The faces of the Grant County Fair

Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Cass Stewart, 15, serves a Pineapple Peak drink while volunteering in the Youth Dynamics booth.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy of Corrections Phillip Coats attends his fifth Grant County Fair. Coats said his favorite part of the event is connecting with community members in a positive setting.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Representatives of the Wanapum Heritage Center, from left, Stacey Stanley, Jessica Massingale, River Buck and Nikkia Owlmanchild, welcome visitors at the Grant County Fair. Owlmanchild, who has participated for nearly 20 years, said each fair brings a new adventure.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Jeff Sursely marks his 30th year attending the Grant County Fair. Sursely said his favorite part is watching exhibitors celebrate their animals.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Vegetable judge Andrea Elliott examines entries during judging at the Grant County Fair. Elliott, who has judged the competition for six years, said she especially enjoys hearing the stories children share about growing their projects from seed.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Oaklee Vallare, 12, mists her pig, Mikey, to keep him cool. Vallare said she enjoys raising pigs and appreciates Mikey’s goofy personality.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Cole Quilter, 14, stands with his Broad Breasted White turkey, while answering questions from a judge. Quilter has been raising turkeys since he was 5 years old and said he simply thinks they are cute.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Shaelyn Dircio, 13, shows her goat during her first year of competition at the Grant County Fair. Though she grew up around goats raised by her father, Dircio said this is the first time she has exhibited one herself.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Lily Lambert, 14, pets her goat, Zac. In her second year of showing goats, Lambert said she enjoys participating alongside her siblings.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Grace Erickson, 17, prepares her cattle for competition on opening day of the Grant County Fair. Showing cattle for the first time, Erickson said she was feeling both nervous and excited to enter the ring.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Mackenzie Nelson, 15, prepares one of her sheep for competition. Now in her third year of showing sheep, Nelson said the “chaos” of all sheep is her favorite part of the experience.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

by NANCE BESTON
Hagadone News Network | August 28, 2026 1:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair is a celebration of livestock, exhibits and competition; but at its heart, it is a celebration of people. From first-time exhibitors to longtime volunteers, the fair brings together generations of community members whose stories are woven into one of Grant County’s traditions.

On opening day, Aug. 18, these 15 portraits captured a cross-section of that community. There are young exhibitors like Grace Erickson, showing cattle for the first time; Marah Melcher and Shaelyn Dircio, first-year goat exhibitors; and Cole Quilter, who has been raising turkeys since he was 5 years old. Mackenzie Nelson embraces the “chaos” of showing sheep, while Lily Beck proudly handles her rabbit, Tiramisu, whose attitude, she says, matches her own. Oaklee Vallare’s pig Mikey is prized for being goofy, and Lily Lambert enjoys raising goats alongside her siblings.

The collection also features the people who help make the fair possible year after year: flower judge Patti Smith, volunteer Penny Whitaker, Youth Dynamics volunteer Cass Stewart, vegetable judge Andrea Elliott, Chief Deputy Phillip Coats, Capt. Jeff Sursely, and representatives from the Wanapum Heritage Center. Together, their faces tell the story of a fair built on hard work, service, tradition and the connections that bring a community together each summer.

Cass Stewart, 15, serves a Pineapple Peak drink while volunteering in the Youth Dynamics booth.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Oaklee Vallare, 12, mists her pig, Mikey, to keep him cool. Vallare said she enjoys raising pigs and appreciates Mikey’s goofy personality.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

Lily Lambert, 14, pets her goat, Zac. In her second year of showing goats, Lambert said she enjoys participating alongside her siblings.
Nance Beston/Basin Business Journal

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