100 years of the County Fair celebrated

By Heather Spaulding • August 20, 2024 1:30 am

One hundred years of county fair was celebrated this year. The dates were slightly altered from previous years, running from Thursday to Sunday rather than Wednesday through Saturday. Islanders seemed happy to turn out whatever the date, support the array of 4-H clubs, listen to music, and chow down some fair food. A few highlights:

• The OH NO went adrift and caused mischief accross the fairgrounds. Attendees that spotted it were encouraged to report it by calling the Derelict Vessel Hotline at 350-370-0555. The Derelict Vessel Program part of the Environmental Stewardship Department. Those who called were entered into a raffle to win a one-year membership with TowBoat US in Friday Harbor.

• The San Juan Island Museum of Arts raffled off a booth full of artwork by local artists.

• San Juan Island musicians Sway Wild and Tara Craig were among the many bands that got the community dancing.

• A duck won the chicken race while two hens stopped to cluck before the finish line. No one cried foul.

• It was a Fair proposal when George asked Sophia to marry him! (Spoiler alert – she said yes!)

• On Saturday, Island Rec held its 47th Annual Brad Pillow Memorial 8.8K Loop Run. The Friday Harbor 8.8K is now named in memory of Brad Pillow, who never missed a race! Island Re gave a huge thank you to this year’s sponsors: Island Strength and Movement, IPS, and Safe Harbor Insurance, and to all the volunteers who helped with the event. Full race results are posted to www.islandrec.org on the Community Events and Programs page.

The top three finishers in their group were as follows:

Overall

Neil Gresseth, 36.31

Ted Hart, 37.28

Peter Strasser, 27 37.46

Women

Isabel Bashaw, 39.16

Bailey Gripshover, 39.46

Flora Compton, 40.15

Men

Neil Gresseth, 36.31

Ted Hart, 37.28

Peter Strasser, 37.46

• On Sunday, a large crowd turned out for the Trashion Fashion show where participants danced and strutted down the runway showing off their costumes made of trash or otherwise recycled items.

Rain threatened to end the evening early – but a little water never scared islanders away.