Columbia County Fair is a go–virtually

DAYTON–The "show will go on" but it won't be like any of the other 129 Columbia County Fairs that preceded it.

The 2020 edition of the Columbia County Fair will be limited to exhibitors only-the general public will not be allowed to attend at the Fairgrounds, according to Fair Board member Ty Lane. That doesn't mean the public won't be able to see exhibitions and livestock classes.

"Everything is going to be through Facebook," Lane says. "If people want to watch, go to Facebook and click on any event during times listed. We will also will be putting up photos." Livestock classes will be live streamed on the social media site.

Crowd favorites like the rodeo Saturday evening and the Sunday Demo Derby are canceled, as are all vendors and entertainment. Losing those events "was a tough blow," Lane commented. Lane is a Fair Board member whose responsibilities were with entertainment.

According to the Washington State Fairs Association, the Columbia County Fair is the only fair scheduled in September. The Garfield County Fair is also planning a limited fair Sept. 18-20.

Livestock entries by youth will be in open class, Lane said. There will be no 4-H nor FFA oriented events. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in place from Washington State University, all 4-H activities are prohibited.

Each exhibitor will be given a schedule and those involved will be staggered to meet physical distancing requirements stipulated by Governor Jay Inslee.

For example, showmanship and market class events will be back-to-back, Lane said.

Exhibitors of other items will be contacted with a time to deliver their exhibits to the Fairgrounds. "We'll have an assembly line for people to drop off items," Lane said.

Fair officials will be wearing PPE and the exhibitor will not be allowed out of their car. "We'll collect the entries and take them ins and place them for judging," Lane said. Once judging is completed, a photo will be taken and results posted on Facebook. A schedule will be released for exhibitors to return and pick up items.

"As far as exhibitors go," Lane said, "I don't think we've turned anyone away. Our concentration is making sure our youth exhibitors are taken care of this year.

"Certainly, simply canceling the fair would have been the easiest thing to do," Lane said. "But the Fair Board was insistent on finding a way to permit our youth to have their year's work shown and judged and allow them to sell the animals they've invested so much time, money, and effort into. With the help of our many volunteers, the Fair Board has adapted this year's Fair to the guidelines and will be conducting many activities virtually.

On Friday, September 11, Goat Showmanship and Market classes will be streamed at 9 a.m. In a different arena, Beef Showmanship and Market classes will be streamed, also at 9 a.m., as will be Swine Showmanship and Market classes for 6th-8th grades.

At 3 p.m. on Friday, Small Animal Showing will be streamed.

Set for 9 a.m. Saturday, September 12, Swine Showmanship and Market (9th-12th grade) will be streamed. At 1 p.m. that day will be the Swine Championship Market Class Show.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, log in to see Swine Showmanship for exhibitors 2nd Grade and under.

The Livestock Sale will be livestreamed at 1 p.m., Sunday, September 13.