NE WA Fair

04/24/2026

04/24/2026

If you would like to sponsor an event for one of the Days of the Show--let me know- You get to hang banner in the arena and I will have a flag printed for you- It is $500 per day and i have both days of the barrel racing- both days of the steer wrestling and both days of the Tie Down Roping and Both days of the Team Roping- Thanks you for all the support- Tanner Laws will headline the dance on Saturday evening--Google his music--and notice he has local talent playing with him

03/13/2026

Lets get these tickets sold--hit me up

Contact any of the kids in the Beef Barn--Allison Cornwall- Dr Jenna Barker- or call the fair office 509 684 2585 i will get you in touch

03/13/2026

Dirt Works:
We are excited to announce that we will be participating in the Kaniksu Loyalty Award Program. Additionally Dirt Works is offering a prize of $200 for Grand and $100 for Reserve for Showmanship for all participants that sign up for the Lotalty Program with us. Please contact us if you want more information. KFdirtworks.com

02/20/2026

Such a sweet soul

02/18/2026

Rod Cool

Well things are still runnin’ amuck on the other side of the hill in the hallowed halls of our state government. Don’t know what blue pill those folks are takin’ but from my point of view it seems like it is workin’. But I don’t want to think about that anymore this mornin’. In a few short minutes after postin’ this, I’m jumpin’ in the pickup and headin’ off to my new job. Those of you that know me well figured that this retirement thing wouldn’t stick and you were right.
I started a couple weeks ago as a brand inspector for the WSDA which means I go to livestock auctions to ensure that the folks sellin’ the cattle and horses are theirs based on bills of sale and registered brands. Mondays its Stockland in Davenport and Wednesdays its Central Washington Livestock in Moses Lake and then field inspections and special sales in-between. What it does is give me a front row seat to the last bastion of capitalism and free markets, a livestock auction house. Fair Market Value is determined by what the market will bear and the supply and demand curves I learned about from the likes of Dr. LeRoy Rogers and Dr. Wallace A. Rehberg at good ol’ WAZZU when they still taught agriculture. Now everyone is concerned about the cost of beef in the store. It was the lead story on the news I watched last night. They interviewed a number of shoppers outside a grocery store and asked their opinions. They all seemed to agree that the retail price of beef cuts was too high. Buts let’s dive into the why. Prices that ranchers and producers are receiving at the markets I work are getting more money than they ever have in history. This is due to a number of factors but mostly supply and demand. In the US ranchers have roughly the same amount of momma cows as they did in 1970. In 1970 my dad and mom ran cows and received a whoppin’ 39 cents a pound when we weaned those whiteface calves and hauled them to Quincy or Okanogan to sell. The reason the cow herd has shrunk to these record lows is based on a few factors droughts and blizzards that killed off a large of number of cattle and ranchers forced to sell down their herds to keep them from dying. High Input costs. The same pickup my dad could buy in 1970 was $4000 and today it’s around 90K. The costs have driven some ranchers out of the business. Lack of available pasture. Ranchers need grass to run cattle. Urban Sprawl, Government programs, WDFW land purchases have all reduced the amount of available grass. Apex predators have led to some ranchers throwin’ up their hands and callin’ it quits. Add to these borders closed because of screwworm, consolidation in the packing industry and a few other reasons and we have the smallest cow herd since 1970. Beef is in high demand because it tastes good and is the most nutrient dense food available. And most folks aren’t yet willin’ to trade beef for chicken or pork on a wholesale basis. According to Rogers and Rehberg, if supply is constrained and demand remains the same prices rise. And that is what’s happenin’ it’s not anyone’s fault and it’s not the ranchers simply raisin’ the price because that isn’t how it works.
So, hang in there, not every rancher is sellin’ their heifers and that means the cow herd will start to increase but that takes a while, so you’ll have to budget on your meat purchases. Or you could buy a freezer and go directly to a rancher and buy one and have it custom butchered and keep your food dollars local. I personally think this is the best way to shop. You get a variety of cuts. You have food security knowin’ that you locked in a price and now have it on hand in case things keep trendin’ upwards. And nothin’ tastes better than home raised beef. Beef it’s what’s for dinner and that’s the bottom line. Just a fat guy’s thoughts on Wednesday. Good Luck and may the Good Lord take a likin’ to ya.

02/15/2026

Contact any of the kids in the Beef Barn--Allison Cornwall- Dr Jenna Barker- or call the fair office 509 684 2585 i will get you in touch

02/12/2026

Washington State 4-H - WSU
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🍀 Apply Now for Springtime Youth Calf Sale Grant and Scholarship
The Springtime Youth Calf Sale offers two opportunities for youth in the Washington 4-H Dairy project. Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities!
Calf Sale Grant: provides a $500 grant to qualified 4-H members to help with the purchase of a registered dairy project heifer. Applications are due February 23rd. Visit the Calf Sale Grant Page for more information and details on how to apply: https://extension.wsu.edu/4h/events/sycs-grant-2026/
Calf Sale Scholarship: provides two-$500 scholarships for youth who plan to or are currently attending a two- or four-year college. Applications are due March 2nd. Visit the Calf Sale Scholarship Page for more information and application requirements: https://extension.wsu.edu/.../springtime-youth-calf-sale.../