Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008

60 years of county fair memories

By Mary Hopkin, Herald staff writer

A white glass display holds 60 years of Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo memories for Dave Garrett, including a browned newspaper clipping announcing the organization of the first fair board.

"It was a big deal," said Garrett, of Kennewick, who attended that first fair and has made it part of his regular summer schedule since. "People were really excited about it. We didn't have the boat races and nearly everyone in the community turned out for it. It was the entertainment for the year."

That was in 1948, when the rodeo grounds were portable panels wrapped around a patch of dusty ground behind the high school football field. The first fair featured vaudeville shows, a small carnival, a parade and a few tents for exhibits.

A plate of homegrown apples, a jar of canned fruit, a loaf of fresh-baked bread or items that could be entered to be exhibited on the folding tables inside the tents got you in for free, Garrett said.

A lot has changed since that first fair, but Garrett's fair routine has remained pretty consistent since he joined the Benton-Franklin Mounted Sheriff's Posse, which organized the rodeo portion of the fair and initially helped build the original fairgrounds buildings.

Posse riders help at the rodeo and provide dawn-to-dusk horseback security of the grounds as well.

By the following year, the fair had acquired 17 acres at the end of 10th Street that was littered with abandoned cars and trash.

The posse cleared the land and carved out a quarter-mile track for car and horse racing, built the grandstands and barns, and put up power poles.

So in 1949, when the first fair court participated in the opening ceremonies, the cowgirls rode around a proper arena.

Marilyn Oliver Hyde, of Kennewick, and Joi McNamara, of Tumwater, were princesses in that first court. The young cowgirls didn't know each other at the time they were chosen to be on the court, but it was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted nearly six decades.

"Everything was brand new -- it even smelled new," said McNamara.

McNamara said more than 10 girls tried out for that first court and it was an experience she still treasures.

"We had to ride in front of the judges and answer questions."

Hyde, who had always enjoyed riding the dusty trails along the Rattlesnake Hills, decided to try out on a lark, but said she was surprised when she was chosen to be on the court.

"I was a little chubby, but they said I was the best rider, so I felt really good about it," she said.

When the girls tried out for the court, neither knew how much time and commitment the job would take -- or what an adventure it would be.

Dressed in blue gabardine pants, light blue satin shirts and crowned in buckskin cowboy hats, the girls hit every rodeo from Pendleton to Toppenish to Wallula.

"The sheriff's posse went with us and we had chaperones," said McNamara. "We didn't have to do much except be there on time and ride in the parade and in the rodeo entry."

Oh, and promote the fair through speaking engagements at every civic club throughout the area.

"We went to every Kiwanis and every other service organization on the side of Yakima, and to Walla Walla -- all of them," said Hyde. "We had a piano player and a gal that sang, and we had a different part of the fair we spoke about."

Hyde rode a big palomino that would rear on cue and she and McNamara would shoot of guns -- when they got the chance.

The chaperones had other ideas of how the young cowgirls should act.

"We all wanted to participate in the fair, not just sit up there and wave our hands -- we didn't want to be decorative, we wanted to do stuff," said Hyde.

Both women are looking forward to the 60th anniversary edition of the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo this year. They planned to kick it off by riding a float together in the fair parade Saturday.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," McNamara said.

And they'll likely get to meet this year's rodeo court.

"Today's courts are so far beyond us," said Hyde. "They are so bright, so beautiful, I couldn't compete with them. They have so much confidence and are absolutely outstanding."

Although McNamara hasn't been to the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo in years, Hyde has become a fixture, though not on horseback.

"I've been involved with it in so many ways -- master gardeners, Red Cross, the East Benton County Museum, 4-H," she said. "The main thing I do now is the Republican booth and getting our elected officials to come out there. That's very important."

The Benton County Fair & Rodeo is Tuesday through Saturday. Fair hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Parking is $5.

The Demolition Derby begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday and admission is $10 for general admission and $12 for reserved seating.

Carnival ride bracelets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate.

Kid's Day is Wednesday and admission is $2 for children 6-12.