fowlkes.

The demolition derby also has deep roots at the fair, and is scheduled for Wednesday night. Time trials begin at 6:30 p.m., with heats at 7:30 p.m. There are lap races and a team race for the grand finale.

Events kick off even before the fair gates open, with 4-H and FFA exhibitor demonstrations and meetings beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Competition for all FFA and 4-H classes begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday and continues each day with various events through Saturday.

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