Crows flee fairgrounds | NOTABLE

Smiles, joy and the wafting scent of hamburgers recently greeted a number of new faces at the Island County Fairgrounds in Langley.

The second annual Scarecrow Day brought almost 600 people, and 156 new faces, to the fairgrounds to consume free hamburgers, hot

dogs and chips provided by the Fair Association. Apples were donated by PayLess in Freeland and the Goose Grocer, and the Goose kicked in pumpkins to add to the fall flair.

Scott and Candy Lincoln stripped their corn field of stalks Sunday morning to add the final touch.

Last year, 64 scarecrows were made, so the success of this year’s Scarecrow Day with 156 scarecrows means next year’s goal is 300, said Sandey Brandon, administrator of the Whidbey Island Area Fair.

To celebrate National 4-H Week, Knight Riders 4-H Club member Molly Mills demonstrated how to groom a horse for show with Toby, while her sister Carlee gave a presentation on showmanship with her horse Abby.

An educational display of horse colors and paints promoted riding, as did the stickhorses kids rode throughout the day — making falls a little less painful than from real horses, Brandon said.

Overall, the event brought in just under $1,900, with additional income from the tractor hayrides, food donations, pumpkin sales and a raffle, Brandon said. The raffle winner, Shannon Walker of Clinton, donated her 50 percent back to the Fair Association.

Funds raised during the annual festival benefit the Island County Fair Association’s maintenance fund for the fairgrounds, which is wholly self-supporting and enables the fairgrounds to stay open year-round. This is especially important as the association is beginning a campaign to raise $75,000 to renovate the Pole Building kitchen, Brandon said.

 

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