The record heat didn’t keep fairgoers from having a PAWSitively fun time at this year’s county fair, with approximately 28,800 people attending between August 1 and 5.
“It got a little hot those last two days, but overall the weather made for a really fun and successful season this year,” said Rick Storvick, Thurston County Fair Manager. “I can’t say thank you enough to all of our event organizers, all of our contest and display participants, the fair staff members, and especially all of the volunteers who helped make this a great year.”
The 28,800 fairgoers brought in $178,000 in revenue for the fair. Since 2009, the Thurston County Fair has been a self-funding program of Thurston County government, with all of its operations paid for by the revenue from fair week, along with other activities and events throughout the year, such as RV and boat storage and the annual community garage sale in the fall.
One of this year’s highlights from fair week was a record-breaking food drive for the Thurston County Food Bank on the fair’s annual “One-Buck Wednesday” event, where admission is only $1 with a food donation for each person. In 2011, One-Buck Wednesday brought in four pallets of food donations and roughly $800 in cash donations for the food bank, while this year’s opening day brought in eight pallets of food donations and raised over $1,400 for the food bank.
Other highlights from this year’s fair include:
• Aug. 1 attendance – 8,400; Aug. 2 attendance – 6,100; Aug. 3 attendance – 5,100; Aug. 4 attendance – 5,700; Aug. 5 attendance – 3,500
• Approximately 900 Military Appreciation Day discount admission tickets sold
• Juanita Aaby, Superintendent of the Hobbies and Crafts Building and winner of the 2012 Commissioners’ Ribbon award for her management and display of the school projects, painting and photography exhibits, collections and hobbies entries, and other exhibits in the Hobbies and Crafts Building
• Winners for this year’s baking contests include:
o Sebastian Wilkinson, 2012 winner of the Spooner’s Farms Berry Best Pie Contest in the Youth category and the Overall winner
o Kathi Pugh, 2012 winner of the Cupcake Contest—Adult, and the Fair Manager’s Chocolate Cake Contest—Adult
o Tyra Shenaurlt, 2012 winner of the Mixed Berry category for the Spooner’s Farms Berry Best Pie Contest
o Leona Smith, 2012 winner of the Single Berry category for the Spooner’s Farms Berry Best Pie Contest
o Bernard Estores, 2012 winner of the Fair Manager’s Chocolate Cake Contest—Youth
o Gretchen Bossio, 2012 winner of the Cookie Contest—Adult
o Ira Eventyr, 2012 winner of the Cookie Contest—Youth
o Mara Landon, 2012 winner of the Cupcake Contest—Youth
For more information about the Thurston County Fair and year round activities and events at the fairgrounds, visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/fair or contact the Thurston County Fair Office at (360) 786-5453.
