The Wahkiakum County Fair opened today in Skamokawa.

Fair Manager Patty Dursteler is passionate about the fair. Every year she looks forward to seeing people from all over the county get together to reminisce about their youth, about the fair, and catch up on their daily lives.

It's events like these that truly make up the soul of Wahkiakum County.

Every other year, a state judge comes to Wahkiakum County to assess the fair. The last time he was here, he told Dursteler that the fair in Skamokawa is the most "down home" event in the state.

"Don't change a thing," he told her.

As per usual, Dursteler is excited about the musical line up. The promoter who introduced her to Touchn Loven Squeezn, a Journey cover band that has played at the fair a few times, suggested many of the bands playing this week.

"He hasn't steered me wrong yet," Dursteler said.

This year, the Fair Princesses are Damaris Blalock and Adrianna Ashe. The two raised more than $5,000 for the fair in a few short weeks, and one of them will be crowned Fair Queen at 6:45 tonight.