The History of Our Fair

If you were a part of our fair in its past and would like to share your experiences, please contact us.  We would love to have you be a part of our recorded history.

The West Valley Fair was created in 1951 in an effort to give 4-H, and later FFA, exhibitors practice and confidence to participate in larger fairs in the area.   Many of the younger 4-H members were not participating in these shows.  It was thought that a one day "practice" show would give these younger members a chance to see what showing was all about.

The Ahtanum Grange, a number of 4-H club leaders, mothers and dads, and other organizations such as the Munatha Club accepted the challenge of creating the fair to "sort of let the kids get their feet wet".  With the blessings of the Yakima County Extension Service, as well as support from area merchants, the fair was born.

The first 18 West Valley Fairs took place in the community of Ahtanum.   In 1969, due to a lack of space, the fair was moved, buildings and all, to the Tampico Saddle Club site, located in Wiley City, about 2 miles west of Ahtanum.   There, with the cooperation of the Tampico Saddle Club, the fair has continued to grow.

We hope that you enjoy reading about the history of our fair.

1951 

1952  August 8th

1953  August 7th

1954

1955  July 30th

1956  August 11th

1957  August 3rd

1958  August 22nd & 23rd

1959  August 14th & 15th

1960  August 19th & 20th

1961  August 10th, 11th, & 12th

1962  August 8th, 9th, & 10th

1963  August 7th (Horse show);  August 8th, 9th, & 10th

1964  August 11th & 12th (Horse show);   August 13th 14th, & 15th (Main fair)

1965  August 10th & 11th (Horse show);   August 12th, 13th, & 14th (Main fair)

1966  August 9th & 10th (Horse show); August 11th, 12th, & 13th (Main fair)

1967  August 8th & 9th (Horse show);   August 10th, 11th, & 12th (Main fair)

1968  July 27th & 28th (Horse show);   August 8th, 9th, & 10th (Main fair)

1969  August 7th, 8th, & 9th (Main fair)

1970  August 5th (Horse show);  August 6th, 7th & 8th  (Main fair)

1971  August 4th (Horse show);  August 5th, 6th & 7th (Main fair)

1972  August 2nd (Horse show);  August 3rd, 4th, & 5th (Main fair)

1973  August 1st (Horse show);  August 2nd, 3rd, & 4th (Main fair)

1974  August 7th (Horse show);  August 8th, 9th, & 10th (Main fair)

1975  August 6th (Horse show);  August 7th, 8th, & 9th (Main fair)

1976  August 4th (Horse show);  August 5th, 6th, & 7th (Main fair)

1977  August 2nd & 3rd (Horse show); August 4th, 5th, & 6th (Main fair)

1978  August 1st & 2nd (Horse show); August 3rd, 4th, & 5th (Main fair)

1979  July 31st & August 1st (Horse show);   August 2nd, 3rd, & 4th (Main fair)

1980  August 5th & 6th (Horse show);   7th, 8th, & 9th (Main fair)

1981  August 11th & 12th (Horse show);   August 13th, 14th, & 15th (Main fair)

1982  August 3rd & 4th (Horse show); August 5th, 6th, & 7th (Main fair)

1983  August 2nd & 3rd (Horse show);   August 4th, 5th, & 6th (Main fair)

1984  July 31st & August 1st (Horse show)   August 2nd, 3rd, & 4th (Main fair)

1985  July 30th, 31st (Horse show); August 1st, 2nd, & 3rd (Main fair)

1986  July 26th & 27th (Horse show);   July 31st, August 1st, & 2nd (Main fair)

1987  August 6th, 7th, & 8th (Main fair)

1988  August 2nd & 3rd (Horse show); August 4th, 5th, & 6th (Main fair)

1989  August 3rd, 4th, & 5th (Main fair)

1990  August 2nd, 3rd,& 4th (Main fair)

1991  August 1st, 2nd, & 3rd (Main fair)

1992  August 6th, 7th, & 8th (Main fair)

1993  August 5th, 6th, & 7th (Main fair)

1994  July 30th (Horse show);  August 4th, 5th, & 6th (Main fair)

1995  July 29th (Horse show);  August 3rd, 4th, & 5th (Main fair)

1996  July 27th (Horse show);  August 1st, 2nd, & 3rd (Main fair)

1997  July 26th (Horse show);  July 31st, August 1st & 2nd (Main fair)

1998  July 25th (Horse show);  July 30th & 31st; August 1st (Main fair)

1999 July 31st (Horse show);  August 5th, 6th, & 7th (Main fair)