Desert Artists featured at the Grant County Fair
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
Desert Artists member Lenny Harm had several paintings on display at the Desert Artists building at the Grant County Fair last week, including this painting of a blue heron, titled “Content,” which won several awards.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Much of the art on display at the Desert Artists’ Grant County Fair building was centered around native wildlife and local landscapes.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | August 16, 2024 1:50 AM
MOSES LAKE — At the Grant County Fair, there’s a Commercial Building where fairgoers can find things for sale, and there’s an Arts and Crafts building where people can find paintings, drawings and other visual art. Up at the north end of Yarbro Avenue there’s also a building that’s kind of a hybrid, where the Desert Artists have their works out for display and – hopefully, anyway – sale.
“We sold a lot yesterday,” said artist Lenny Harm on Wednesday. “There’s about 12 paintings gone off the wall.”
The Desert Artists is a group of local artists who work in all kinds of media. They’re an informal group; they meet once a week to paint and chat. All skill levels are welcome, but at a show like the one at the fair, it’s clear that some of the artists are quite accomplished.
Leanne Hicks, who serves as superintendent for the Desert Artists building, specializes in miniatures painted on bird feathers. All but one of her pieces had sold, a painting of a cougar that won fourth place overall.
Besides the regular judging, the Desert Artists held a People’s Choice judging Tuesday, the opening day of the fair, Hickman said.
“We were attacking everybody who was coming in,” she said. “(We said) ‘Look at all the paintings closely and pick out your number one painting, pick out that number and write it down on the slip and put it in the box.’”
The Grand Champion and People’s Choice ribbons both went to one of Harm’s pieces, a painting of a blue heron in a wetland surrounded by orange flowers that was titled “Content.” It was priced at $550.
“I painted it from a photo, but I see blue herons all the time,” Harm said, adding that she lives in the MarDon area, where they’re a common sight.
The Desert Artists have been around for 33 years, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald interview. They had some issues with the fair’s management about 10 years ago and stopped coming, Hickman said, but those issues have been resolved.
“I reopened it,” she said. “It’s been kind of a struggle to get it going, but we’re here.”
Much of the art on display at the Desert Artists’ Grant County Fair building was centered around native wildlife and local landscapes.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Mail carriers to collect food Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Mail carriers in Moses Lake will collect food for the Moses Lake Food Bank Saturday, part of the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. “(We’re asking) for a small donation of non-perishable food by your mailbox,” said carrier Michelle Schmidt, who’s coordinating the drive this year for Moses Lake. “And then on Saturday when we’re delivering, we’ll be picking up the food as we go along our route.” Schmidt suggested marking the food donation clearly, so carriers don’t pick up someone’s delivery order from a store. Anyone wanting more information can ask their mail carrier. The drive, put on by the National Association of Letter Carriers the second Saturday in May, has been going on since 1993, according to the NALC’s website.
NCWJLS kicks off livestock show season
MOSES LAKE — Young animal growers started the season March 19-21 at the North Central Washington Junior Livestock, held at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake. “We are the first (show) of the year,” said Michelle Farrer, show manager for the NCWJLS. “So we’re the first opportunity for kids to get their animals in the show ring and work those jitters out and practice for larger shows around the area, including county shows.” The sale is a three-day affair, Farrer said. The exhibitors weigh in Thursday afternoon, show their animals all day Friday, and then they’re judged on Saturday morning. Also Saturday morning is a meat judging contest, Farrer said.
Vanderhoff named Apple Blossom Citizen of the Year
WENATCHEE — Delbert Vanderhoff of Wenatchee had no idea he’d been named the 2026 Apple Blossom Citizen of the Year. “I can’t believe they did that,” Vanderhoff said. “I’ve always told my kids, ‘This is a small town. I know everybody. You can probably do things, but you need to understand that I will find out.’ When Darci (Christopherson) came in and surprised me, I said, ‘I can’t believe you kept it a secret.’” Christopherson, the Apple Blossom Festival coordinator, said Vanderhoff was selected by a board made up of past winners, who look for things like community involvement, commitment to furthering the industry and mentoring the next generation of growers. “(Vanderhoff) has been in the business since he graduated high school,” Christopherson said. “He’s very passionate about it.