County efforst to gear up before fair strikes
<p>Fair Manager Mike Hashisaki paints lines on the pavement for handicap parking. Plains underwent efforts to ready themselves for the Sanders County Fair.</p>
PLAINS- With the Sanders County Fair less than two weeks away, organizers and staff are working hard to prepare for the event that is expected to draw thousands from around the region. With flags waving in the air, fresh paint on the roads to designate handicapped parking and freshly mowed lawns, signs of the impending festival are already evident.
While fair participants rush to meet deadlines for competitions and attendees keep the phones ringing for last-minute tickets, Sanders County Fair Office personnel kept busy during crunch time before the doors open on August 26.
Fair Secretary Ruth Hamilton and assistant Pat Ingraham sat in the fair office processing entries and answering calls from those who have yet to purchase tickets to the biggest show in the county. Hamilton said the last two weeks leading up to the fair is a particularly busy time for the staff that begins preparations as early as the spring.
“We make lots of phone calls and we sell lots of tickets,” said Hamilton. “When it gets close to fair time we have to make sure all the buildings are clean and ready. It can get pretty hectic.”
In between coating strips of paint on the pavement for handicap parking, Sanders County Fair Manager Mike Hashisaki spoke about the efforts of the staff to get ready for the massive influx of people that will descend upon the facility in a few days. Hashisaki said fair personnel were in the process of completing a variety of small last-minute tasks before opening day.
“We are putting the finishing touches on things right now,” said Hashisaki. “We’ve ordered new picnic tables. Ticket sales are picking up. Nothing major right now. It’s just the little things. We feel pretty good about where we are at.”
The Sanders County Fair begins Aug. 26 and continues through Sept. 1. The fair officially begins on Monday with judging for arts, crafts and photography as well as sewing and needlepoint. Judging for the culinary arts, floriculture and horticulture begins on Wednesday accompanied by entries for livestock, poultry and rabbits.
Bull-riding, the carnival and live music commences on Thursday continuing through Sunday. The fair parade will make its way through downtown Plains on Saturday at 11 a.m. The 4-H awards presentation will take place on Sat. at 6:30 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Sanders County Fair will conclude with the ever-popular demolition derby at the Main Arena at 7 p.m. on Sunday.