A 10 • Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Fairgrounds in shape for 79th fair ALLISON ARTHUR THE LEADER Buildings at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds are beginning to show signs of aging, and Bill McIntire has been spending a lot of time smoothing out the wrinkles and failing joints – painting, primping buildings and replacing rotten posts. “This has been the year of the repair,” said McIntire, president of the Jefferson County Fair Board, who also serves as a lead volunteer, doing whatever needs to be done whenever it needs to be done. Both a cattle barn and a horse barn, buildings that were built on the fairgrounds back in the 1970s, have undergone renovation work, as has an arts building. Since last October, McIntire estimates, he’s put in some 1,500 volunteer hours to fix all kinds of things, everything from a giant door on the cattle barn that used to take a tractor to open – now it can be opened by hand – to repairing floors in the arts building that were in bad shape. So the construction of a new building at the fairgrounds is a highlight. Planned to be a venue for events, the building is to be located on the edge of the fairgrounds, where Professor Bamboozle traditionally entertains children during the fair. The foundation of the new 30-by40-foot building has been laid and
Bill McIntire, president of the Jefferson County Fair Board Association, stands by the foundation of a new 30-by-40-foot events building, which won’t be completed for the opening of this year’s fair, but should be finished by the end of the year. McIntire has secured bids and in-kind donations, and hopes to receive a $16,000 matching contribution from the state Department of Agriculture for the project. Photo by Allison Arthur
the building has been designed, but it won’t be ready for this year’s fair, McIntire said. Come October, McIntire says, he’ll be looking for help with construction. The Jefferson County Fair Association expects to spend $16,000 up front to construct the building
with the help of in-kind donations, and is hoping to receive another $16,000 in matching funds from the state Department of Agriculture once the building is finished. There are more than a dozen buildings at the fairgrounds. Some get year-round use. In the winter,
many are used for storing boats and cars. The Fair Board gets muchneeded revenue from those rentals, McIntire said. The fairgrounds is used throughout the year to host a variety of groups. People associated with the Canoe Journey camped at the fair-
grounds in July. And McIntire says the grounds would be full again in September for the Wooden Boat Festival, Sept. 9-11. McIntire got roped into the fairgrounds volunteer job when his wife, Sue, treasurer of the board, suggested that if she were going to be there, he might as well be there, too. That was 22 years ago, back when McIntire was still working for Port Townsend Paper Corp. He also had a job with the Port Townsend Fire Department. He worked for the mill for 44 years. “I took my toolbox from the mill and took it out here,” McIntire said, “with the goal of making it look like a golf course, and that’s what I aim to do.” At about this time every year, McIntire says, he and Sue bring their 38-foot trailer to the fairgrounds and camp out, because there is so much to do to get ready for the fair, which begins on Aug. 12 this year. Volunteers are hard to find these days, says the longtime volunteer. He’ll be relying on a crew from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to help clean out the barns after the fair season. And as for being ready for the fair, he says he’ll know if things are ready late on Thursday night, just hours before the fair opens at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Fair necessities; something for everyone Attend the fair LEADER STAFF
coming back to jam. Regarding food, the return of an elephant ears food vendor, missing from the menu in 2015, has been confirmed. Also, salmon and beef barbecues are featured again on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. “Where else can you go for entertainment, a salmon barbecue on Saturday, all for a $17 season pass?” McIntire asked.
The mouthwatering aroma of barbecued salmon, music wafting through the warm August air, fourwheel-drive trucks slinging mud into orbit, and people walking on water – yes, really, in the form of water balls – all of it happens at the Jefferson County Fair, Aug. 12-14. Gates to the 79th county fair open at 8 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12. Fair hours for the public are 8 a.m.-9 a.m., Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. The Jefferson County Fairgrounds are located at 4907 Landes St., Port Townsend. No pets, except service dogs, are allowed.
Hours, prices, pets, food COUNTY FAIR HOURS Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Buildings close at 9 p.m.
FAIR BARBECUES Saturday (salmon): $10 Sunday (beef): $8
GATE FEES Adults (18-64): $8 Seniors (65 and older): $6 Students (13-17): $6 Children (6-12): $2 Children 5 and younger: Free
FOOD SEARCH There are five other county fairs going on at the same time as the Jefferson County Fair, as is the WashSPECIALS ington State Junior Horse Show, so Three-day ticket (includes attracting vendors to a rural area Sunday’s barbecue): advance can be somewhat challenging. purchase $15 (by Aug. 11), at Nevertheless, a wide array of gate $17 food vendors are booked, offering fare that includes barbecue, burgers, teriyaki, gyros, ice cream, espresso, funnel cakes, elephant ears, corn on The winner’s picture is featured in the cob, hot dogs, snow cones, kettle the Washington State Fairs Association magazine. corn, pies and floats. Also contributing were two community service members who spent VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are a driving force be- three months working on the Art hind the success and preparation of Building, including putting in a the fair. During the three-day week- new floor, and about two months reend, as many as 50 volunteers help vamping the Oscar Erickson Building’s kitchen. out.
and bass ensemble, are composed of family members Alex, Leianna, Meigan, Kailee and Jason Kunz. NEW THIS YEAR Also chosen were eighth-grade Of all the difficult tasks that Bill guitarist Mia Torres and junior vioMcIntire, fair board president, handles during the year, one of the most linist Amelia Grant. Other new performing artists challenging – yet most enjoyable – is include: the Jessie Leigh Band, the booking entertainment. “Seventy-five percent of the en- Ryders Band, local band Bella Jack, tertainment this year is all new,” The Greased Lightning Show, LukasRose and Brittany Jean. said McIntire. Along with finding fresh performers at a four-day convention in FAN FAVORITES Vancouver, Washington, McIntire For children, there are the usual also selected three acts from the Ki- inflatable attractions, pony rides wanis Club of Port Townsend’s 29th and the “Walk on Water” bubble For the 12th year in a row, Bill annual Stars of Tomorrow talent adventure. For entertainment, mu- McIntire is to present the Hero FAIR MONEY The Jefferson County Fair Asshow. sicians and dancers Lobo Del Mar Award to a volunteer who went The Wild Berry Pickers, a jazz and the Dukes of Dabob band are “above and beyond the call of duty.” sociation is a nonprofit entity con-
PARKING Free PETS No pets (except service dogs) are allowed on the fairgrounds. Anyone found with a pet will be asked to leave without a ticket refund. MORE INFORMATION jeffcofairgrounds.com
tracted to manage the county-owned fairgrounds in Port Townsend. Jefferson County itself does not fund the fair. The budget for this year’s fair is $110,000 – money that is generated in several different ways. “We receive money from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Fair Funding, booth rentals, gate fees, camping, [and] salmon and beef barbecues,” said Sue McIntire, fair office manager and board secretary.
‘All aboard’ the Jefferson County Fair express
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT Wild Berry Pickers Friday, noon; Saturday, 3 p.m. – Small Stage The Wild Berry Pickers is a Port Townsend– area bluegrass/folk band composed of family members Alex, Meigan, Jason, Kailee, and Leianna Kunz. Bella Jack Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – Small Stage Jim, Ali, Hill, Warren and Jeni harmoniously offer a wide array of music ranging from current indie pop to original tunes. Jessie Leigh Band Saturday, 1 p.m. – Small Stage Country style infused with rock ’n’ roll.
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Although Jessie Leigh’s main musical genre is country, her songs are influenced by a variety of music styles and they appeal to a wide range music lovers. LukasRose Saturday, 11 a.m. – Small Stage LukasRose is an Americana, blues and roots, rock/rockabilly band composed of Tom Lukas on guitar, Rose Guastella on keyboards and Bob Bisordi on drums. Lobo Del Mar Saturday, 6:30 p.m. – Small Stage Picking up different world music and dance styles wherever they have lived, members of this large family of performing artists are now based in Port Hadlock. Visit lobodelmarentertainment.com.
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Professor Bamboozle Friday-Sunday; check gate schedule for exact times – Small Stage Bamboozle strives to amaze with his grand illusion and variety show. The Greased Lightning Show: “Reincarnations of Rock ’n’ Roll” Friday, 1:30 p.m. – Small Stage The Greased Lightning Show is a goodtime, high-energy blitz of early rock ’n’
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Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 • A 11
4-H leader stays active, welcomes others ALLISON ARTHUR THE LEADER
FOR CHILDREN The Greatest Kids’ Show on Dirt Friday, 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. Complete with chaps, cowboy hat and a rodeo clown to show you the ropes. Free bull rides for children. Visit gotbull.com. Walk on Water Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 2:30-7 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 2-6 p.m. For $5, you can experience the “water balls.” Climb into a 6-foot-diameter, water-tight plastic sphere and try to cartwheel, flip, bounce, crawl or simply stand. Those weighing less than 440 pounds can play. All ages.
MUD DRAGS
Sunday, 11 a.m. – Main Stage The Mud Drags are back for more mudthrowing fun.
HORSES
Draft Horse Pulls Saturday, 3:30 p.m. – Main Stage Presented by the Washington Draft Horse Puller’s Association.
BARREL RACING
Sunday, 10 a.m. – Horse Arena Barrel racing action and the Pee-Wee riders.
BREAKAWAY ROPING
Sunday, 1 p.m. – Horse Arena A variation on calf roping in which the calf is roped but not thrown or tied.
TEAM ROPING
Sunday, 2:30 p.m. – Horse Arena Two-person calf roping.
DEMOLITION DERBY
Kids’ Demolition Derby Saturday, 7 p.m. – Main Stage
BARBECUE
Salmon barbecue Saturday, noon-3 p.m.; $10 – Picnic Area Beef barbecue Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; $8 – Picnic Area
Linda Gately still remembers the blue ribbon she won for a chocolate cake more than a half century ago at a county fair in New York state. She was in 4-H. She cooked, did sewing, gardening, even entered a tractor racing event as a teen, probably, she reflected last week, because the boys were doing that, too. Now 72, Gately’s kitchen at her home on Marrowstone Island is buzzing with 4-H activity as the deadline for entering the Jefferson County Fair was looming. Te Amo Lanphear-Ramirez, 13, was working on a bean and potato chowder. Mi Amada Lanphear-Ramirez, 10, was getting her blueberry muffins together. And Manaseh Lanphear-Ramirez, 9,was working on repotting his phlomis. The Lanphear-Ramirez family of Port Townsend is part of Gately’s 4-H Cedartree Performers group, a group that she’s been leading since 1988 when her two daughters were in 4-H. Now, one of her daughters, Dawn Gately, helps judge public presentations. Back a few decades ago, Dawn and others wanted to be part of a clown 4-H group. And Linda Gately obliged them as their leader, even though she says, “gardening is familiar to me, clowning is not.” She’s also not so keen on large animals, though one of the 4-H clubs that spun off of hers, Silver Spurs, has become a successful horse club. “By chance, someone came to town who was a Chinese acrobat so he taught juggling, unicycle and all kinds of things. He was my assistant leader,” Gately recalled, getting out some photos of those days. That long-ago 4-H club then entertained people at nursing homes and performed at other venues. The conversation about bygone 4-H days is interspersed with conversations about the 79th Jefferson County Fair, Aug. 12-14. Those blueberry muffins that Mi Amada made, for example, were so much better than the first batch where the baking powder
4-H leader Linda Gately shows Te Amo Lanphear-Ramirez, 13, photos of a 4-H group that Gately led years ago here that was into clowning. The club she leads today is called the Cedartree Performers, which was started at Cedarbrook School where Lanphear-Ramirez and her siblings attend. Photo by Allison Arthur
didn’t get incorporated quite right. Manaseh wants to taste-test the second batch before they are frozen and prepared for the Fair. “What’s the 4-H motto?” Gately asks the young 4-H members. “Make the best better,” says one. “She’s the best 4-H leader,” Manaseh says. “She helps us when we don’t understand something.” Gately retired from a career in occupational therapy six years ago. Her first job as an occupational therapist was in the state’s Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Washington, working with the mental health unit.
when they do things and what they do. “And who decides what you are going to do?” Gately asks the children. “Us,” they say in unison. “And do I know everything?” Well, actually, one girl learned to quilt by watching YouTube videos, Gately reminds them. Gately prefers to call herself a facilitator, someone who helps lead the members to learn whatever skills they might want to learn – whether that’s being a clown and entertaining people or propagating plants or cooking dinner for friends and family.
ONLY ONE RULE Gately notes with some pride that she only has one rule in her 4-H clubs and that’s, “Be nice.” “If you are nice to each other, nice to the environment, it just covers a lot,” she says. “And none of my kids have ever gotten into trouble,” she says. “A lot have gone on to college.” For those who may not remember what the 4-H stands for, Gately asks the children to share. “Head, heart, hands and health,” they say. Gately likes the activities of 4-H because, rather than getting a badge for doing something, students are required to actually do something – and keep track of
MORE INVOLVEMENT Gately would like to see more people become 4-H leaders and share their talents with young people. “It’s a very good way to keep in contact with the young folks,” Gately says, suggesting people with woodworking skills and photography skills would be most welcome. Gately very cautiously admits that she’s been working one-onone with kindergarten children who want to make fairy gardens. The boys wanted to get involved, too. Some of them are using a hand saw. A real one. Slowly. Carefully. Gately says leaders should be open to explore whatever the mem-
bers are interested in learning. “Next year we might decide to do drama. We did violin for awhile and then that became another club,” she said. Te Amo likes the drama idea a lot. Gately also would like more parents to become involved in starting groups, which initially range from four to eight members. For now, 4-H is paperwork intense. But the day is coming that everything will be online. “And this could be the tipping point for Mrs. Gately,” she says of not particularly liking computers, although she uses one. “If I go to my folder, I know how to find it,” she says of her paper folder system. With computers, there are all those passwords and things are harder to find. Gately typically spends one day a week working with her group, but one week recently, with the fair coming up, she spent up to 30 hours with the club. And who pays for the food and the plants? The students have a plant sale to raise funding for their project. As for Gately’s hours, she figures Social Security is paying for her time. $10 CHALLENGE Talking about the past is again disrupted by the current. It’s time to fill out paperwork for this year’s fair and for Te Amo to write the introduction for a fashion review. Both girls have purchased clothing at Goodwill to make an outfit to model. It’s called a $10 challenge. They had to spend $10 or less on their outfits. And then they had to write an introduction about the clothes for someone to read while they model the clothing. Manaseh dashed off to work on repotting his phlomis. He noted, with some pride, that he learned about the yellow flowers and how they have nectar in them that tastes like honey – and he taught what he learned to some people who grow plants for a living. “4-H is one of the best things to do,” Manaseh said. After more than a half century of being active in 4-H, as a former participant and now a leader, it’s a sentiment Gately enjoys hearing.
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