82nd Asotin County Fair and Hells Canyon Rodeo draw a crowd
Apr. 28—ASOTIN — The population of this small town swelled significantly Saturday when families flocked to the 82nd Asotin County Fair and Hells Canyon Rodeo.
The parade, rodeo and carnival were huge draws, but the kids and animals stole the show in typical fashion. The livestock sale was still going strong when the sun went down, and the fairgrounds remained packed with generous bidders and anxious sellers.
One of the toughest parts about raising an animal for the fair is the day the critter gets sold. As youngsters prepared for the inevitable parting of ways, some were teary and others were doing the math to see if the profit was worth the pain.
"I get really sad," said Rylee Bunch, a 12-year-old Asotin student. "Making connections with animals is a big part of this. When I sell one, it's like breaking a piece off my heart. It makes me cry everytime."
Rylee, the daughter of Bill and Kimberly Bunch, was giving her pig, Penny, some last-minute hugs before the sale. This is the fourth time she's sold a pig at the Asotin County Fair.
"My favorite part is showing my animals," Rylee said. "That part makes me smile."
Claire Nichols, the 9-year-old daughter of Aaron and Jordan Nichols, was relieved to know her pet rabbits wouldn't be on the auction block. Angelica and Jewel will be going back to her Clarkston home when the fair wraps up today.
"I like rabbits because they aren't hard to control, and they're just like a companion you can be with," Claire said. "What I like about the fair is spending time with my friends and all of the activities."
In the poultry barn, an 11-year-old from Anatone was giving her heritage-breed speckled Sussex chicken, Beauty, some soft strokes and lots of praise for her colorful feathers and personality.
"I love these animals," said the daughter of Lynzie Sendra and Travis Hagenah. "I'm really excited about showing her this year. They are just such sweet creatures and really cool."
Over at the beef barn, Monte Franklin, an 11-year-old from Anatone, cuddled his heifer, Rose, as the afternoon festivities concluded. It's a long weekend for the kids and families involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, but Monte said it's worth it.
"I just like spending time with her," said the son of Sierra and David Franklin.
Other youngsters opted for a whirl on a mechanical bull or a spin on a carnival ride. Rodeo fans filled the grandstands during the afternoon, and will return today for the popular kids' events, which begin at 11:30 a.m. in the upper arena.
On Friday night, the Hells Canyon Rodeo got off to a heartbreaking start. A horse crashed into a fence post and had to be put down, officials said. The rider, who was carrying a sponsor flag, was taken away by ambulance and reportedly suffered a broken arm.
The rodeo announcer mentioned the dangers of the sport Saturday before the National Anthem was sung and a prayer was said for the participants and animals. A World War II fighter plane flew over the fairgrounds as the events began, drawing loud cheers from the patriotic fans.
The fair closes at 4 p.m. today. Hansford said the 2024 event has been successful and well received by the public. It's always held on the last weekend of April, officially kicking off the fair season in the state of Washington.
As always, the fair board president and other dedicated volunteers have devoted countless hours to the spring tradition. When the gates close and the barns are empty, they will celebrate the wins and shift their focus to 2025.
"It's a lot of work, but everyone involved is happy to do it for the kids and the county," Hansford said. "As soon as we get done, we'll start planning for the next one."
Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com. You can follow her on X @newsfromkerri.
