What's Happening at the Fair? - June 23, 2011

The Fairgrounds arena is ready to use and looks great! Fairgrounds handyman Ed Stevens received some help with this project from volunteers Georgie Billings, Barbara Czarnecki and Sven Antijunti last week. The project called for 50 plus holes to be dug in the rocky ground and we sure appreciated their help. The turnout paddock areas on the right side of the arena are in place and stabilized. Time to start a new project!

The rusting metal in the horse barn stalls was in need of some serious help. Horse barn superintendent Valerie Antijunti is removing the flaking and chipped paint on the horse stalls with a wire brush, washing the areas to remove the rust dust, painting primer on the metal and then repainting with a grey anti-rust coat of paint. Valerie is doing a great job and the horse stalls will be beautiful for the Fair.

I would like to thank Rick Nelson for printing the fairbook's missing page in The Eagle. I think this brought lots of attention to the page that was left out. We also received a printed page from Rick to put in each fair book, which has been done. Maybe we will receive more cat and pocket pet exhibits because of the attention the missing page received!

My project this week was to create a raised bed garden on the Fairgrounds. It turned into a family project. I found a nice sunny spot behind the T-building and started removing the grass sod. Didn’t take long for me to decide this is really hard work, time to get my son Bryan to help. Jerry, my husband, built a wooden box to set on the garden spot. To prevent the moles from burrowing up into the garden we set the box on top of half-inch by half-inch rabbit cage wire. In the next couple days I will fill the box with compost, dirt and the vegetable plants. This garden was a small project but it will help us meet Washington State Fair Commission requirements and the Fair will receive points for our efforts. These points will help our fair receive more state funding. Even little projects can help keep our fair funded!

The project for this week was to tear down the entertainment stage. This old stage has served the fair very well for many years. With a crew of five we started taking the stage apart. The stage was in bad shape and not just the decking. We salvaged the usable lumber and already have made plans to use this lumber in our next project.

Only eight more weeks until Fair! Still plenty of time to create crafts and spend a few more hours each day with your show animal projects. The extra time spent training now, will be noticed in the show ring by your judge!

Want to be a vendor at the Wahkiakum County Fair? It’s time to give me a call and secure your space! Please leave your name, phone number and best time to call you back on the recorder.

The Silver Buckle Open Game Show is planned for Saturday August 20th during the Wahkiakum County Fair. For information on how to pre-register call the Fair Office at 1-360-795-3480, leave name, phone number, message and best time to call you back or send an email to wahkiakumfair@centurytel.net .

If you need to gain access to the Fairgrounds contact Fair Manager Becky Ledtke at 360-560-0371 or you can call the Fairgrounds Office at 360-795-3480 and leave a message.

The next Wahkiakum County Fair Board meeting will start at 7 p.m. on July 13, in the T-building at the Fairgrounds in Skamokawa. The public is always welcome to attend.