IN THE DARK

President Doug (and in fairness, all the rest of us) was even more in the dark than usual during Tuesday\'s meeting. Instead of our usual brightly lit meeting room at the Gateway, our meeting took place on the dance floor in the bar at Johnny\\\'s without benefit of the usual strobe lights. Candles would definitely have been an improvement.

VINTIQUES BINGO SUCCESSFUL

Jack Gilbert announced that last weekend\'s Bingo fundraiser at the Vintiques was successful. The effort raised $840 for our community service fund that would otherwise not have been available.

IT\\\'S CHILI TIME AGAIN

Barb Greco reported that it\'s time for our Second Annual Kiwanis Chili Cook-off. This year\'s event will be on August 22 at Idea Marketing.

Last year\'s competition was intense, with the inimitable Spencer Hatton taking top honors. All the chili was great, the beverages were cold, and a good time was had by all!

Mark your calendars and dust off your chili recipes!

BYLAW CHANGE APPROVED

The membership approved a change in our bylaws reducing the number of Board members. This change reflects the membership reduction our club has experienced over the years and the increasing difficulty of filling out the larger Board.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON FAIR--YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW

Long-time community activist and Central Washington Fair Board member, Curtis King provided Tuesday\'s program about the Fair\'s history and plans for the future.

The first fair was sponsored by several businessmen in 1892 a downtown store. Later, state officials debated about where to locate the state capitol. Yakima was in the running, but politics prevailed. The capitol stayed in Olympia and Yakima got the state fair and $10,000 for buildings and land as the consolation prize.

Before long, the locals had bought 120 acres and within a later had stands for 2000 people, exhibit hall, racetrack, judges stand.

The fair started as a successful venture, but failed to perform in the 1930\\\'s. The Legislature abolished the state fair after 1936. In 1939, 45 people started the fair again in September. Each of them kicked in $5, formed Board and sold stock $5 per share. That was the start of the Central Washington Fair Association.

The revived far was a great success and expanded to four days. However, the governor declared that no fair should be held from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. The fair resumed in 1946.

In 1955, legislature authorized sale of the land to Yakima County for $35,000. As usual, the County didn’t have the money. So, the Fair Association came up with $35,000 and gave the money to the County. The County purchased land and leased it to Fair association for $1000 per year for 35 years with one lump sum payment or $35,000.

The moral of this story is that Yakima County had creativity in financing long before Doug Cochran was in the picture.

The Fair Board consists of ten members, including manager Greg Stewart who is internationally known. Stewart is the current president of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions and is a member of their hall of Fame.

Activities at the fairgrounds generate over $20 million of economic impact to the valley each year. There are over 230 events every year on the grounds.

The Board has just completed a study to review what they can do with 70 acres in the back lot now that horse racing has died. They are now in a financial feasibility study.

Among the options under consideration: A new exhibition building with 25-30,000 square feet to hold larger exhibits; a softball complex; upgrades of equestrian facilities including a covered riding arena; Upgrading banquet facilities to serve more people; commercial facilities, including an improved RV park and possibly a motel on the edge of the fairgrounds.

The fair currently has 200 RV hookups that are hard to get to. One party is showing interest in bringing back horse racing, but it\\\'s a long shot. Kind said that the city\'s renewal community zone designation and the fact that the fairgrounds are within that zone give them opportunities to take advantage of all the things that designation offers.

The association is starting the first stages of the Sundome remodel to accommodate the state high school basketball tournament crowds. Those tournaments bring in $2-2.5 million a year, but more seating is needed to keep them in Yakima.

Yakima was recently awarded the 2A tournament again for three years in addition to landing the 1A tournament. Our own Gene Rostvold has played a major role in making those tournaments successful.

Sen. Deccio got $1.25 million last year from the Legislature and Loofburrow is working on how to revamp seating. The Board has asked the architects to look at what they need to do to make it a modern facility at the same time. The Board is now working on funding and talking with Yakima and Union Gap.

Future phases include changing the entrance to the north side of the building and adding meeting and assembly areas. All are contingent on raising the funds.

Email this page to a friend: