Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeSaturday, Aug. 16, 2008
Farm outfitter to be honored at Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo parade
By Mary Hopkin, Herald staff writer
As opening day of the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo nears, there always are last-minute equipment needs.
Fair Manager Lori Lancaster knows a phone call to Ranch & Home generally will solve the problem.
"The family is always there for us," Lancaster said.
That's why the Dress family, founders and owners of the area's Ranch & Home stores, were chosen as grand marshals of the 2008 Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo parade.
"It is a great honor for our family and we are proud to be the grand marshals," said Bill Dress, who runs the two stores with his brother, Jeff Dress.
George Dress, their father, opened the Pasco store in 1974, although he ran it from the family's home in Minnesota.
The brothers moved to the Tri-Cities from Minnesota in 1991 to run the Pasco Ranch & Home. George Dress and his wife, Mary, relocated to the Tri-Cities in 1994.
When the Pasco store opened it catered to the farmer, rancher and homeowner, so supporting the fair was a natural fit. And as the store's inventory diversified into clothing, boots, sporting goods, archery, hunting and pet supplies, the fit has become even better, the family said.
The Dress family, through Ranch & Home, sponsors a number of events throughout the Tri-Cities during the year, including concerts and motocross. And on Black Friday, the brothers are known to serve cookies and coffee to customers lined up next door at Shopko. Ranch & Home doesn't open early the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional first shopping day for Christmas.
If you ask them why, the answer is simple.
"They're our neighbors," said Bill Dress.
And to the Dress family, the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo is more like a close family friend.
"It's the biggest, best family event of the year," said Jeff Dress.
And the family tries to make sure the store is stocked and ready for whatever is needed for the rodeo cowboy, the 4-H'er or the fairgoer.
They know they'll have a run on plastic buckets and cowboy hats, but they'll also sell plenty of boots, animal feed, jeans and pearl-snapped western shirts. And it's the only local retailer that carries tickets for the fair
"We're really a one-stop shop for the fair," said Bill Dress.
And when Lancaster or a fair organizer calls needing something, they are quick to respond.
"Even if it's something they don't have, they'll help us find it," said Lancaster.
They've donated trailers for stages, safes for valuables, panels for the rodeo arena and much more.
The family said it's one way they give back to the community.
"The Tri-Cities has always been so good to us," said Bill Dress.
The Dress family, including George and Mary; Jeff, his wife, Tami, and their boys, George, 5, and Peter, 2; and Bill, his wife, Gina, and their three daughters, Brookelyn, 3, and twins Ashlyn and Dylan, 2, will lead off the parade in a horse-drawn carriage.
It will only be the second time the family has ever participated in the parade and they said they are looking forward to it. But nobody is more excited than the Dress' youngest generation.
"My oldest son, George, keeps saying, 'I'm going to be in the parade and you're not,' " said Jeff Dress.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. today at the corner of Dayton and First Streets in Kennewick. The route moves west down Dayton and turns north on Fruitland, then runs east down Kennewick Avenue turning south onto Auburn Street. The route ends at the corner of Auburn Street and Sixth Avenue.
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