Legends Hall of Fame

Join us Saturday, August 31 at our PRCA Rodeo where we will be introducing and honoring our 2024 Legend Hall of Fame inductees.

At nine years old, Randy Kessler stood up at his 4-H meeting and shared that he was going to grow up one day, raise Angus bulls and sell them for a living. He didn’t come from a traditional cattle family and the Angus breed wasn’t the flavor of the month in the 1960’s. Never underestimate the plans of a child with the grit of a cattleman. Kessler proved true to his word. More than fifty years later, he’s doing exactly what he set out to do.

He grew up in Umapine and it was at a county fair in 1962 when he first stepped into the show ring with an Angus heifer gifted from his parents. In 1963, his first Angus bull was born. The herd multiplied through his 4-H and FFA years, but it took time for the passionate young breeder to make his own cattle pay the bills. To support his growing Angus herd, six days a week he worked for a Polled Hereford cattle outfit and in the few off hours cared for his own herd.

It was during the Benton-Franklin County Fair that Randy met the love of his life, Dawn Cargill, by writing on his fair entry form that he was single and looking. They married in Kennewick in 1986 and lived happily until Dawn’s death in 2011, months shy of their 25th wedding anniversary. Randy and Dawn were blessed with three children, Tierra, Cheyanne and Cody.

Each year, without fail, Kessler has led his Angus cattle into the show ring at the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days — a tradition continued long after he outgrew the 4-H and FFA competitions. In 2024, Randy will compete in his 62nd fair. All three of his children have followed in his footsteps and are still helping with operations at Kessler Angus Farm.

Known for always wishing everyone a smile and a wave, the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days Board of Directors would like to honor Randy Kessler as one of our 2024 WWFFD Fair Legends.

As an active and valued member of the Walla Walla community for many years, Dick Moeller has contributed significantly to the community. Dick’s partnership with the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days began in 2002 when he, along with Dr. Carl Nelson and Mel Wheatly, led the charge to restore the cupola of the Pavilion Rotunda to its former glory after it burned in 1970. Together with the Pavilion Preservation Foundation, he co-organized the Century Celebration, a lively dinner/fundraiser that marked the start of the restoration fundraising campaign for the Pavilion. Moeller served as Co-Chair with Terry Atchison during the restoration efforts in 2007-2008, transforming the Pavilion Exhibit Hall into a more functional and rentable space for the fairgrounds.

Dick started his nine-year tenure on the WWFFD Board in 2003. During his term, Dick held many positions such as Director of Rodeo, Director of Royalty, and Director of Security then eventually Board Vice President and Board President. He was involved in a multitude of significant projects on the premises, such as overseeing roofing projects for the Expo, Community Center, Barns 1 & 2, demolishing rental houses, implementing various water line replacement initiatives, and numerous other undertakings.

In addition to his term on the WWFFD Board of Directors, he has served on the Frontier Days Foundation Board for several years.

Moeller graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1963. He owned and managed a construction business in the Walla Walla Valley for more than four decades. Following in their dad's footsteps, sons Greg and Jeff, are also active in the construction business. In 2016, on the 150th anniversary of the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days, Dick and his wife, Juliann, were honored to be selected as the Frontier Days Parade Marshals.

The Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days Board of Directors is proud to name Dick Moeller as one of our 2024 Fair Legends.

Walla Walla Frontier Days
Rodeo Legends

Bob Tallman
John Growney
Sonny Hansen