Grass is greener for 2005 County Fair
PHOTOS: 1. Donna Dixon, Bonney Brown and Robin Scroggins set up the section for Royal West, a Royal City 4-H club, for the fair Thursday afternoon.<br>2. Donna Dixon holds aloft the sign for Royal West, a Royal City 4-H club, as other group members prepare the section for the fair Thursday afternoon.<br>3-6. Margaret Schiffner, superintendent of the arts and crafts building, goes through the list of items that will fill the building when the fair opens tomorrow.<br>4. Robin Scroggins, Bonney Brown and Donna Dixon set up the section for Royal West, a Royal City 4-H club, for …
Fair expecting high numbers, showcase citizens
There's getting to be a lot more foot traffic out at the Grant County Fairgrounds these days.
"It's going to get goofy before it's over," said fair and facilities manager Al Holman said.
That's because the 2004 Grant County Fair is set to open its doors tomorrow morning, and run throughout the week.
"A lot of our people that are involved with the fair are coming from other fairs or other activities like the Omak Stampede," Holman said. "They have a very short time window to get in here, and it gets like a Seattle traffic jam for a little bit out here once in a while, trying to get people placed … It's just what has to happen."
Holman said the fair typically draws about 75,000 people a year, and hopes are for more this year.
He said that in Washington, each county is required by the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) to hold an annual fair to showcase agriculture, industry and its people.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for Grant County to shine," Holman said.
The fair offers everything from livestock to food to commercial exhibitors, he said.
"Then also, you've got Grandma's cherry pie all the way to Boy Scouts' and Girl Scouts' projects, pinewood derby cars or photo exhibits of different folks and of course the myriad of animals — everything from horses down to pocket pets," Holman said.
Preparation for the fair involves throwing a lot of water around in order to keep it green, Holman said. Sometimes, by the end of the fair, an area could have gone eight or nine days without water.
"Well, grass doesn't look as good at that point, so we try to throw as much water and get a sub-soil base of water underneath everything so that when we do stop watering, the grass stays as green as absolutely possible," he said. "Plus, healthy grass also takes the wear and tear of traffic and things sitting on it much better."
The work also involves transitioning some of the activities areas and buildings into services for the fair.
Depending on the areas, Holman said preparations and maintenance have been in process for the past several months. He said that the fair board is already having discussions for the 2005 fair.
"Although there's a big flurry between now and Tuesday morning, the planning and activities happen for about 14 months in total," he said.
This year marks the first time for the North Columbia Community Action Council to participate as a food vendor.
"We're actually doing it to raise proceeds for our mercy fund, which is to help cancer patients and people with catastrophic situations," said executive assistant Dollie Lutz. The program just began fund raising last year. "It's been a lot of work. We're totally redoing (our) building, as far as the painting and setting and everything."
The NCAC will run a Fruit Barn, with offerings including an assortment of shortcakes and fruit cups, Lutz said.
"It's important because people can come together," said Margaret Schiffner, superintendent of the arts and crafts building and a 35-year participation veteran. "It's like over the years, it was the one time they gathered and shared their prosperity with each other, and had contests. It's kind of celebrating the year of agriculture … it's a celebration of a good year of prosperity."
Holman said that the grounds' Master Gardeners have been hard at work arranging the landscape for the festivities.
"I'm excited to see people come," said Joyce Cooley Wood, one of the Master Gardeners for the fairgrounds. "We want them to see that there's people out here who care about the flowers and landscaping, so people can have some color and some environment. It shouldn't be all blacktop or cement."
Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students aged 13 to 17 and seniors 62 and older, $3 for seniors on senior day Wednesday, $2 for children aged eight to 12 and free for children seven and younger. People on active duty service get in free with identification or their orders.
"The gates open at 8 a.m., for the most part, but the buildings and stuff don't really open until 10," Holman advised. "And then our closing times vary from day to day."
More information can be obtained from fair posters or from the Web site www.grantcountyfair.com.