Fair crew races to be ready for opening today

They say the third time is a charm. Employees and management of the Wahkiakum Fair hope so because they’ve worked hard to save their unique little fair.

The fairgrounds experienced severe flooding in 2006 when water reached the six-foot mark on horse arena walls. In 2007 the water was almost as deep. But it was winter 2008 that almost put a period to the fairground’s history after Mother Nature buried the horse arena under three-feet of snow, and then crushed it to the ground.

But like a Phoenix rising from the ashes again, and again, and again - the miracle workers who love the fair have once again resurrected it and, “The grounds are better than ever,” said Wahkiakum Fair Manager Sarah Lawrence, “we’ve spent just over $570,000 rebuilding the arena, replacing the contents of the food booth and arena, and cleanup.”

The fair’s most striking feature is its new horse arena. Where twisted steel and tin lay on Christmas Day 2008, today there stands an arena that’s actually amazing to look at, and there’s more.

The fairgrounds feature a new midway-design that lets the fairgoer walk from the front gate all the way to the back fence.

“It’s just a buzz of activity around here,” Lawrence said, “and I think the new layout will make all the difference in the world.”

Besides the arena Lawrence said her staff is erecting three other buildings to house exotic animals, pigs, ducks, geese, sheep and all the rest.

Lawrence said that when her staff is finished the public won’t know the place, “When we’re finished people will actually be able to stroll the entire length of the fairgrounds stopping to look at animals, get drinks and look at the vendors' wares,” said Lawrence.

The volunteer fair superintendents have been very supportive and pitch in where needed. Becky Ledtke is the T-building superintendent, “It’s my job to see everybody gets what he or she needs and help the different managers get their display booths set up.”

Volunteers and staff are working at break-neck speed to get the fair gates open by August 20. A dozen people have draped the T-building in construction paper, prepping it for the many exhibits to be installed later in the week.

A printer whirrs and clicks in the fair’s office. A exhibitor from Altoona walks in to ask fair Administrative Assistant Lisa Frink if she is still has the same exhibitor number as last year. “Just a minute, let me look it up,” says Frink, as she flips through the registrar for this year's fair.

Both Lawrence and Frink said they have worked hard to cut costs. “This year we’ve managed to save $1000 just on ribbons,” Frink said, “just by changing the style of ribbons and how they’re awarded.”

Lawrence said the staff found a lot of little ways to cut costs. Simple things like ordering the fair staff’s T-shirts without the date. “That way we can collect them at the end of fair and use them again next year and not have to buy new ones,” said Lawrence.

The race is on to see how much can be ready by opening day August 20. The time crunch is so great the construction crew building the new arena is living in the park next to the fairgrounds and work from 7 a.m. until dark.

“I think we’ll be ready,” said Lawrence. “I’m also hoping people will come if for no other reason than to see the new arena because it is an impressive structure.”

Lawrence said the fair’s potential for growth is tremendous. “I don’t know if the public is aware but one of the most important things we’ve put into place this year is that we’ve separated the Wahkiakum Fair from the non-profit arm, which is the Wahkiakum Fair Association.”

Lawrence said the Fair would still have the Wahkiakum County Fair Board, that will be solely responsible for the fair. The board will have fund-raising activities but its main priority will be the fair book, entertainment, the premium book and recruiting vendors.

Mike Mouliot will chair the non-profit Wahkiakum Fair Association. Lawrence said the association will be looking at raising funds for the fair all year long. The association will also look at how the fairgrounds can be used the rest of the year. “Things like motor-cross racing, to having a rodeo or having a dog show,” said Lawrence.

The Grays River Grange also recently donated their bingo machine to the fair and, “I think bingo will be a big draw, and next year I hope to have regular bingo at the fairgrounds,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence said that once the dust clears from putting on the fair, the county can expect a lot of exciting things.

“We’ve tried to be smart with the money we’ve had to work with,” said Lawrence. “We have an account at Ace Hardware but found white paint at Lowes for less than five bucks,” she said, “and when we turned in our bills to FEMA, the adjuster couldn’t believe we’d paid so little for the paint.”

“I want the fair to be there when I have children so that they have a place to go to show their animals, to learn about 4-H and their community,” said Lawrence.