Saturday, August 22, 2009
La Pantera Festa dancers
The surprises at the Clackamas County Fair never seem to end. I came around the Grove Stage from behind and found women swirling and swooping yards and yards of colorful fabric. Muy bonita!
Most freakish eggplant
That is not commentary on my part. That is the actual category in which this, um, unique specimen of Solanum melongena is entered.
Congratulations to Kris McNulty on the blue ribbon. I think.
Congratulations to Kris McNulty on the blue ribbon. I think.
A most visually appealing tiny tomato display
It's quite lovely, this colorful assemblage of mini 'maters. My compliments to superintendent Janet Davis and the good folks over at the Agriculture Building.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Scarecrow
I love that the fair has a scarecrow contest, and I love this scarecrow in particular. When I'm done writing this, I'm going to imagine the scarecrow comes to life and we become best friends and have all kinds of wonderful adventures together. It seems like that kind of scarecrow.
Methodist pie sale
As someone who grew up Methodist, I believe I am allowed to reveal that two of the central pillars of United Methodist theology are eating and talking, preferably at the same time. The Methodists have raised the post-sermon social hour to a glorious, heavenly art form.
Here in Clackamas Hall, regardless of your beliefs, you can experience this comforting ritual for yourself. Get some pie, grab a table, and gab the day away.
I know my parents always did.
In this house of pie and healing, a sign of hope hangs on the wall. This also happens to be the title of song 237 in the Methodist hymnal.
Here in Clackamas Hall, regardless of your beliefs, you can experience this comforting ritual for yourself. Get some pie, grab a table, and gab the day away.
I know my parents always did.
In this house of pie and healing, a sign of hope hangs on the wall. This also happens to be the title of song 237 in the Methodist hymnal.
Best ramp in the county
While it's not a fair attraction, per se, this ramp on the east side of the Main Pavilion is really cool.
It leads from the ground floor up to the art and crafts on the second floor. It has three tiers, the top two of which are visible in the photo here.
It's a fun space that makes you want to run up and down - probably with your arms sticking straight out. As a bonus, the floorboards make delightfully creaky noises the entire way.
It leads from the ground floor up to the art and crafts on the second floor. It has three tiers, the top two of which are visible in the photo here.
It's a fun space that makes you want to run up and down - probably with your arms sticking straight out. As a bonus, the floorboards make delightfully creaky noises the entire way.
What is a wickless candle?
I had no idea, but Dorinda Stoller, who had a booth in the Main Pavilion selling Scentsy wickless candles, was nice enough to explain it to me.
Wickless candles use a 25-watt light bulb to warm scented wax in a bowl placed on top a decorative warmer. The warmers have holes in them and the effect is similar to the look and smell of candles, while being safer around kids, pets, and nosy bloggers.
Wickless candles use a 25-watt light bulb to warm scented wax in a bowl placed on top a decorative warmer. The warmers have holes in them and the effect is similar to the look and smell of candles, while being safer around kids, pets, and nosy bloggers.
A scene from the food court
Fair time is food time, and plenty of people were enjoying the wide variety of food and drinks available at the food court.
Chainsaw carvings by Toby Johnson
Getting fired eight years ago was the best thing that ever happened to Toby Johnson of Aurora.
Always a whittler, Johnson did his first chainsaw carving when he was 18 and working clearing trees along a road. He saw a parked track hoe and stopped to carve a model of it in a roadside stump. It must have been good, because when he went back the next day, someone had cut it off and taken it.
Years later, after losing his job at a manufacturing company, Johnson jumped in to chainsaw carving full time. Today, he is owner of Toby J's LLC, making log furniture in addition to his carvings.
Here, Johnson poses with an eagle and salmon carving he made. He estimates a seven-foot-tall carving takes about 30 hours to complete. He gets his wood from reclaimed lumber and trees that have been harvested due to land management and urban tree removal.
Always a whittler, Johnson did his first chainsaw carving when he was 18 and working clearing trees along a road. He saw a parked track hoe and stopped to carve a model of it in a roadside stump. It must have been good, because when he went back the next day, someone had cut it off and taken it.
Years later, after losing his job at a manufacturing company, Johnson jumped in to chainsaw carving full time. Today, he is owner of Toby J's LLC, making log furniture in addition to his carvings.
Here, Johnson poses with an eagle and salmon carving he made. He estimates a seven-foot-tall carving takes about 30 hours to complete. He gets his wood from reclaimed lumber and trees that have been harvested due to land management and urban tree removal.
Backstage at the dunk tank
The secret to revenue generation in the dunking business, unlike most other for-profit operations, is to heckle, taunt, and browbeat your customers.
When I happened by the Canby United Soccer Association dunk tank, Carlito Negrete, 12, was giving a master class in public ridicule. This kid has a serious mouth on him. I'm not talking profanity or crudeness, just jeers, unprovoked attacks on people's manhood, and an outpouring of abuse quite impressive from someone his age. No one was spared. Young or old, it didn't matter to Carlito. As you might imagine, he spent very little time actually sitting on his perch.
Carlito Negrete (on the right) suffers the just consequences of his actions. Again.
Dakota Hunter, 14, (left) could only sit and watch as the bloodthirsty mob waited for Carlito to retake his seat.
But Dakota was a quick study and soon as he was deftly hurling insults of his own.
When I happened by the Canby United Soccer Association dunk tank, Carlito Negrete, 12, was giving a master class in public ridicule. This kid has a serious mouth on him. I'm not talking profanity or crudeness, just jeers, unprovoked attacks on people's manhood, and an outpouring of abuse quite impressive from someone his age. No one was spared. Young or old, it didn't matter to Carlito. As you might imagine, he spent very little time actually sitting on his perch.
Carlito Negrete (on the right) suffers the just consequences of his actions. Again.
Dakota Hunter, 14, (left) could only sit and watch as the bloodthirsty mob waited for Carlito to retake his seat.
But Dakota was a quick study and soon as he was deftly hurling insults of his own.
Pretty Baby Contest, 0-10 months division
There were contests galore for babies ages 0 - 10 months this morning at the Grove Stage. Categories included cutest dressed girl and boy, best decorated diaper, happiest baby, fastest 100-meter dash, arm wrestling, etc.
Below are just some of the young competitors and their handlers.
Free train tours of the fairgrounds
Engineer Ken and his all-electric, solar-charged Rawhide Express is yet another reason it pays to say hello to people and ask questions here at the Clackamas County Fair.
I saw Ken's train driving by yesterday and hardly thought anything of it. But when I talked to him today I found out he's a former business management consultant who many years ago saw a train shuttling people around a fair and thought to himself, "It would be nice if someone gave tours of the fairgrounds." On August 2, he celebrated 33 years of providing those tours at fairs and other events.
Ken's mission is to show families what there is to see so they can get the most of their time before everyone gets tired and grouchy. He also gives personalized promotion of the fair's sponsors as he toodles about the grounds at precisely 2.75 mph.
He does 40 events per year and typically arrives three days early to orient himself and talk to fair participants. The man has a phenomenal ability to retain information, so put him to work for you. You can climb aboard right inside the main gate where the train leaves about every 20 minutes for the 12-minute ride.
I saw Ken's train driving by yesterday and hardly thought anything of it. But when I talked to him today I found out he's a former business management consultant who many years ago saw a train shuttling people around a fair and thought to himself, "It would be nice if someone gave tours of the fairgrounds." On August 2, he celebrated 33 years of providing those tours at fairs and other events.
Ken's mission is to show families what there is to see so they can get the most of their time before everyone gets tired and grouchy. He also gives personalized promotion of the fair's sponsors as he toodles about the grounds at precisely 2.75 mph.
He does 40 events per year and typically arrives three days early to orient himself and talk to fair participants. The man has a phenomenal ability to retain information, so put him to work for you. You can climb aboard right inside the main gate where the train leaves about every 20 minutes for the 12-minute ride.
Junior livestock auction
The 41st annual Clackamas County Junior Livestock Auction started at 9 a.m. If you didn't make this one, plan right now to come to the 42nd. It's a hoot and a half.
Here's a little primer on how the auction works. County businesses come out in force to support the kids. They pay a premium for the animals and get a tax deduction for the amount above market value. Then they have the option to re-sell what they've bought to one of a number of meat packing companies for a pre-set price per pound.
In addition, the kids can solicit sponsorships called proxies. This is where they get people to donate a certain amount per pound for their animal. When you add what the slaughterhouses guarantee per pound to the young person's proxies, that is the guaranteed price they will receive for their animal.
But that's just where the bidding starts. When someone bids on an animal, they pay only the amount of their bid minus the total of the proxy and meat packing prices. This spreads the cost between bidder, meat packer and proxy donors, and ensures top dollar for the kids.
Technical details aside, this auction was heaps of fun. Auctioneer Jake Falleson has the chops to buh-day, buh-day, buh-day with the best of them, but he didn't stop there. Apparently a personal friend of everyone in attendance, he peppered his calling with greetings to the bidders, good-natured ribbing, and funny stories. He even stopped the bidding at one point and got the whole crowd to sing happy birthday to exhibitor Jessica Lochridge of North Clackamas FFA who turns 17 today. And Falleson concluded every bid with a heartfelt thanks to the buyer. The whole thing felt like being part of a great big family
Les Schwab managers and assistant managers from some of Clackamas County's 11 Les Scwhab locations. Buyers at the auction for 22 years, Les Schwab stores are major supporters of youth livestock auctions.
Jake Falleson works his magic on the mike.
Jonny Fendall of Sandy FFA with his Grand Champion market goat and winning bidder Roz Rushing of Geren's Farm Supply in Boring . Geren's also received a plaque for 30 years of participation in the livestock auction.
The bidding was high-energy, to say the least.
Falleson looks out at all his friends. (Click photo to enlarge)
Jake Ellis, independent (on right), with his Grand Champion market steer and winning bidder David Morgan (in blue hat) of Morgan Distributing, Inc. This was Morgan Distributing's 20th year in a row as an auction buyer.
Here's a little primer on how the auction works. County businesses come out in force to support the kids. They pay a premium for the animals and get a tax deduction for the amount above market value. Then they have the option to re-sell what they've bought to one of a number of meat packing companies for a pre-set price per pound.
In addition, the kids can solicit sponsorships called proxies. This is where they get people to donate a certain amount per pound for their animal. When you add what the slaughterhouses guarantee per pound to the young person's proxies, that is the guaranteed price they will receive for their animal.
But that's just where the bidding starts. When someone bids on an animal, they pay only the amount of their bid minus the total of the proxy and meat packing prices. This spreads the cost between bidder, meat packer and proxy donors, and ensures top dollar for the kids.
Technical details aside, this auction was heaps of fun. Auctioneer Jake Falleson has the chops to buh-day, buh-day, buh-day with the best of them, but he didn't stop there. Apparently a personal friend of everyone in attendance, he peppered his calling with greetings to the bidders, good-natured ribbing, and funny stories. He even stopped the bidding at one point and got the whole crowd to sing happy birthday to exhibitor Jessica Lochridge of North Clackamas FFA who turns 17 today. And Falleson concluded every bid with a heartfelt thanks to the buyer. The whole thing felt like being part of a great big family
Les Schwab managers and assistant managers from some of Clackamas County's 11 Les Scwhab locations. Buyers at the auction for 22 years, Les Schwab stores are major supporters of youth livestock auctions.
Jake Falleson works his magic on the mike.
Jonny Fendall of Sandy FFA with his Grand Champion market goat and winning bidder Roz Rushing of Geren's Farm Supply in Boring . Geren's also received a plaque for 30 years of participation in the livestock auction.
The bidding was high-energy, to say the least.
Falleson looks out at all his friends. (Click photo to enlarge)
Jake Ellis, independent (on right), with his Grand Champion market steer and winning bidder David Morgan (in blue hat) of Morgan Distributing, Inc. This was Morgan Distributing's 20th year in a row as an auction buyer.
Canby Boosters breakfasts
Every morning starting about 7 a.m., the Canby Boosters and rotating student groups serve up breakfast to early risers at the fair. They are even here Monday before the fair opens to feed the exhibitors, vendors and staff setting up. I've gotten used to smelling the bacon and seeing the hungry masses lined up at the tent or eating at nearby picnic tables each morning.
Today's student servers are from the Canby dance team.
Jan Harmston, Boosters treasurer (left) and Boosters member Angie Liechty are on the early shift.
Today's student servers are from the Canby dance team.
Jan Harmston, Boosters treasurer (left) and Boosters member Angie Liechty are on the early shift.
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Fair!
Howdy,
It’s Saturday morning and that means Salute to Agriculture Day at the Clackamas County Fair. For today's full schedule click here.
It’s Saturday morning and that means Salute to Agriculture Day at the Clackamas County Fair. For today's full schedule click here.
There are some major events happening today including:
- Pretty baby contest (every baby wins!)
- 0-10 months: 11 a.m., Grove Stage – registration begins at 10 a.m.
- 11-20 months: 1 p.m., Grove Stage – registration begins at noon
- Talent competition finals, 7 p.m., Grove Stage
And I’m personally looking forward to a couple of pastry events:
- Men and boys chocolate cake awards, noon, Kitchen Cupboard in Main Pavilion
- 4-H Cake Decorating Contest, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., (4-H Exhibit Hall?)
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