Thursday, October 1, 2026
CASHMERE — Thursday may have been opening day at the Chelan County Fair, but the kids showing animals this year were ready to go long since. From livestock like goats, swine, sheep and cattle to horses showing off skills and beauty, the animals were all at their best as well, even with an early morning start.
Inside the Centennial Pavilion bright and early, the pens were full of sheep and goats just as you walk inside. And it wasn’t just the pens — many youngsters walked around with their goats on a lead as they waited for their own events to begin.
Some were anxious for their animals to get in the spotlight, and some kids just soaked in the atmosphere of the Fair, but there was a smile on every face, the smell of barn shavings filling the air and the sound of boot heels hitting the concrete floor. A few even stopped members of the press and asked them to take pictures of their animals, posing proudly next to them.
That’s the nature of FFA, though: The official name was changed almost 40 years ago from “Future Farmers of America” to the National FFA Organization. The letters still stand for the same thing, but the name change recognizes the fact that these kids aren’t just growing up to be farmers. They’re also becoming teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more.
The pride in the 4-H kids was apparent as well, each of them living up to their pledge of using their head, heart, hands and health to make the world a better place.
Both organizations featured kids in clubs from different schools, different towns and different chapters — from Cashmere to Eastmont and Manson, from Caballeros to Ponderosa and Appleatchee. Towns as small as Monitor were represented, and all of them with the flair, dedication and skill required to bring an animal to the Chelan County Fair.
Enjoy our photo gallery of the animal showings from the 2025 Chelan County Fair!
Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media
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