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Othello Fair starts today, adds some new events

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 6 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. | September 15, 2021 1:00 AM

OTHELLO — Some new events will be at the 2021 Othello Fair, including a chili cooking contest and a car exhibition.

The fair opens today and runs through Saturday at 831 S. Reynolds Road.

Local first responders will put their chili cooking skills to the test at the “Hometown Heroes” chili cook-off, starting at noon today. Fair treasurer Tammy Everett wrote in an email to the Herald cooks from the Othello Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Fire District 5, the Othello Community Hospital/Adams County Hospital District 3 Ambulance Service and Avista Utilities will compete. An independent panel will judge the entries, she said.

Chili will be $3 per bowl, and the proceeds will go to charities of the competitors’ choice. The winners will be announced at 6 p.m. today on the fairgrounds Blue Stage, near the 4-H building.

The fair board is sponsoring a movie for all ages, title to be announced, at 8 p.m. tonight on the Blue Stage.

Wednesday’s schedule features livestock market competition, and tradition is being followed in 2021. Horse show competition also begins today.

The annual Othello Demolition Derby begins with time trials at 5:30 p.m. today. The actual demo derby follows the heat races, the powder puff race, Australian pursuit and the Bill Bagwell Memorial winner’s race.

Livestock fitting and showing competition is scheduled for Thursday. The 4-H and the FFA horse show also continues Thursday. Livestock and horse judging are scheduled for Friday.

The first of two Othello Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo performances starts at 8 p.m. Friday at the rodeo arena, next to the fairgrounds. The second performance is at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Othello Fair parade starts down Main Street at 10 a.m. Saturday. Judging starts at 8 a.m. and parade lineup starts at 9:30 a.m.

The annual livestock sale begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds.

The brand-new car exhibition opens at noon Saturday on the grass at the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. Everett wrote many car shows award points within a car show circuit, and no points will be awarded in Othello, so it’s not a car show.

“We are starting out slow as this is the first year for this,” she wrote

Cash prizes will be awarded, however. There’s one People’s Choice award and awards for the top three places in five different categories. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].

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