Legendary Chelan County Fair corn on the cob stand changes hands after 73 years

CASHMERE — The American Legion has been selling corn on the cob at the Chelan County Fair since the fair began in 1952. They were one of three original nonprofit food stands at the fair that started with the support of the Chelan County Granges and the Cashmere Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds from the booth were used to support their annual operations.

The American Legion was absent from the fair for a couple of years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but returned in 2022. But now that food booth — one of the very few permanent structures at the fairgrounds used for food — is transitioning to new stewardship.

The Mission Creek Community Club (MCCC) is, for now, working in tandem with the American Legion to run the booth, but they’ll be taking over completely in the end, and it was MCCC staffing it this year.

“Mission Creek Community Club does a lot of things, but… scholarships for high school graduating seniors, we do a foster kids’ program at Christmas, we do holiday food baskets for families in need,” says Tracy Schakohl, the treasurer of MCCC. “When there are community situations happening, for example, the plane that flew into the house [in Cashmere at the end of July], we gave them a donation when their insurance was short to help bridge the gap into some housing. Everything that comes in, goes out. This is a big step forward to help us.”

You might also know them as the folks that put on the Car Show during Cashmere’s Founder’s Day celebration, something Schakohl was happy to talk about. But he knows the importance of carrying on what the American Legion started. “It’s overwhelming,” he says, “but we’re going to make it happen because we want to honor the tradition.”

MCCC isn’t doing everything the Legion did — yet. “This year we were not able to do biscuits and gravy, and people are disappointed, but they understand,” says Schakohl. “Next year, we hope to do that again, and we’ll have a better idea of what it takes. The existing Legion people are helping us navigate this for the first time on our own.”

It may seem like just another food booth at the fair. But taking on a tradition that’s lasted generations is an awesome responsibility. It’s a good thing that both the American Legion and the Mission Creek Community Club recognize how important this legendary staple of the Chelan County Fair is to the people of this valley.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media