SAN JUAN COUNTY FAIR

2006 FAIR INFO

DATES:
Wednesday, Aug. 16 through Saturday, Aug. 19

FAIR BOARD

Gigi Bernardi

Doug Bison

Cathy Eggenberger

Brad Fincher

Terry Evans

Sharon Kivisto

Dan Seaton

Burt Vinson

Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria

FAIR MANAGER

Christine Miller

Sneak preview of Centennial quilt

Marie Johansen's idea to create a colorful commemoration of the centennial of the county Courthouse and the Fair is right on schedule. Quilters contributed the 100 squares which have been pieced together. The next step is professional longarm quilting.

Fair Board seeks donations for free admission

posted 05/11/2006
The county Fair Board is throwing a four-day party and would needs help to throw the doors open and let every one in for free. The Centennial San Juan County Fair -- August 16-19 -- celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1906 county fair. During the past 100 years residents from all the islands have gathered to show off their best flowers, wool, apples, quilts, sheep, chickens, goats, pigs, paintings, photographs, pies, canned goods, etc.

While the world has changed since the first county fair on the docks in Friday Harbor in 1906, there is still much to be gained by gathering as a community. The fair is the only entertaining countywide event (unless you count OPALCO annual meetings).

By having a free gate, we can draw in people who may not know what's inside the fairgrounds. They will:

• Discover their friends' and neighbors' hidden artistic talents.
  
  
• Show their children where eggs and the rest of breakfast come from.
  
  
• Hang upside down from carnival rides.
  
  
• Read and hear about island history directly from members of old island families.
  
  
• Hear an amazing variety of musical groups.
  
  
• See a colorful roomful of quilts.
  
  
• Watch horses zip around the arena as the riders hang on.
  
  
• Catch up with old friends.

A $500 donation funds 100 admissions; $1,000 supports 200 admissions; $5,000 pays 1,000 admissions; $10,000 subsidizes 2,000 admissions; $25,000 furnishes 5,000 admissions and $100,000 covers the whole shooting match. We have sponsorship benefits that go with each level of donation including display space in the Fair Premium Book.

If you would like to help the Fair Board reach its goal of a free gate to celebrate the Centennial, please contact Fair Board member Sharon Kivisto at 378-3748 Donations can be sent to San Juan County Fair, P.O. Box 1094, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Thanks.

It's time to stitch up Centennial squares

posted 3/4/2006
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the San Juan County Fair and the county Courthouse. In honor of this milestone, Marie Johanson is spearheading a Centennial Quilt project. The quilt will consist of a depictive central medallion-style block that will be surrounded by 100 squares. The 100 squares will celebrate the histories of the Fair and the Courthouse. The deadline for turning in a completed square is Friday April 14, 2006.

Themes for the squares can be taken from categories in the Fair book – flowers, vegetables, chickens, sheep, goats, carnival rides, etc. Courthouse images - the holly tree, courthouse lamps, signs, etc. are a few ideas.

All techniques are welcome – including, but not necessarily limited to, piecing, appliqué, painted and photographic. In order to assure consistency in viewable background, participants will be provided with a piece of fabric which must be used for any background area that will be visible. Finished squares will measure eight inches. Additional background fabric will be provided if needed, just ask.

It is possible to have a digital photograph/image transferred onto fabric. Please contact Marie for further information. A good quality copy of the digital image would need to be provided. The total number of photographs that are used in the quilt may have to be limited.

The total cost for this quilt is estimated at approximately $1,000. to cover the materials and for professional longarm quilting. When completed, the quilt will be donated to the county for display at the Fair and in the Courthouse. Names of participants and sponsors will be noted on a dedication which will be included on the quilt in a location to be determined.

If you are interested in participating by donating a block(or blocks) and/ or contributing to this project, please contact Marie Johansen at 378-5840 or Liz Pillow at 378-4334. They will be happy to mail the fabric square to you.

The fabric square and a list of potential "block topics" will be available either at the courthouse (call Marie for further information about this option) or the square can be mailed to you.

A $10 donation to help defray the cost of the project is encouraged or whatever you can afford. Organizers are hoping to locate an interested party or business to underwrite the construction costs for this project. Should that happen, any additional monies collected will be donated to the Fair Board in support of their hope to provide free admission to the Centennial Fair.

Celebrating the Centennial of the County Fair

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 1/18/2006
County residents held the first San Juan County Fair on the docks of Friday Harbor in 1906. One hundred years later, people are already working to make this year's Centennial celebration the best fair ever. History buffs are gathering artifacts, quilters are creating 100 squares, and fundraisers are hoping to raise money to reduce admission prices.

For four days in August, (Aug. 16-19 this year) the fair attracts people from all over the county. 4-H kids show off the results of their hard work. Arts and crafts in a wide variety of media are proudly displayed. Competitions draw crowds of enthusiastic rooters. Musicians entertain. Islanders partake of their annual ration of elephant ears. Many people who have moved away come back to catch up with old friends.

Preparations for this year's fair are underway. In honor of the Centennial, Gigi Berardi of Shaw Island is coordinating an agricultural history exhibit. If you are interested in helping or have information you'd like to share, please contact Gigi at gigi.berardi@wwu.edu.

Marie Johansen came up with the idea of a quilt to commemorate the centennials of both the county fair and the courthouse. One hundred squares will be collected and stitched into a quilt which will be permanently displayed in the courthouse. During fair time it will be displayed at the fairgrounds. More information about this project will be posted early next week.

As part of the Centennial celebration, the fair board would like to see more islanders than ever enjoying the fair. We hope to be able to offer free admission.

Since the fair relies on revenue from admission tickets to cover operating costs, a fund-raising committee has been formed. Committee members Brad Fincher, Dan Seaton and I are hoping we can raise enough donations to replace the admission fee revenue. Donations are tax-deductible.

The donations will be used to reduce admission prices. If the fund-raising drive reaches $100,000, admission will be free.

If you'd like to donate and help make the 2006 fair one of the biggest and best celebrations this county has ever seen, please contact me at kivisto@centurytel.net or call 360.378.3748. Thanks.

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