Kittitas Valley Event Center Barns & Bloom Pavilion Project-Kitt Co

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The Ellensburg Rodeo opens every Labor Day weekend along with hair. the Kittitas County Fair.The Ellensburg Rodeo has grown from a They tried to feed all participants,with a ton of meat,some local competition among ranch hands to the professional event of bread and more. today with over 500 contestants and prize money in excess of They ran out of food and had to buy all the food from every $250,000.Within the Pacific Northwest the Ellensburg Rodeo is local store. second in size only to the Calgary Stampede in Calgary,Alberta,and The businessmen laughed at their mistake,as their wallets shed is considered to be one of America's top 25 rodeos.a tear. The agenda changed in the next 12 months,the fair resumed The Spot Beneath the Hill (Shwoowtookpama)again,next year. 1917 through 1919 was canceled,because of World War One. The Native Americans gathered here,at the spot beneath the With family at war,who could have a fair and still have any fun? hill.The 1920 fair resumed,in a vacant woolen mill they say. Their spirit continues on today,and like tradition,always will.Which is now the Boise-Cascade Building.And stands proudly, With a twist of fate and progress,each year we return to gather still today. here.After World War One,the county's first extension agent became We come to compete and enjoy displays,at the spot we hold so involved. dear.W.Leonard Dave was his name,now their problems would be The first recorded fair took place in 1885.solved. With the re-union of Civil War Vets,who were happy to survive.The 1920 and 21 fairs were a success in every way. The Grand Army of the Republic Vets would re-unite in the They were getting better,every year,which continues on today. summer air.In 1922,Davis would drum up interest on permanent grounds. In conjunction with their re-union,they would hold a county The movement would spread like a prairie fire and grow leaps fair.and bounds. The fair took place near Leonhard's bridge,in a grove,one mile The Ellensburg Evening Readers Editor,Clifford Kaynor,joined from town.the crew. The event lost money,but the county knew that would never With leaders like this behind the wheel,things are easier to do. slow them down.A committee was formed from county agents,parks department After that,they met in different spots,and their enthusiasm and even two schools. grows.From businessmen's clubs and the farm bureau,this committee The 1906 Street Fair displayed exhibits,in downtown store would have all the tools. windows.A second committee was formed as well this team would search The First Annual Kittitas County Fair was held in 1912 with for a permanent site. pride.With Senator McCauley,Davis and Kaynor,they knew that They had no official fairgrounds,they took their problem on in things would get done right. stride.Six sites were found to fit the bill,but there was one more In 1914 a huge tent was used for all exhibits until dark.problem at hand. All the games and races were held at the location of the old ball The state would not allow any counties to purchase,or to own park.land. In 1915,The Harvest Festival was held in place of the fair.Senator McCauley introduced a bill for the state to change their Which left 50 local businesses scrambling and pulling out their tune. 2