Sharon Livingston

LONG CREEK – Sharon Livingston comes from a long line of Grant County ranchers, and it is very fitting that she will serve as the 2003 Grant County Fair Parade grand marshal.

Livingston’s been involved in Grant County Fair activities since she can remember, and first rode in the Fair parade at age 3.

“It’s one of the last family traditional things,” Livingston said. “The Fair was our life; we wouldn’t have missed a Grant County Fair for anything,” she said.

Life seemed to revolve around the county fair, she said, it was “the highlight of the year” as most people planned ahead to exhibit examples of the year’s activities such as baked bread and cake, sewing or crocheting.

As a youngster, the county fair was a “vacation” when her family stayed in a motel so they could attend the many activities including horse meets, 4-H competition, rodeos. Later, after she and Fred Livingston had married, their family was the first to camp in the orchard near the present-day Grant County Heritage building.

Sharon Livingston participated in 4-H activities for 10 years as a youth, a tradition passed to her own children, Rilla, Clayton and Fred. The boys also were involved in calf and team roping and some rodeoing. For a number of years she was a 4-H horse club leader. In addition, she served as president of the Grant County Cowbells and was a member of Eastern Star.

She comes from a long line of Fair Court participants – her mother had been a Grant County Fair princess in 1937, and also aunt Naomi (Gibbs) Bond served in that capacity. In 1953, Sharon was crowned Junior Rodeo Queen in May by selling tickets, then later was chosen as Grant County Fair Queen, according to horsemanship skills.

Her sister, Charlotte, was chosen Junior Rodeo Queen and later was queen of the only professional rodeo ever held in John Day. Cousins Pat McGirr Still and Betty McGirr Craven also were honored as Junior Rodeo queens. Sister Rilla Carter was a Junior Rodeo Queen and princess of Grant County Fair. In 1978 daughter Rilla Livingston followed suit when she was crowned Grant County Fair Queen and in 1979, Queen of Pendleton Round-Up.

Sharon Livingston taught school (elementary education, language arts and coached volleyball) around the area – Long Creek, Monument, Ontario – and ended her teaching career in 1998.

Today she still operates the Livingston Ranch, where she was raised, along with help from son, Fred. Ancestors have been in the Long Creek since the 1850s, beginning with C.W. Conger, then the Carters and Blackwells. Her parents were Leonard and Billie (Gibbs) Carter. Her maternal grandparents, George and Lottie Gibbs, were caretakers at Grant County Fairgrounds for several years beginning around 1950. Grandfather John Carter enjoyed judging the horse races.

The love of the Grant County Fair and carrying on the family tradition will continue as Sharon Livingston rides once again in the Grant County Fair Parade.