Finis

Well, we've come to the tail end of the 2009 Clackamas County Fair.


My goal with this blog was to communicate what I saw at the fair and try to make it fun. With so many people coming together to share the things they love and believe in, it couldn't have been an easier job.

Thank you to all the people who organized, ran, and participated in this wonderful fair. And thank you to all the people that supported those people.

And finally, to the unidentified man who went to the information booth and asked what the fair does with all its manure - thanks. I was wondering the exact same thing myself.

Fantastic 4-H fashions

Here are two awesome dresses by up-and-coming 4-H fashionistas.

Let no one say that 4-H isn't fresh and contemporary. This fashion-forward duct tape dress by 10th-grader Mary Walsh of Eagle Creek would look good in any couture runway show.




This one-of-a-kind masterpiece was knit by Alyssa Rands, 10th grade, of Oregon City. It's not only mind-bendingly complex, it's really cute. How many stitches do you think it took to make it?

Here's your answer.

Most excellent job girls!

Back behind the Rainbow corn booth

If you've come to the Clackamas County Fair anytime during the last 45 or 50 years, you've likely seen the Rainbow corn booth, run by a local assembly of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. But have you ever looked behind it and seen what it takes to keep those cobs coming?

Well, here's a peek for you.


These women are corn cob shucking machines. For your own safety, please stay well back of the work area.

Talent Show People's Choice Winners

The fair talent show finals were last night and the audience voted on their favorites. Here are some of the People's Choice winners who performed again today at the Grove Stage.



Samantha Harms, 20



The tap group Breaking Dishes from Maralee's School of Dance in Oregon City.



Ashley Adame from Canby



Sophia Regelin, 5, from Gladstone.

Taryn Cross

Taryn Cross, 18, started singing when she was 7 years old, and has been singing professionally since she was 11. Originally from Bellingham, Wash., Cross has been performing at the fair all week. Today's set included songs by Lady Antebellum, Tanya Tucker, Sugarland, and others.



Taryn sang on the Main Lawn Stage today at noon.







Taryn's newest fan, 2-year-old Audra Rose of St. Paul, got right up and moved to the music.

Hot Out of the Oven Peach Pie and Cobbler Contest

I made it a point to swing by the Kitchen Cupboard in the Main Pavilion to see what was happening during registration for this contest.



Now this is a great contest sign.



Dropping off her dish of "Grammy's Peach Cobbler" (far right) is Kristin Beem, 17, of Boring. Accompanying her is Grammy herself, Joann Younts of Gresham, who won this contest last year with the very same recipe.

Break time in the barns

4-H and FFA kids don't have to work all the time. When I walked through the barns this morning, there were quite a number of exhibitors enjoying a well-deserved break.



Bonnie Powell, 14, a member of the Pioneer Ridge Goat Club in Oregon City, sings and plays guitar* for her friends.

*Sort of.




Mary Suing, 18, enjoys a sit-down with her Nigerian Dwarf goat, Little Reba. Considering she won Grand Champion goat in the Junior Open Class, I reckon Little Reba is entitled to a little lap time.

Suing, who used to live in Newberg, came all the way from Elko, Nev. to compete at the fair with her Yamhill County 4-H club, Udderly Amazing Kids.






Too tired to object to having their picture taken, this group was an easy target when I saw them lounging in the beef barn.

Starting in the front left and moving clockwise are:

Mitch Salo, 15, of Canby (front left, leaning on foam pad - FFA and 4-H)
Avery Farley, 15 Clackamas (FFA)
Katherine Miersma, 16, Clackamas (FFA)
Jordan Larsen, 18, Oregon City (FFA)
Raeleen Hanson, 17, Milwaukie (FFA)
Natalie Halladay, 16, Milwaukie (FFA)
Cody Rossman, 18, Oregon City (4-H)

Clackamas County Sheriff's Department

Four years ago Community Service Officer Sara McClung was working as an HR manager and decided she needed a career change. She went through the Clackamas County Sheriff's 17-week training program, and now she works in crime prevention, giving presentations on Internet safety and ID theft, among other things.



Officer McClung is at the fair this week making friends with little kids by handing out candy, and with big kids by showing them this brand new 2009 Dodge Charger with 8-cylinder Hemi engine.

Morning in Pioneer Village

Shane Wilken (left) of Leavenworth, Wash., pays a visit to the encampment of Bob "Hawks Spirit" Owens of Shingletown, Calif. Bob and his wife Sue "Bouncing Bells" offer you the chance to dress in Native American and mountain man costumes and get your picture taken.



Wilken sells leather work over at his camp, something he's been doing for 20 years. It's his third year at the Clackamas County Fair and his only trip of the year to the Oregon Territory. He limits the rest of his summer trading to pow wows in Washington state.

Clackamas County Stockmen's Association breakfast

There were lots of takers for the Stockmen's Association breakfast in the BBQ Grove this morning.

Nicholas has the midway all to himself

Nicholas Waite, 2 years, 3 months, of Wilsonville explored the entire midway before the rides started and the crowds came. He let dad Ryan come along, as long as he agreed not to interrupt Nicholas' sightseeing.




Yes! Just tall enough!

Secret pie entrance

All the stories are true. There really is a secret fair entrance for those delicious Methodist pies.

Here is a solitary photo of the legendary pie-way that I managed to take when no one was looking. It's locked and topped with barbed wire as you might imagine.

Sunday is Family Day

It's the final day of the fair, and admission for a family of two adults and up to four children (15 and under) is $20.

Here are today's family favorites:

• Clackamas County Stockmen's Association breakfast, 7 a.m. - 11 a.m., BBQ Grove
• Hot Out of the Oven Peach Pie or Peach Cobbler Contest, 10 a.m. - noon, Kitchen Cupboard, Main Pavilion
• Inspirational message and winners of Gospel Sing Competition, 11 a.m., Grove Stage
• 4-H and FFA Grand Champion Showmanship, noon, Main Show Ring
• King and Queen winners announced and Talent Show People's Choice Performance, 1 p.m., Grove Stage

And my top pick of the day...
Extreme Motorcycles Stunt Show and Demolition Derby, 2 p.m., Rodeo Arena (just $2 in the arena!)

To see the full Sunday schedule, click here.