What's happening at the Fair?

I hope that everyone had a chance to stop by and enjoy the 2010 Wahkiakum County Fair. We had a great line-up of entertainment each day. New fund raising events were held during this Fair and many volunteers showed up to help the Fair Board with them. We had lots of animal and still life exhibits brought in by friends and neighbors of our community. The weather was perfect (meaning no rain) it was a wonderful Fair!

The Wapato Native American Dancers performing at the Salmon BBQ were incredible. The dancers added a live picture of a lost culture that was a part of this county in the past. These special people from Yakima were amazed by our beautiful remote county and the welcome they received. Dale (a Wapato Native American) worked beside Jerry Ledtke, Neil Beerbower, Phil Vik and Blair Brady at the Salmon BBQ all day tending fires and turning big racks of salmon filets. He added his experience to theirs on how to do this type of BBQ. The Fair Board would like to thank Leslie Horman, Deb Twiet, Sharon Schmitz, Lori Scott and Lisa Marsyla for serving salmon, potato salad and beans for hours, smiling and making everyone welcome at our BBQ! We served over 250 people at this delicious dinner. The Fair Board and the many volunteers serving at the BBQ hope you enjoyed their efforts to bring back our BBQ from years past. I think they did a great job!

Saturday night we drew the winning Fair raffle tickets, the winners are: Great Wolf Lodge--Jennifer Wolcott; Half Beef--Eva Malerich; Silver Dollar Money Clip--Neil Beerbower; Quilt--Dale Rose; Georgia Pacific Paper Products--Jim Rainey; Amethyst Necklace--Lois Wakefield; Noreen Fitts Painting--Angela Dickson; Gail Wahlstrom Painting; Deb Melton; Georgia Pacific Paper Products--Tom Fest; $25 gift card Cathlamet Chevron--Hailey Kerstetter; $25 gift card PJ's Restaurant--Patty Calvert; Georgia Pacific Paper Products--Jason Cooley; Crochet Baby Blanket--Walter Deege; WSU Floor Mat--Rick Montgomery; 2010 Fair T-shirt & 2011 Fair Pass--Tanner Hoven. Congratulations to all the lucky winners and a big thank-you to the many people and businesses that donated raffle prizes for this drawing.

The Silver Buckle Finals was an exciting show to watch! We had 33 horses and riders at the finals. The spectators enjoyed the fast action of the events. The Overall High Point Silver Buckle winner for the series was Elyse Loring, the buckle was sponsored by Jerry and Becky Ledtke. Western World, Inc., located in Longview sponsored all the Highpoint Headstalls that were awarded to each age group. The Headstalls were awarded to: Junior--Shaya Breezee; Junior Walk/Trot--Marci Dunham; Intermediate--Crissy Loran; Senior--Elyse Loring; Senior Walk/Trot --Elyse Loring; Super Senior--Josette Hollingsworth; Super Senior Walk/Trot--Ebby Blouin.

The Fair Board would like to thank Western World, L & J Feed, Watkins Tractor & Supply Company, and Brim’s Farm and Garden. These companies donated many nice prizes that attracted competitors to our new arena and made our first attempt at a gaming series so successful! We request that you support their businesses when you are in need of farm and ranch products.

Special thank you to Ginger and Stewart Moonen for their Fair fund raising idea, to hold a gaming series at our new arena. They found sponsors, announced events and set up gaming classes at each series start to finish! Ginger, Stewart and I are already planning a new fund raising adventure “Team Penning.” If you don’t know what that is, just keep reading this column each week!

What is there to do now that our Fair is over? Start planning fund raising events! If you would like to be involved in helping the Fair Board raise funds for the 103rd Wahkiakum County Fair, please call Board President Becky Ledtke @ 795-3434. New volunteers and ideas are always welcome.

If you need to gain access to the fairgrounds contact Manager Lore Twiet at 360-431-5247, or you can call 1-360-795-3480 and leave a message on the fairgrounds answering machine.

The next Wahkiakum County Fair Board meeting is September 8, 7 p.m., T-Building, at the Fairgrounds in Skamokawa. The public is always welcome to attend.