Legends Hall of Fame

In 1936, forty-four Walla Walla businessmen formed a group to promote the Whitman Centennial – the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Whitman Mission. This group was given the responsibility to serve as a publicity group to the outside communities and, maybe more importantly, for injecting a bit of fun into the celebrations. Like, selling a special commemorative button for $1 and, if someone was caught by a member not wearing it, they were hauled before a judge and assessed a fine… usually the purchase of another $1 button.Those who attempted to avoid “prosecution” often found themselves swimming in the nearby horse trough.

That was the beginning of the Walla Walla Wagon Wheelers, April 1936.

After the centennial celebration, their focus turned to the preservation of Walla Walla history and in the late 1940s, they went "western" to provide activities centered around horses.

In 1947, they organized a drill team and received many invitations to participate in fairs and parades around the northwest, and their many awards are displayed on the beer hall wall.

In February 1950, the Wagon Wheelers Sheriff’s Posse was organized, and they provided their services to the Blue Mountain Search and Rescue unit and from 1953 to 1997 were bonded Deputy Sheriffs of Walla Walla county, helping with search and rescue efforts.

The Walla Walla Posse also competed with 14 other Washington counties in Washington State Sheriff’s Posse Association three day meets.The Walla Walla fairgrounds was a favorite for holding Posse Meets

The Exposition building at the Southeastern Washington fairgrounds was the result of the Wagon Wheeler’s study of the need for such a facility and in 1957 they presented the Walla Walla County Commissioners with a proposal to raise the first $20,000 with the County adding $40,000. The Wagon Wheelers $3,500 contribution was the largest single donation, and they also provided all the arena panels and built the announcers stand. The Wagon Wheelers have continued their support of the fairgrounds, 4-H, FFA, and drilling at the fair rodeo annually since 1947.

The Wagon Wheelers obtained the first liquor license to sell beer on the fairgrounds as a joint effort to support the fairgrounds and the Wagon Wheelers. The first beer sales were from a horse trough in back of the grandstands, and later the Wagon Wheelers constructed the beer hall under the grandstands. Wagon Wheeler members volunteered to operate the beer hall until 2015, bringing in needed revenue for the club and the fairgrounds.

In 2026 they are celebrating their 90^th year of being the Walla Walla Wagon Wheelers and supporting the community and the fairgrounds.

Orpha Oliver began her love affair with the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days in the 1960’s when she became a 4-H Leader. Not only did Orpha teach her own children the values of cooking, sewing and raising animals, but she also shared these skills with countless children for over 30 years. As a 4-H Leader, Orpha introduced children to the Fair by helping them enter their baked goods and sewing projects, and by participating in the Style Revue and cooking demonstration projects. Orpha and her husband, Dan, also became livestock leaders and helped children with their horse, beef, sheep and pig entries. For many years they sold show lambs to local 4-H’ers. Orpha and Dan were also staunch supporters of the Touchet FFA and Orpha was a frequent transporter of judging teams to various fairs.

As her children began to age out of 4-H and FFA activities, Orpha became more involved in Fair operations. In the 1970’s she began volunteering in the Pavilion checking in exhibits. She evolved into a Superintendent in the baking and canning areas and developed many long and valued friendships with the other volunteers. Orpha then took on a new challenge in the Pavilion - judging baking and canning!

Orpha also became a fixture in the Exhibitors’ Office before, during and after the fair. She taught several Exhibitors’ Secretaries the ropes, including Jill Richardson.Orpha was in charge of the ribbons. According to Jill, she spent weeks, days and hours organizing and counting ribbons for every contest in the Pavilion and Barn areas. Jill also shared, “You did not touch her hundreds of ribbons that were organized in a very specific way. If you did, there was hell to pay!” This may not have seemed like a crucial function of the Fair until you saw a young exhibitor walking around proudly with their ribbon or watched Orpha console a crying child whose rabbit ate their ribbon. Orpha always kept an extra supply of ribbons on hand just for those emergencies. She enjoyed and loved all the kids that participated in the fair. She could always calm an irate exhibitor but if things got especially heated, she would simply turn off her hearing aid and walk away! Orpha also clerked for many judges in the Barns. She was a fixture in the beef barn and especially enjoyed clerking in the rabbit and chicken barns where she could interact more with the kids. In 2014, she was presented with the Award of Merit in recognition of her outstanding volunteer contribution to the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. Her plaque was proudly displayed on her wall for the rest of her life.

Orpha was a wonderful cook. She finally began entering her apple pie in the open class baking division. Having cooked at the Walla Walla Livestock Auction lunch counter for many years, her apple pie was a well known staple in the Valley. After winning three Golden Apples for best in show pie, she stopped entering “so someone else could have a chance to win”.

After her husband Dan passed away, Orpha began sponsoring the 4-H Beef Herdsmanship Award in his name. They both loved being a part of the fair livestock family and could be found around the beef barn on most any day of the fair.

For over 50 years, Orpha Oliver was a part of the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. She shared her knowledge and experience with numerous adults and her love and joy with countless children. However, Orpha’s greatest legacy is the sense of volunteerism and community that she passed on to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and to those children whose lives she touched. Her door was always open and there was always a cookie in the cookie jar for a friend or visitor. Orpha passed away at the age of 91 in 2022.