The Mboob family, of Rochester, Maxwell, 11, left, Stella, 8, center-left, Oliver, 6, center-right, and their mother, Rachel, set up their artwork on shelves in preparation for the Spring Youth Fair on Tuesday evening at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis.
Jay Hall moves sawdust around the 4-H Pavillon in preparation for the arrival of hundreds of animals for the Spring Youth Fair on Tuesday afternoon at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis.
Volunteers from the Lewis County Drug Court set up animal pins for the Spring Youth Fair on Tuesday afternoon at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis.
Volunteers hang drawings for the Junior Artwork section of the Spring Youth Fair on Tuesday afternoon at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis.
After working to put the animal pins together, Hayden Carter, 9, hops over the railing at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Tuesday evening as crews of volunteers help set up for the Spring Youth Fair which opens on Friday.
Volunteers hang up drawings for the Junior Artwork section of the Spring Youth Fair at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in April 2015.
Hayden Carter, 9, and Steve Dahl, of Centralia, put together the animal pins at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Tuesday evening as crews of volunteers help set up for the Spring Youth Fair which opens on Friday.
Youth in the area will have an opportunity to put their artistic abilities and animal handling skills on display as the 34th annual Spring Youth Fair begins on Friday.
Event organizers expect 10,000 attendants to come to the event, and approximately 3,000 entrants total.
The fair, which has a goal of providing a learning experience for participants, has 18 different departments contestants can enter, including both animal and non-animal categories.
Photography, art and hobby entries included in the non-animal category were judged on Wednesday.
Event chairman Lee Coumbs said a majority of participants come from the Lewis County area, but more popular categories, like the beef entries, come in from as far as Oregon and Canada.
Through the experience, Coumbs said, the entrants are able to hone a plethora of skills while being exposed to competition and good sportsmanship. It also helps build connections between the kids and their supporters.
“We really encourage adults to work along with the kids,” Coumbs said.
The environment creates a safe place for kids and families to enjoy. Activities, shows, entertainment, carnival rides and food will also be offered.
Coumbs said all youths are eligible to compete in the competition, and participants as young as 3 years old have participated in the events.
This year a few science-related displays will be set up in Expo Hall, a new addition to the youth fair.
As the youth compete in a variety of different categories, premium money and ribbons will be awarded to exhibitors. All participants are required to pay an entry fee, and Coumbs said approximately $45,000 is added to what is raised, an amount that will go back into the community.
The event originally came to inception after three struggling spring events combined into a single larger event, ultimately creating the Spring Youth Fair.
Since its creation, the event has been a major draw for the community and the surrounding areas.
