Yippee!

By Loyal and Charlotte Baker

DAYTON–Two nights of leather-slappin' rodeo action is set for this weekend at the Columbia County Fairgrounds as Dayton Days and the Columbia County Fair Association bring you the 2021 Jackpot Rodeo Friday and Saturday nights in the outdoor arena.

And the Dayton Chamber of Commerce's Dayton Days Parade will proceed down Main Street at 10 a.m. on Saturday, bringing some 25 parade entries, including royal mounted courts representing Dayton Days, the Pendleton Round Up and Happy Canyon, Walla Walla Frontier Days and Fair, and more.

Riding groups including the Walla Walla Wagonettes will again clip-clop along our main thoroughfare, joined by commercial, community and local law enforcement and fire district rigs. Look for the Blue Mountain Shrine Club's Cycle Patrol, too, says Chamber Manager Belinda Larsen.

The Dayton Days organization will be assisted by local rodeo cowboys Greg Fullerton and Tony Currin in putting on two nights of rodeo performances at the Columbia County Fairgrounds outdoor arena. Bar X Ranches LLC is the stock contractor.

Tickets to both events are available for purchase online at Eventbrite. Search for "Dayton Days Rodeo 2021" and select either Friday, May 28 or Saturday, May 29. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for youth or seniors, and under 7 are free. Bring your purchase confirmation to the gate for admission wrist bands.

Due to COVID restrictions, just 275 seats in the grandstands are available for each performance. In the event all available seats are not sold prior to 4 p.m. the day of the show, those seats will be sold at the gate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rodeo-goers are encouraged to wear masks and practice physical distancing.

According to Bar X Ranches' Tucker Cool, who will announce performances both nights, there is a full card of 24 bull riders, and a waiting list.

There will be something for everyone. There will be Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Riding, Breakaway Roping, Local Tie Down Roping, Team roping, Goat tying, Bull riding, Chute Dogging, Junior Barrels and Barrel Racing.

Rodeo performances begin each night at 7 p.m. A slack rodeo will get underway about 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Local service clubs and vendors will be on hand for food and shopping, and if you want to give bull riding a shot, a mechanical bull will give you that chance, with a soft landing guaranteed. The Dayton Kiwanis Club, Dayton Lions Club and 4-H Marksmanship Club will have their booths open, and My Dad's Place and Blazin' Burgers will be offering their specialties.