With the middle of summer here, the peak of fair season is approaching in many communities on both sides of the Cascades. State Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, encourages the public to support Washington’s agricultural community by attending one or more fairs in the coming weeks.

Padden, who is retiring at the end of this year after a 28-year career as a legislator, says fairs play an important role in many rural communities and help educate visitors about agriculture’s importance in eastern Washington and throughout the state.

“Fair season is in full swing, and I encourage people to attend their local fair as well as others nearby,” said Padden. “Fairs are not only fun, they are educational and provide a showcase for all that is positive about agriculture and our rural communities. Fairs are a wonderful annual tradition for people of all ages, and they are a perfect place to take the family.

“At a fair, you can see firsthand what farmers grow or raise, from crops to livestock and other animals. You can see old friends and meet new ones, and try different kinds of tasty food that are found at a fair,” added Padden.

According to the Washington State Fairs Association, many fairs in eastern Washington are set to start in the coming weeks:

• Yakima Valley Fair and Rodeo, Aug. 7-10 (Grandview)
• Grant County Fair, Aug. 13-17 (Moses Lake)
• Klickitat County Fair, Aug. 14-18 (Goldendale)
• Hunters Community and 4-H Fair, Aug. 17 (Hunter)
• Benton/Franklin Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 20-24 (Kennewick)
• Lincoln County Fair, Aug. 22-24 (Davenport)
• North Central Washington Fair, Aug. 22-25 (Waterville)
• Northeast Washington Fair, Aug. 22-25 (Colville)
• Clayton Community Fair, Aug. 23-25 (Clayton)
• Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days, Aug. 28-Sept. 1 (Walla Walla)
• Wheat Land Communities Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 1 (Ritzville)
• Kittitas County Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2 (Ellensburg)
• Ferry County Fair, Aug. 30-Sept. 1 (Republic)
• Chelan County Fair, Sept. 5-8 (Cashmere)
• Okanogan County Fair, Sept. 5-8 (Okanogan)
• Palouse Empire Fair, Sept. 5-8 (Colfax)
• Columbia County Fair, Sept. 6-8 (Dayton)
• Spokane County Interstate Fair, Sept. 6-15 (Spokane Valley)
• Othello Fair, Sept. 11-14 (Othello)
• Columbia Basin Junior Livestock Show, Sept. 12-14 (Connell)
• Garfield County Fair, Sept. 13-15 (Pomeroy)
• E. Spokane County Fair, Sept. 20-22 (Rockford)
• Central Washington State Fair, Sept. 20-29 (Yakima)

The 2021-23 and 2023-25 state capital budgets approved by the Legislature each provided $8 million to the state Department of Agriculture for grants to be used for health and safety improvements to fairgrounds and facilities. Fair organizers have been able to submit applications equal to or less than $250,000 for capital improvements.

Padden serves the 4th Legislative District, which includes Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and northeast Spokane County.