The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Enclosed within the Wahkiakum County Eagle Newspaper this week is your guide to the entertainment that will be a part of our Fair this year. The first day of Fair is filled with music on the stage, Model T rides and 4-H animal shows. Day two is filled with jugglers, comedians, puppets, storytelling, the spelling bee, 4-H animal shows plus more great music on the stage. On day three watch the Horsemanship Challenge Championship, enjoy a lunch of fresh Alaska caught Salmon at our noon barbecue, a balloon twister will be creating lively balloon art for all fair-goers, horseshoe and cribbage tournaments, 4-H animal shows, the Market Sale and more great music all day, plus the 50/50 line dancers on the stage. Please look closely though the schedule so you don’t miss any of the entertainment and plan to visit with all your friends and neighbors as we enjoy the 104th Wahkiakum County Fair together!

In a few days it will be time to gather up your exhibits and bring them to the fairgrounds! Each building will have a superintendent to help you fill out your exhibitor cards and tags. If you are a new exhibitor we will assign you an exhibitor number.

I have a short story from a previous fair to share with you. A group of teenagers came into the T-building. One young man was leading them, with a big smile on his face he proceeded to show his friends the baked pie that his grandmother had entered and the blue ribbon she had won! He was so proud.

Share your talents with your community, hundreds of your friends and family will be appreciating your exhibits. If you have a special talent, like knitting, basket weaving, drawing, painting, crafting items, etc. and would like to demonstrate to others this craft, we have demonstration tables set up in the T-building for that purpose. Call Becky at 795-3480 to be added to the schedule.

Wondering when to bring your still life and animal exhibit to the Fair? Here is a list of the important dates and times:

On August 13, 3-9 p.m. bring in 4-H, FFA, Open Youth, Open Adult, Club and Organization exhibits of art, paintings, photography, collections, food preservation, sewing, needlecraft, quilts, crafts, hobbies, wine & beer. Educational displays must be set up by 9 p.m. Posters for Open Youth and Adults can be turned in from 3 to 9 p.m.

On August 14, 3 to 9 p.m., bring in 4-H, FFA, Open Youth, Open Adult, Club and Organization exhibits of baked goods, candies, decorated cakes, floral, garden, bales of hay and forage crops.

On August 15, 3-4 p.m. enter all Market Sale Animals, 4–9 p.m. enter all 4-H, FFA, and Open Class Animals.

We have three Fair time competitions and encourage you to sign up at the Fair office to participate. On Friday at 2 p.m., we have a spelling bee sponsored by the Grays River Grange. The prizes are 1st place $75, 2nd place $50 and 3rd place $25. There will be two groups 3rd-5th grade and 6th-8th grade. Prize money will be awarded to each group.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., we will have a Horseshoe Tournament in the Park. The entry fee is $5 a person with the proceeds going to the First place winner or team. The sign-up sheet is in the office, please bring your own horseshoes if you have a set. We only have 11 horseshoes.

Also on Saturday at 4 p.m., Mike Backman will hold his annual Fair time Cribbage Tournament in the arena commercial area. The winner of the tournament will receive a beautifully made cribbage board! Sign-up sheets are in the Fair office.

The Wahkiakum County Fair received a generous donation from Lower Columbia Realty 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!

August 10 will be your last chance to purchase a $6 Fair pass at the Skamokawa Resort, Sharon’s Pizza and More, Cathlamet Pharmacy, Bank of the Pacific in Cathlamet, the Rosburg Store and the Bank of the Pacific in Naselle. We will continue to sell passes at the Fairgrounds Office for $6 until August 15, after that you can purchase them for $7 at the admission ticket gates as you enter the Fair.

If you need to gain access to the Fairgrounds contact Fair Manager Becky Ledtke at 795-3480 and please leave a message. The next fair board meeting is on September 12, 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds.