Sportsmans' Days

sponsored by the Naches Lions Club

Sportsmans' Days provides a great time of community fellowship and fun which draws in visitors to Naches from around Central Washington.

Sportsman’s Days is one of the longest running community day events in the Yakima Valley according to Ted Cowan, co-chairman.

The event features free entertainment throughout the weekend along with a midway, rides, food booths, game booths, flea market, silent auction, button drawings, free shows and much more. The event kicks off on Friday night at 5 p.m. when the midway opens.

Jeff Strong, master sand carver will be on hand Friday and Saturday carving a specially designed sculptor of swimming fish and soaring birds from wet sand. Strong is known around the world for his special sand sculptors.

Cash and other prizes will be given out throughout the weekend with drawings of Sportsman’s Days Button numbers. Sportsman’s Days Buttons are available from area businesses or any Naches Lions Club member. Cost of the button is $2 and proceed from the sale of the button is used to finance the annual event.

Saturday morning starts with breakfast at the Naches Park Boosters booth at 6 a.m. The kiddies parade starts at 10 a.m. and will run through the main streets of Naches. Long time, Naches resident, Charles Ross leads the main grand parade as parade grand marshal. Ross is a former mayor of Naches and is married to a former Sportsman’s Days queen, Carri McNamara. Both Ross and his wife have been active in the Naches community for many years.

The midway opens Saturday at 11 a.m. with one of the best flower and quilt shows in Central Washington. Both events are free and run through Sunday afternoon. Saturday also features an opportunity for kids to make pottery with the help of local artist, Lyle Carter. The Sun Dog Agility Club puts on a special dog show starting at 2 p.m.

One of the crowd favorites, lip sync contest begins on stage at 7:30 p.m. Contestants will be competing for cash prizes in different age groups. Area residents are encouraged to participate and have their applications into the Lions bank by 5 p.m. The teen sock hop dance for students from seventh to twelfth grade runs from 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is by a 2009 Sportsman’s Days Button.

Saturday night ends with a button drawing for $300 and a free fire works display immediately following the button drawing. Bingo and the midway will be open to 11 p.m.

Sunday morning starts with the Park Booster Breakfast at 7 a.m. and church services on the midway. The free trout fishing derby for youngster ages 4-12 starts at 1 p.m. Sunday. Youngsters should being their own fishing poles and bait. Prizes will be awards to the young fishermen. “This event has become one of the favorite events of Sportsman’s Days for both the children and also the spectators” according to Paul Kauzlarich, co Sportsman’s Days Chairman.

The annual community event ends at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The three day community event gives people a chance to meet old friends and an opportunity for many clubs and organizations in the area to raise funds for their groups. All proceeds made by the Naches Lions Club from the event go back into the community for service projects. The Naches Lions Club invites visitors from the valley to join in this 60th celebration of Sportsman’s Days.

For more information, contact event co-chairman Paul Kauzlarich (509) 949-9704; John Strong (509) 576-7390 or Ted Cowan (509) 653-2486.

For more information on this year's event, please contact:

Lion Don Kilpatrick, Event Chairman - DONALDK652@aol.com 965-1745
Lion Dave Heath, Parade Chairman - David.Heath@cwu.edu 961-6312

CHARLES ROSS NAMED SPORTSMAN’S DAYS PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

Local resident, Charles Ross has been named by the Naches Lions Club to be the Parade Grand Marshal of the Sportsman’s Days Parade on September 12. The annual Sportsman’s Days Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday in downtown Naches.

Charles Ross grew up in Naches and graduated from Naches Valley High School in 1990. He served four years in the United States Navy after high school. After returning home he attended Yakima Valley and Mount Hood Community College where he received two degrees. Ross has worked in the funeral home business in Yakima for the last 12 years.

Ross began his political service as a member of the Naches Town Council in 1997 at the age of 25. He served as the mayor of Naches from 1999 to 2006. He was elected state representative for Washington state’s 14th Legislative District. He took his oath of office on January 8, 2007.

Ross has a long history of work on an assortment of community boards and organizations including service on the board of directors of the Yakima County Health District and Yakima County Mayors Association. He is a life long member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion and Naches Lions Club.

Ross has been married to his wife Carri Ann for 16 years. She is the former Carri Ann McNamara of Naches a former Sportsman’s Day queen. They have two children, Vincent and Lucas. The couple enjoys watching their children play soccer and wrestle.

“I feel very strong about how a great community can create opportunities for those who live within, as I am living this very reality as the Sportsman’s Days Parade Grand Marshal, and I thank my home town for helping me be who I am.” said Ross in his role as grand marshal.

“The Naches Lions Club would like to congratulate and thank Charles for his many years of service to the Naches community” stated John Strong, Sportsman’s Days co-chairman.

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