PASCO, Wash. – A fair favorite is turning 50! Since 1975, Old MacDonald’s Barn has been delighting fairgoers of all ages with the magic of farm life. It all started with a vision, a summer of hard work, and a whole lot of heart.
Pasco High School ag teachers Walt Grisham and Wally Caldwell, along with students from the Pasco Future Farmers of America chapter, rolled up their sleeves and built the barn from the ground up at the Benton County Fairgrounds. The barn was designed by the school’s senior agricultural class and brought to life with help from community volunteers, including members of the Kennewick FFA.
The project was funded with a $4,000 contribution from the Fair Board and an additional $2,000 from Kennewick businesses. Countless other donations of materials and equipment helped make the dream a reality.
The hard work earned the Pasco FFA chapter second place nationally in the FFA’s “Building Our American Communities” contest!
Originally created to showcase farm animals and their offspring, Old MacDonald’s Barn has introduced generations of families to piglets, chicks, goats, miniature horses, and even llamas!
Join us at the 2025 Benton Franklin Fair, August 19-23, to celebrate five decades of this beloved fair tradition — where the next generation continues to meet their first farm friends.
Questions? Call (509) 222-3749 or email info@bentonfranklinfair.com