125 Years: A rich tradition marks fairgrounds
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 12:40 PM PDT
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| The red barn is one of the oldest buildings at the Malheur County Fairgrounds and is still one of the centers of activity during the fair and other events. The fair continues to be an important part of Malheur County life. |
ONTARIO — Nearing its 100th anniversary, the Malheur County Fair and the fairgrounds continue to play an important role in the Ontario community and Malheur County.
John Bertram, who developed the fairgrounds’ master plan, wrote that the Malheur County Agriculture Association was organized in 1909 and held the first fair, which was situated at the Boise-Payette lumber yard and the Old Red Front Livery barn on South Oregon Street that is about where Andrews Seed is now situated, Janeen Kressly, fair executive director, said.
In 1912, the fair was taken over by the county, and is one of the oldest shows in the West.
The fair moved to its present site in 1911. Once the agricultural association obtained the land, the first fair board added such facilities as the 1,500-seat grandstand built in 1911, the big red barn, a half-mile race track and an infield for various sporting events. While the grandstand still exists, the racing is long gone, and the infield is now used for rodeos, including one held during the fair.
Exhibit halls, 136 box stables and holding pens were also constructed. A deep well-equipped with electric pumps and a complete water system, furnished services seldom found on other county fairgrounds at the time, Bertram wrote. The Oregon State University Extension Service was established and became an integral part of the county fair, and one of the first activities of the extension service was to organize a county corn show to promote corn production. Agents helped develop the fair because of its connection to agriculture. Products displayed at the early fairs were much the same as they are now — corn, potatoes, grains, onions, sugar beets and fruits. The early displays were often heavily decorated. Besides the county fair, other activities at the grounds have included horse shows, livestock auctions, dances, circuses, receptions, education programs, farm and business shows. The log building on the fairgrounds was built in the late 1930s by volunteers who saw a need for a boys dormitory. Work parties cut logs in Idaho and hauled them to the site.
In 1915, the population of Malheur County was a little more than 8,000, and attendance at the fair on the best day was 5,000 people. The fair has been held every year except for during the war years — when there was only a junior livestock and exhibit show — and in 1947 when the fair was called off because of a polio epidemic.
In 1914, the fair was called the Ontario Corn Festival, and in the 1930s it was referred to as the Malheur County Fair and Owyhee Stampede.
Girvin Hall was built in 1960 and, early on, hosted many of the animal judging events, but additional arenas have been developed since then. Girvin Hall is still the site of the annual fair livestock auction. The commercial building was constructed in 1963 and is used to host commercial exhibits during the fair and wide range of activities. The other red barn has been reroofed and re-sided.
“Approximately 23,000 attend the fair annually,” Kressly said. “Many of the booth proceeds go toward scholarships and helping the community.
4-H and FFA members sell their animals to help pay for their college education. The fair brings many people to shop, stay in motels.”
