Dorran says fair is close to outgrowing EOTEC

By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 24th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY – The Umatilla County Fair stands strong in spite of the pandemic. Commissioner Dan Dorran said that the fair is not just the premier youth beef show of the Pacific Northwest. It’s the best for the entire West Coast.

“We just weighed in 79 steers for this year’s Umatilla County fair,” he said. “The highest ever before was 54.”

Dorran said that he learned at a recent fair board meeting that there are 122 new participants enrolled this year for 4-H. That growth is a sign that some expansion might be needed.

“We’re busting at the seams of a facility that was built five years ago and had a 15-year vision,” he said of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center.

He said other fairs in the state have also had good years, but still more did not. “There are a lot of them that are just not blessed with the community support that we have from sponsors and volunteers,” he said. “I’m humbled every time I talk about the fair, to be honest with you.”