What's happening at the Fair?

Merry Christmas to the Wahkiakum County Fair! This is what I was thinking after opening a letter from the State of Washington, Department of Agriculture. Last October I applied for a grant from the Department of Agriculture to replace two of our old wooden bleachers. The new bleachers that I asked funding for are aluminum, seat 91 people each, they have an aisle in the middle with a hand rail for easy access to the seats and are enclosed on the back and sides with a chain link guardrail. Knowing we would be facing a limited 2012 budget, I wrote in the grant we could supply no monetary match. I explained in detail why these old bleachers are a safety issue for our fair. You can imagine my delight when I read we have been awarded a $22,596 grant. This is exactly the amount I requested! These two new bleachers will sit in front of our new entertainment stage. This addition to the fairgrounds could also bring in year round fund raising possibilities. I am hoping people and organizations will want to rent our stage and new seating for weddings, concerts and presentations. Looks like a good start for a Happy New Year for our fairgrounds!

The New Wahkiakum County Fair Board will host the Valentine Diamond Dinner at the Skamokawa Grange Hall on February 11. We will fill this special evening with local musical entertainment for you to listen to with your special loved one while you enjoy a filet mignon steak dinner, dessert and your choice of beverage. Cost is still only $25 per dinner ticket and the price includes a raffle ticket, your chance to win the grand prize, a diamond necklace! You can purchase more raffle tickets at $1 each during the dinner, these raffle tickets can only be bought exclusively by our dinner guests. Dinner tickets are available to purchase now at the Cathlamet Bank of the Pacific or call Becky at 795-3434 or 795-3480 to purchase tickets if you live out of town. The colorful tickets would make great Christmas presents, just tuck them into a Christmas card! Your support of Wahkiakum County Fair Board fund raising events is greatly appreciated!

If you would like to help plan the 2012 Fair, now is a good time to become a Fair Board member, pick up an application at the Wahkiakum County Commissioners office. You can also go online to http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us then go to the bottom of the first page and under the heading County Advisories you will see Fair Board Applications, click on this and print one out. As Commissioner Blair Brady said in his Eagle advertisement: “The Wahkiakum County Fair needs you! Applications are now being accepted for the newly revised to be Fun Fair Board. The board meets monthly, meetings last up to one and a half hours. Your interest and expertise are needed!” If you’ve ever had ideas for our fair and would like to see them happen, turn in an application before January 10. Let's plan the Wahkiakum County Fair together and make it the best fair ever!

This is a reminder to the people who purchased horse gate keys for use in 2011, please give me a call if you would like to purchase a key to the arena for 2012. I will be changing the lock in the first week of January and I don’t want you to be locked out.

The fair office is open by appointment only. If you need to gain access to the fairgrounds contact Fair Manager Becky Ledtke at 795-3480 or 560-0371 and leave a message.

The next Wahkiakum County Fair Board meeting is January 11, 7 p.m., River Street Building Meeting Room in Cathlamet. The public is always welcome to attend.