RECORD-BREAKING WASHINGTON CO. FAIR COMES TO A CLOSE
The 154th Washington County Fair has concluded, and it is one that is sure to be remembered for years to come.
Numerous records were broken over the span of the 2022 fair, from queen candidate tickets to the Junior Livestock Auction.
Fair President Keith Mikolajchak says this year is a testament to how much the community backs the fair and local youth.
(Mark Whitehead)
Unofficial totals provided by Mikolajchak show this fair had paid attendance numbers of 52,521 from Wednesday to Saturday, including around 15,500 people on the final day. In comparison, 2021’s reported fair attendance was 37,647, while 2019 drew 46,884 guests, 2018 saw 46,936 and 2017 had 47,522.
The fair got underway on Saturday, September 10th with the parade through downtown Brenham and the queen’s crowning. Ribbon Jones received the honor of being named fair queen after selling 3,666 tickets for a record $146,655. All three queen candidates together sold 7,912 tickets for $316,495, also a new record. The Little and Junior Mister and Miss Contests were held on Wednesday, and the winners were Claire Schulte and Collin Wilson as Little Miss and Mister and Brooklyn Gaertner and Braeden Brewster as Junior Miss and Mister.
(Mark Whitehead)
The Junior Livestock Auction on Friday drew unofficial totals of $1,150,150 for 260 lots, passing $1 million in sales for the first time in the fair’s history. Combining the Junior Livestock Auction with Saturday’s commercial heifer sale and country creations sale, unofficial tallies are $2,467,000.
Mikolajchak said the community’s contribution means even more with this summer’s drought hurting many producers.
On the music side, a lineup of Jacob Boyd, Michael Salgado, the Read Southall Band, Flatland Cavalry, Drew Parker and “Roots & Boots” – Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye – entertained fairgoers throughout the event.
KWHI and KTEX-106 appreciate the support of all those who stopped by and spun the Wagon Wheel of Prizes at the fair, as the two stations raised $1,100. The proceeds will go to the Washington County Firefighters Association.