Fair starts today

The 115th Annual Wahkiakum County Fair starts today (Thursday). Our reporter stopped by Tuesday and spoke with a few of this year's participants, including little John Genn, of Longview, hard at work with his wheelbarrow; Neil Beerbower, of Cathlamet, a fair board member and self-proclaimed "carny," fresh off a stint at a carnival ride safety convention in Portland; Susan Rawls of Skamokawa, prepping to serve fair food and delicious blackberry pies; and brothers Bowen, Gus, and Theo Burkhalter of Rosburg, veterans of "four or five" fairs, who recently joined 4-H, with this year's entries--some impressive garlic, and dill. Fair Manager Patty Dursteler encourages everyone to slap on their chaps and try out a new addition to the fair: a mechanical bull! Photos by Brandon J. Simmons.