There is a big project in progress currently at the fairgrounds; we are rebuilding the pig, sheep and goat stalls. There were 24 stalls to rebuild, most of the wood needed to be replaced and all new doors built. Each year we don’t know how many pigs, sheep or goats are coming to our Fair until after animal entry day on July 25. All the stalls will be strong enough to hold any combination of these animal exhibits.

We have built 18 stalls in the last two weeks, then we had to install an underground drainage pipe which is attached to the arena gutter downspout. Next, concrete was poured where the last six stalls will be built. The sacks of concrete were mixed by hand in the tractor bucket by some very strong volunteers and poured into the prepared site. We will be back to work on the last six stalls as soon as we can build on the new concrete.

The next part of the project will be to build 24 doors for the new stalls and attach all the hinges and door locks. Then it will be time to paint all this new wood. We hope by the time we get to the painting part of the project we will have some dry weather! Thank you to Ed Stevens, Chuck Gaines, Rosa, Nick Brockway, McKenzie Stevens, Georgie Billings and Barbara Czarnecki for the many hours you have worked on this big labor intense project!

The Wahkiakum County Fair received a nice donation from Cathlamet Realty West last week. This donation will be put to good use as we continue to improve the fairgrounds and get ready for the 2012 Fair. Thank you, Cathlamet Realty West!

Fair managers are expected to be even tempered all the time. I will admit I was irritated a bit about six brand new hand towel dispensers we received. They were free, but they didn’t work. I had ordered a big box of hand towels that were made just for them and soon saw the dispensers weren’t working right. The rolls of hand towels would fall off their roller and quit working every time they were used. Complaining helped in this case, as my son Bryan decided to take a look at the problem dispensers. He saw the problem, rotated a part so that it was positioned under the towels instead of over them, then drilled two new holes to hold the part in place and they work perfectly now! Thank you, Bryan!

The gillnet boat received lots of attention last week as Ed Stevens and I started trying to see what was under all the dirt covering it. Cleaning it up involved removing 30 years of dust and critter nests. It is beautifully put together with wood interlocked on the stern and smoothly molded ribbing that made a very strong hull. The decking flows around the boat with a smooth sturdiness that was built to take on the Columbia River waves on a rough day. Underneath all the dirt we are finding a gillnet boat that was skillfully crafted by a talented boat builder.

Groups of shoppers stopped by the fairgrounds' Rummage and Book sale on Saturday in spite of the rainy weather. Thank you for your purchases! We will be open this July 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wahkiakum County Fair now has a Facebook page! You can view our 2012 Fair entertainment schedule and check for new events happening at the Fairgrounds each weekend. Be sure to Like our Facebook page and share it with your friends.

The horse arena will be closed to open riding July 13-15. The Horsemanship Challenge Event will be held on July 14.

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

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