Fair run kicks off

The annual four-day run of the Palouse Empire Fair begins Thursday morning, with gates open at 8 a.m.

The 2019 fair will feature the dedication of the new rodeo grandstand, with ribbon cutting Friday at 6:30 p.m. before the opening rodeo session. Following is a performance by Wylie and the Wild West, playing from a flatbed truck in the arena.

A change this year is the queen's coronation/Palouse Empire Fair Scholarship Program moving from Friday night to Thursday night at 6 p.m., with six girls representing their towns in the competition.

The fair's first morning will feature sheep and beef judging as third-graders around the county arrive on buses for the traditional third-grade day.

The opening ceremony for the fair is at 10 a.m. at the flag pole.

The carnival opens at 4 p.m. Thursday to run until 9 p.m.

On Friday, horse western games begin at 9 a.m. in the rodeo arena along with FFA swine fitting and showing at the youth ag pavilion and beef fitting and showing at the beef barn.

The Friday night rodeo begins at 7 p.m. Wylie and the Wild West are expected to go on near 9 p.m.

Saturday at the fair brings the livestock sale at 11:30 a.m. at the youth ag pavilion, among many other activities and entertainment. After Saturday's 7 p.m. rodeo session, The Hankers will play in front of the grandstand.

Sunday's last day features the small animal round robin at the poultry barn, a 10 a.m. church service at the Gazebo and a 12 p.m. parade of champions, also at the gazebo. At 2:30 p.m. at the sheep barn is the annual “Parents Turn at the Halter.”

The fair closes Sunday at 4 p.m.