Fair kicks off 63rd Mockonema show

For the 63rd time, the citizens from across the Palouse Empire will “Meet Me at the Fair” to check out projects on display at Mockonema when the Palouse Empire Fair kicks off Thursday.

“There’s a little bit of magic happening right now,” said Fair Manager Bob Reynolds.

The fair starts its annual four-day run today. Events that are sure to dazzle the eye and boggle the imagination can be seen throughout the weekend at the Mockonema meadow.

Among its offerings are seven talented young women, hundreds of animals, scores of tempting food offerings and animal, vegetable and mineral projects from people all over the Inland Northwest.

Reynolds is expecting a big crowd this year, with fair entries as high as they have been in years. Last year’s fair brought 23,000 people through the gates.

“We’ve got a tremendous crop of people who are very committed to working on their projects, especially their animals,” said Reynolds.

That community involvement helps to make the Palouse Empire Fair one of the more admired by state fair officials, he added.

“Every city is well represented at our big little fair,” he said. “And those state fair officials always tell me how impressed they are at our turnout.”

Judging of hundreds of animals begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, and youngsters with their animals will be on their best throughout the fair, culminating in the Junior Market Stock Sale in the Youth Ag Pavilion at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Up-and-coming stock experts will show off their animal skills at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, in the Pee Wee Cowpokes show.

The fair officially kicks off at 10 a.m. today with opening ceremonies near the Miller’s bell at the fairgrounds’ main crossroads.

Grand Marshalls Randy and Paula Baldree will be honored at the kick-off. Randy, former long-time agent for the county’s WSU extension office, will speak about the strong ties between education and the fair.

The education connection will be further spotlighted with classroom events scheduled in the Jones Schoolhouse, which moved to the fairgrounds in 2010 from its 105-year home east of Dusty.

Young Rosalia crooner Collin Pittman will sing the national anthem at the opening ceremonies and has singing slots slated throughout fair weekend.

The Palouse Empire Fair’s royal court will be decided Friday night from among seven candidates hailing from all over the county.

Entertainment acts will beguile crowds from beneath the gazebo on the Wilbur-Ellis Performance Stage throughout the fair.

Hypnotist Jerry Harris returns with his crowd-pleasing antics, as do the cowboy song duo of Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue. Palouse Country Cowboy Poets take the stage Thursday afternoon to tell their time-worn tales of riding dusty trails.

Teens from all over the county can get together for a night of fun and music at the Whitman County Ag Instructors Association’s teen dance Saturday night in the Community Building.

Enthusiasts of twisty, turny, gravity-defying rides and carnival midway games can satisfy their need for thrills beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday.

A day pass at the gate costs $6 adults, $3 youth. Passes for the entire four-day run are $15 adults and $5 youth.

Many hit the stands for the rodeo action which kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday and continues at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, WSU football players and cheerleaders will bring in their traditional giant helmet to hand out and autograph posters.

The university’s College of Pharmacy will be at Thursday morning’s senior citizen pancake breakfast for a “brown bag” review of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacy students will review medicines for free with seniors to make sure they are taking them in the right combination and in proper doses.

Pharmacy students are also offering blood pressure and glucose tests, along with bone density measurements for free throughout Saturday and Sunday in their booth in the display building.