What's Happening at the Fair?

A reminder to all horse riders that use the fairgrounds arena that it will be closed June 15 and June 16 as we are setting up a horse event in the arena. We are calling the new event the Horsemanship Challenge.

Shawn and Tina Merz put their ideas together to plan a new horse event that actually challenges the horse and rider in three different types of events. Each rider will take their horse through two speed events, two trail events and two ranch events.

Shawn and Tina are planning a three show series with the third and final event of the series held during the Wahkiakum County Fair. At each event contestants will be timed and their scores recorded. The overall high point contestant of the series in each age group will receive a nice prize for their skilled horsemanship at the Wahkiakum County Fair series final.

The series dates are June 16, July 14 and August 18. The break down for the age groups is Junior 3rd – 5th grade, Intermediate 6th – 8th grade, Senior 9th - 12th grade and Adult 19 years and up. The cost is $25 to run through the six events. If you are having a little trouble with one or more of the events we can schedule practice re-runs of that event for you at $10 a go.

We have camp sites available Friday - Sunday in the Fairgrounds Park for $16.04 per night and stalls to rent for $10 a day per horse for this event. The action begins at 9 a.m. on June 16th at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds Arena. For Horsemanship Challenge information contact Show Manager Tina Merz at 957- 5368. For camping or stall rental contact Fair Manager Becky Ledtke at 795-3480 .

I have written in my previous Fair articles about the arena drainage ditch project that we had to complete before we could plan events like the one above. There was one more step we worked many hours to complete last week to finish this big project. With Bill Chamberlain using his backhoe to load up sand into a borrowed dump truck, Shawn Merz and friend Tom drove load after load to the fairgrounds arena. We hauled, shoveled, pushed and raked 106 yards of sand to cover the drainage pipes and to get the ground level outside of the arena up to the same level as inside the arena. Then the panels to protect the drainage system were put in place and the holding pens set back up. Special thanks to Ed Stevens whose “go for it attitude” keeps our volunteers Chuck, Nick and Rosa energized and moving so we can get these important projects done in record time. Huge thanks to Shawn and Bill for giving their time, skills and equipment to help complete many needed fairgrounds projects. I am amazed as I look over the list of projects this small group of volunteers has accomplished in the last two months.

The Fairgrounds book and rummage sale will be open this Saturday 11-4. We have added new boxes of treasures to our already full building of good stuff. We have hundreds of items for your dog. We have hundreds of books, movies, all kinds of household items and antique collectibles. Stop in, visit and shop. All proceeds support and maintain your Wahkiakum County Fair. You can also purchase raffle tickets for a cord of firewood at the sale for $1 a ticket. The drawing will be held August 18th during the Wahkiakum County Fair.

If you need to gain access to the Fairgrounds contact Fair Manager Becky Ledtke at the Fairgrounds Office at 1-360-795-3480 and please leave a message.

The next Wahkiakum County Fair Advisory Board meeting will be held on July 11, at 7 p.m. at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa. The public is always welcome to attend.