Yeeee-Haawwww!

By Loyal and Charlotte Baker

DAYTON–Columbia County Commissioners granted Dayton Days Inc. use of the County Fairgrounds over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, and the organization is planning a two-day rodeo as COVID-19 restrictions lift across the state.

The rodeo will be evening events, held Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29, according to the Dayton Days Inc. Board of Directors. With sufficient entries, there may be a slack performance Saturday afternoon.

Dayton Days member Tim Quade attended the County Commission meeting Monday, March 15, and presented the group's request for use of the fairgrounds over Memorial Day. Commissioners approved the dates and waived rental fees in light of the anticipated draw after a year of pandemic cancellations.

Dayton Days Inc. will operate the event in cooperation with the Columbia County Fair.

Comments from the stock contractor, Tucker Cool of Bar X Ranches, indicate that the rodeo community is faunching at the bit to perform at a rodeo and Cool, along with local rodeo enthusiasts Tony Currin and Greg Fullerton who will conduct the performance, anticipate enough entries to fill out a two-day rodeo. In addition, Cool is providing stock for an afternoon rodeo that Saturday in Helix, Ore., and expects a number of those cowboys to come to Dayton for the evening rodeo.

Dayton Days members have volunteered for committees to get the rodeo up and running, including fund raising, facilities, COVID protocols, concessions, royalty and other tasks necessary before Memorial Day.

Discussions are underway with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce regarding a parade on Saturday.

Governor Jay Inslee recently announced the entire state at Stage 3, and that the regional covid measurement system is reverted back to a county-by-county process. Attendance requirements for high school athletics and professional sports were also lifted.