Fair and Rodeo return to Othello

OTHELLO – The annual Othello Fair and Rodeo returns to Adams County this week, with events running from today through Saturday, Sept. 13-16.

The fair brings a midway, carnival rides, live music, livestock, 4-H and FFA projects. There will also be typical “fair food,” such as elephant ears, funnel cakes, spoon tacos, burgers and much, much more.

And you won’t want to miss local farmers putting their skills to the test in the hay bucking contest.

In conjunction with the fair, the rodeo brings two types of horsepower – one featuring horses and one featuring a demolition derby.

The action gets underway in the rodeo arena tonight with the annual Demolition Derby. Time trials start at 5:30 p.m.

If you’re looking for natural horsepower, you’ll want to watch the action Thursday and Friday nights as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association brings its show to town.

The rodeo begins with an 8 p.m. grand entry each night, and includes traditional events like bull riding and barrel racing. But it will also include a wild cow event, as well as a performance by the EhCapa Bareback riders.

Rodeo clown and barrelman J.J. Harrison, formerly of Okanogan and now of Walla Walla, will also bring his antics to the arena.

The official bull fighters this year include “Dangerous” Danny Newman and Miles Barry.

The Friday night performance will be the last for Miss Rodeo Othello Annabell Cobb and her horse, Rocket Juice, which she affectionately calls “R.J.”

Cobb will be turning over the royal reins to the 2023-24 queen, who will be crowned Saturday. Pageant officials are withholding the new queen’s name until she’s crowned.

Outside the rodeo arena, several activities are planned for the rest of the week.

Today and Thursday, the open horse show takes place.

At 9 a.m. today, there will be the halter and showmanship competition. At 1 p.m., trail classes will be offered.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, horse rail classes will be offered, with gaming beginninga t 1 p.m.

Divisions for the horse show include youth walk/trot, youth 13 and younger, youth 14-17, adult 18-49 and adult older than 50.

In addition to the horse show, the fair will feature multiple livestock showmanship competitions, including Future Farmers of America I (freshman and sophomore) and FFAII (junior and senior).

Students will compete in beef, sheep, goats and swine categories. There are also competitions for rabbit, poultry and dairy showing.

This year’s livestock superintendents are Brad Boersma, beef; Jim Shade, dairy; Ryan Hollenbeck, sheep; Ryan Sams, swine; Kyya Grant, horse; Liz Hall, rabbit; Stephanie Melgren, pountry and Jessica Harper, goat.

In addition to the activities at the fairgrounds at Reynolds Road, the festivities will also include the Othello Grand Parade.

Parade entrants will check in at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of 13th and Olympia Streets; the parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday.