Palouse Empire Fair opens today

Everything from home-grown flowers, home-baked bread, delicious chocolate and canned goods, to cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits and horses along with bucking broncs and bulls is ready for the Palouse Empire Fair which opens today.

Entertainment this year includes the Olson Bros Band which will perform two sets on Friday at the Wilbur-Ellis gazebo at 5 and 9 p.m.

Strictly Business, the Ultimate Party Band, takes the stage Saturday at 5 and 9 p.m.

The gates open bright and early today at 8 a.m. starting with the Senior Citizens Pancake Breakfast served by Whitman County elected officials in the Community Building.

Judging begins at 8:30 with sheep market classes and poultry, beef, swine and horses. Judging continues throughout the day.

Opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the flagpole.

Carnival rides begin at 4 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. The carnival operates all four days of the fair and offers rides and concessions for fairgoers of all ages.

At 7 p.m. tonight, the 4H Fashion Revue will be in the Community Building Auditorium. After the revue, WSU 4H Extension will celebrate its 100th anniversary by serving cake and ice cream from Ferdinand's. They are seeking items for a time capsule and people are encouraged to bring them Thursday evening for the celebration.

Gates close at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Friday is "Family Day," with gates open at 8 a.m.

Judging begins at 8:30 and continues for most of the day. Activities such as fitting and showing and costume classes continue throughout the day.

At 2 p.m., the Rodeo Queen Horsemanship Contest will be in the Outdoor Arena. Courtney Devorak, Sydney Farnsworth and Kyrah Turner are competing for the rodeo queen title.

The Miss Palouse Empire Fair Queen's Contest and crowning of the queen will begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Building.

The Palouse Empire Fair Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Rodeo sessions are also booked Saturday and Sunday in the arena.

New to the fair this year are beer and wine gardens which will be open Friday and Saturday. Two locations will be available, one near the Wilbur-Ellis gazebo which will be open from 4 to about 11 p.m., and the other next to the arena grandstands which will be open from 7 to 9 p.m.

Saturday starts out with a Cowboy Breakfast at the Shriner's Booth.

The 4H Dog show also begins first thing in the morning at Old McDonald's Barn.

By 8:30 a.m., 4H/FFA Tractor Driving Contest will be held in the outdoor arena, followed by a Play Day Horse Show in the arena.

Judging and costume classes will be held throughout the morning. Goat Games are at 4 p.m. in the Goat Barn.

The Junior Market Stock Sale will be held in the Youth Ag Pavilion at 12:30 p.m.

At 1 p.m., the Rodeo Queen's Speech Contest will be held in the Community Building.

The Palouse Empire Rodeo entertains crowds starting at 7 p.m. at the Outdoor Arena.

A Relay for Life Breakfast will be Sunday morning followed by a Church Service at 10:30 a.m.

At noon, the Presentation of Champions and Special Fair Awards will be at the Wilbur-Ellis Performance Stage.

The rodeo starts at 2 p.m. The 19th Annual "OL' Fogies" Fitting and Showing Contest in the Sheep Barn is at 2:30 p.m. and at 3 p.m. a pig raffle will be in the Old McDonald's Barn.

The fair closes at 5 p.m. Sunday.