JOHN DAY — At this very moment …

Someone is giving a pig a bath, spooning grandma’s jam into jars or painting signs for a parade float.

And someone at the Grant County Fair and Rodeo office is probably answering the phone. Again.

It must be almost fair time!

With the theme “Tipping Our Hats to 115 Years of Tradition,” the 2024 Grant County Fair is Aug. 7-10 at the fairgrounds in John Day.

Rodeo first

Just can’t wait? The Grant County Rodeo is set for the weekend before, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3, at the fairgrounds’ Iron Triangle Arena.

Pre-rodeo events start at 6 p.m., with the Idaho Cowboys Association taking over the main action at 7 p.m. More than $11,000 in added money is at stake.

Local events include the cowhide race, breakaway and barrel race. Other activities rounding out the fun are goat roping on Friday and the queens dance on Saturday at Center Stage, with live music by Cheyenne West.

Nightly admission is $12 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and older, and for kids 12 and under. VIP passes, which include dinner by the Snaffle Bit, are $35.

This year’s stock contractor is Superior Rodeo Company and the announcer will be Jim Bob Custer.

Also, the junior rodeo is Sunday, Aug. 4, 9:30 a.m. at Iron Triangle Arena.

Traditions reign

Traditions are front and center at this year’s Grant County Fair with exhibits, animal showmanship, livestock auction and, of course, lots of fair food.

Returning favorite activities: the Ranchers Breakfast 7-9 a.m. Saturday, the Best Pie Contest at 1:30 p.m. Saturday (with auction to follow), and the Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers performing toe-tapping and swing-your-partner tunes daily.

Once again, kids take the spotlight with their own parade at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9. The KJDY/Dairy Queen Parade is open to youngsters up to sixth grade; ribbons and treats will be awarded afterward.

The main parade steps out at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, with Mt. Vernon native, the late Sue Lemons, memorialized as grand marshal. This year’s fair queen is 2024 Grant Union High School graduate Lavina Kiser of Mt. Vernon. Cash prizes up for grabs are the sweepstakes award, $100, best theme, $75, and first place, $50.

Back this year, too, are the popular Hamsher Fighting Bulls at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Iron Triangle Outdoor Arena. Tickets are $10 per person.

New events include dance lessons by Daniel and Lucinda on Wednesday evening; Curbside Cravings Hotwing contest and the Les Schwab Cornhole Tournament, both on Thursday night; and Matt Henry’s Big Bubble and Trained Human shows at various locations and times throughout the fair.

New features at the fairgrounds include a 100-foot zipline for all ages to enjoy and a large picnic shelter and stage.

Also, the Family Fun Center with inflatables and zip lines will be open 4-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2-10 p.m. Friday and 1-10 p.m. Saturday.

Music in the air

Fairgoers will be treated to live performances every evening: The James Gang at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Andrew Matthews Band at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jacob Westfall of Portland for the “after concert” Friday night, and Trent Beaver and the Damage around 9 p.m. Saturday after the Hamsher Fighting Bulls show. All performances will be at Center Stage.

Also, get ready for Sawyer Brown, headlining this year’s featured concert Friday night. The popular country band’s lengthy list of hits includes “Six Days on the Road,” “The Race is On,” “This Time,” “Step by Step” and the sentimental ballad, “All These Years.” They’ve received numerous accolades and awards from all major music associations.

Formed in 1981, three of the original members are still with the band: Mark Miller, Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard and Joe “Curly” Smyth. Shane Hill joined the group in 2004.

Fun fact: Sawyer Brown originally called themselves Savanna, but they soon discovered another group had the same name. So, they changed it to the name of the Nashville, Tennessee, street where they practiced: Sawyer Brown Road.

Their newest album, “Desperado Troubadour,” was released in March, and included the hit “Under This Ole Hat,” a nod to the group’s years on the road.

Opening the show is The Cadillac Three, whose music genres include southern, hard and country rock. They, too, boast original members — Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason and Kelby Ray — who’ve been together since 2011.

Their sixth and latest album, “The Years Go Fast,” was released last October.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, for the concert in the Iron Triangle Outdoor Arena. Music starts at 7 p.m.

Presale tickets are $45 for general admission and $15 for children 12 and under. The cost is $5 more the day of the concert.

Details, details

The ringleader behind everything is fair manager Mindy Winegar, who began working at the fair in 2015 as the office assistant and became manager two years later.

Winegar said fair staff are especially excited about this year’s concert lineup, adding she hopes everyone gets their tickets for this year’s “double headliner.”

One thing she and the staff look forward to each year is the people.

“The fair is the one gathering where everyone comes together and puts all their differences aside,” Winegar said.

Daily fair admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors over 65 and children ages 6-12; and free for children 5 and under. Wednesday is free for everyone; veterans and first responders get in free on Thursday.

Family Fun Center bracelets are $20, good for the whole week, or $10 per day.

Pavilion hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and noon-8 p.m. on Saturday.

For open class, livestock, parade and contest entry forms and fees; the 2024 fair guide and other general information, call 541-575-1900, visit the Grant County Fair and Rodeo office, 411 NW Bridge St. in John Day, or search grantcountyoregon.net.

For admission tickets to the fair, and to the major performances and concerts, visit tinyurl.com/ym3tmamt.