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

At 9 a.m., this morning, the gates were opened and our 2012 Wahkiakum County Fair festivities and livestock shows began! The Fairgrounds is filled with still life exhibits, 4-Hers showing their animals, food vendors, game vendors, business vendors and vendors selling fun good quality products. If you want to talk to a candidate running for a position for one of our local offices, you will have a chance during the fair, as many have rented a booth.

I hope you saved the flyer that I sent out with The Eagle newspaper last week, it will help you know when the entertainment you would like to watch is happening. We have a pretty busy schedule of entertainment on our new stage.

In the Fairgrounds Park this year we have antique tractors, Model T cars, and a blacksmith all three days! When you hear a hammer hitting metal, follow the sounds and watch a blacksmith craft items on a real forge!

On Saturday, the Fair Board is again serving up a barbecued salmon lunch at noon. The Wahkiakum County Fair Board would like to thank Art Pedersen for catching and donating the salmon. This gift of salmon will be cooked over alder wood on our huge open pit barbecue and is always so delicious! Thank you, Art, for supporting the fair barbecue, you made it possible to share some great salmon with our community! Thank you, Blair Brady, for heading up the barbecue this year and organizing the event.

Be sure to get a fair pass this year, Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising, The Daily Band, Raeann Phillips, Layton Elliott, Hank & Claire, Curt Carlyle, Alleyoop, Jerry Ledtke and many more talented musicians will be filling the stage with quality music and entertaining performances, well worth coming to the fair each day.

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 first place $75, second place $50 and third 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.

Wahkiakum County Fair T-shirts in really nice colors cost $10, we have sizes small to extra-large. Firewood raffle tickets cost $1 each, the winner receives an alder and maple cord of wood. Purchase both of the above at the white tent next to the Fair Office. Thanks for supporting Wahkiakum County Fair Board fund raisers.

The Horsemanship Challenge Championship will be held on Saturday, this new event is organized by Fair Board member Shawn Merz. The Horsemanship Challenge is an obstacle course for the horse and rider. The final winners of the Challenge will receive a saddle as their prize. Don’t miss this amazing event that challenges both horse and rider.

The Wahkiakum County Fair is a showcase for your talents. Many volunteers help display the exhibits we receive. We work together to present an interesting fair to our community arranging these exhibits for all to enjoy. Thank you for creating and bringing in many wonderful exhibits this year.

The horse riding arena will be closed through August 19 to the public, as we prepare the fairgrounds for the 2012 Wahkiakum County Fair.

If you need to gain access to the fairgrounds contact Fair Manager Becky Ledtke at 360-560-0371 or call the fairgrounds office at 360-795-3480.