Rabbit poop covers Larry Lehtonen’s office floor.
But he’s gotten used to it, as well as the warren holes dotting his outdoor domain.
Besides, he has bigger concerns — the drainage field, the campground, the commercial kitchens and everything else that comes with maintaining 13 acres, 26 buildings and 75,000-plus square feet of facility space.
Lehtonen is director of the Island County Fairgrounds, a new position created by the Port of South Whidbey since it assumed ownership of the fairgrounds in March 2017. The port hired him three months ago to provide leadership, manage maintenance projects and oversee the fairground’s finances.
“It can have its stressful moments, but it’s pretty nice,” he said.
While giving a tour of barns and buildings, Lehtonen talked about the potential of the space that has mostly sat dormant 11 months of the year.
“We’ve got plans that this needs to be used throughout the year,” he said.
Ideas include a bluegrass festival, seasonal food or art events, Renaissance Fair and historical presentations.
Lehtonen is busy scheduling organizations interested in holding events as well as business owners checking out potential sites for renting year-round.
“We’re here for the community,” Lehtonen said. “The challenge is letting the community know we’re here.”
The port also hired Kristi O’Donnell as the fairgrounds events coordinator to help spread the word that the sprawling grounds and its many historic barns are open for business.
“The energy is exciting and people are appreciating the fairgrounds immensely,” she said. “It’s growing into a vibrant multi-use economic engine.”
O’Donnell is also a musician with Hot Club of Troy, one of dozens of bands arriving soon for the Northwest Djangofest in Langley. The annual gypsy-jazz festival, held at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, is Sept. 19-23. She plans to be at a new fairgrounds campground location designated for jamming-til-dawn gypsy jazz players.
In August, the port’s vision became reality with the booking of several events and a wedding.
Rotary Club Black Tie and Blue Jeans fundraiser, Island Senior Resources’ drag bingo and Cool Bayview Nights Car Show all took place at the fairgrounds.
Lehtonen is especially pleased with the use of the Pole Building, the fairground’s original structure built in 1937. It has a commercial kitchen, stage and enough open space for a roller rink.
“Before it sat empty except during the fair,” he said.
In August, the austere old barn became a classic setting for a local couple to get hitched. With decorations, live music and other festive touches, the barn went from drab to fab.
“We decorated the pole building with string lighting, tables with rustic decorations and flowers. Simple and easy,” said Joe Wierzbowski of his wedding and reception. He and his wife, Stephanie, are the owners of the food truck, The Big W. “It was wonderful. We catered it ourselves and the kitchen was set up very nice for the size of our event.”
The Coffman Kitchen and Pole Kitchen are regularly booked by Simpatico Foods, Burt’s Better Foods, Whidbey Island Cocoa, Mutiny Bay Blues Blueberries, Bloom’s and Eagle’s Song Health and Wellness, O’Donnell said.
Use of the fairgrounds campground is also up 25 percent this year.
Lehtonen worked as a mechanical engineer. He’s also designed and built houses, overseen construction projects, managed the funds of companies and overseen staff.
“It’s been a natural fit,” he said of the new job that really wasn’t part of his long-term plan.
“I thought I was retired,” he said, with a laugh. “It’s serendipitous. I have a place I’m working on about one mile from here. I just happened to open up Craig’s List, which I hadn’t done in two years, and I saw the job announcement.”
Lehtonen will also oversee the fairgrounds capital improvement projects.
About $1.67 million in renovations over a two-year period were identified, including electrical upgrades, expansion of the Coffman Building commercial kitchen and upgrades to its campground.
During the annual Whidbey Island Fair, Lehtonen’s role is responding to maintenance issues and other grounds and building needs of the Island County Fair Association, which continues to run the fair.
“My job during the fair is to go around to different managers and say, ‘Tell me what problems you’re having with any facilities’ and I’ll look into it,’” he said.
The fairgrounds lives up to its name for four days in July, but it needs three weeks to set up and clean up. That means temporarily booting out businesses renting space in barns and other buildings.
After four years, Adam Fawcett, owner of Vibrant Fitness, says he’s gotten used to the July disruption, and so have his clients.
“I put all the equipment behind a wood divider and keep it on site,” Fawcett said. “Then it becomes a place for crazy vegetables.”
He’s transformed the Burrier Building, which is usually full of 4-H agricultural displays, such as honey and whacky vegetable creations, into a fitness playground. Bekah Bee Music also rents space in the building.
Fawcett’s personal training business has about 40 or 50 clients who take group training sessions, and there’s also a youth fitness program. Using tons of black rubber pads and an assortment of weight machines, colorful fitness balls and other exercise gear, Fawcett calls the space perfect — it’s close to Langley, there’s lots of parking and sweating helps during the winter.
“It gets chilly in winter,” he said. “But my clients know to wear layers and they start warming up right away.”
Lehtonen knows the fairgrounds brings back many fond memories for Whidbey residents. He’d like it to provide new memories with new activities and tenants.
“A lot of old-timers have told me they just love the space,” he said. “Generations of families have attended the fair, there’s just those kind of roots here. We have parking. We have the space. We’re an opportunity. “
Vibrant Fitness has rented one of the fairgrounds building for four years. Owner Adam Fawcett (left) is a personal trainer who helps some 50 clients, including Emma Lloyd (right). (Photo by Patricia Guthrie/Whidbey News Group)
There’s a few unusual fixtures found on the Island County Fairgrounds, such as this locked safe in the corner of the Pole Building. Larry Lehtonen, fairgrounds director, says no one knows what’s in the safe or its combination. (Photo by Patricia Guthrie/Whidbey News Group)
