Rita Couture has spent nearly four decades at the heart of the fair, quietly shaping experiences that thousands of families now remember as their favorite summer traditions.
She first joined as a volunteer, later working as an associate alongside Chris McMullen at the old fairgrounds, guided by longtime leaders like Mike Shiel. From there, she became a steady leader in major entertainment, organizing ushers and volunteers while helping oversee concerts and crowds night after night. Over time, she also served as Deschutes County Fair Association Treasurer, known for doing things the right way with an unwavering commitment to accountability and attention to detail.
Rita’s leadership was never about recognition. It was about consistency, integrity, and stepping in where she was needed most. She led by example, often the first to step up when something needed to be done. She developed her team, and together they not only supported the fair but were active in the community, helping plan parade floats, sponsorships, and events. These weren’t simple floats; they were built by hand with chicken wire and tissue paper for rodeo parades and downtown celebrations.
At the fair, you could find her watching, listening, and stepping in exactly where she was needed. She was there through the transition from the old downtown fairgrounds to the current location, trading lightning storms, muddy folding chairs, and traffic-packed streets for the safety and comfort of today’s indoor rodeos and improved facilities. She also remembers the early days without professional security, when volunteers handled everything from crowd control at the gates to unexpected situations, helping shape the systems and standards still in place today.
Some of Rita’s favorite memories center around the concert stage and the way artists treated the community. Over the years, she met countless performers, from country legends like Merle Haggard, Tanya Tucker, and Pam Tillis to a wide range of other acts. She speaks especially fondly of Pam Tillis as one of the kindest and most gracious artists she encountered, with those small, meaningful moments standing out just as much as the music itself.
Outside the fair, Rita’s life has always been rooted in ranching and community. She grew up in Eastern Oregon and later returned to ranch life near Spray, where she and her family managed cattle, baled hay, and raised their children with strong values, even giving each child a heifer to care for each year.
Her story includes both deep pride and real hardship. From raising a family to experiencing loss, Rita believes life’s hardest moments are what build strength and perspective. She speaks openly about learning from mistakes, pushing forward, and choosing growth over regret.
Now, as Grand Marshal, Rita Couture represents a living connection between the fair’s past and present, tying together the rodeo, the ranching community, and generations of 4-H families. The honor came through Shannon Reynolds, who never gave up on the idea that Rita should be recognized after all her years of service.
It’s fitting that Shannon, once the high school student building parade floats alongside Rita, is now helping lead the fair and formally honoring the woman who helped shape so much of it.