The Umatilla County Fair Board announced its 2019 fair theme, honored volunteers and named the new fair court during the annual Appreciation Dinner held Saturday at the Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center.
The theme for this summer’s fair will be “Strong Roots & Cowboy Boots.”
During Saturday’s dinner, the fair board thanked all of the 2018 fair sponsors, current and previous fair superintendents, previous volunteer award winners, past grand marshals, past board members, past fair court, ambassadors and chaperones and all who volunteered or contributed in anyway.
Fair Board Chairman Lucas Wagner served as the evening’s emcee along with the other six fair board directors – Vice-Chair Steve Anderson, Directors Bob Wolfe, Mel Keely, Micheal Hampton, and John Eckhardt. Although absent from the ceremony, 2019 board member Luke Dynes was also introduced.
Two new board-elect members, Steve Wallace and Doug Bennett were introduced for the first time. They will be shadowing the fair board during this year’s fair, prior to the official start of their terms on Jan. 1, 2020. Fair Coordinator Angie McNalley closed the program by thanking the fair board and their families for helping her fulfill her duties, calling them the “hardest working volunteer employees around.”
The outgoing 2018 fair court crowned and introduced the incoming 2019 fair court princesses. They are Princess Madison Pryor, 15, of Pendleton; Princess Kyleigh Sepulveda, 15, of Hermiston; and Princess Nive Hamilton, 15, of Hermiston. Alice Newman will, again, serve as fair court chaperone.
Awards
2019 Grand Marshal: Dan and Terri Dorran of Hermiston
2018 Female Volunteer of the Year: Terrie Dennis of Weston
2018 Male Volunteer of the Year: David Fesler of Milton Free-Water.
2018 Business Partnership Award: Miguel Velasco of Velasco Used Car Sales in Hermiston
Fair Board Special Recognition – Steve Wallace of Western Ag Improvement in Hermiston
The 2019 Main Stage fair concert lineup will be announced in the upcoming months with tickets going on sale in the spring.
