The Spring Youth Fair started off its jam-packed weekend last Friday with a dedication event officially renaming the exposition hall in honor of Lewis County’s beloved “fair father” Lee Coumbs, the former Centralia mayor and prolific community volunteer and advocate who died of cancer last year.
This spring, volunteers and community members were forced to manage without Coumbs.
Their hard work in preparing the fairgrounds and managing the three-day event was rewarded with an impressive turnout, as barns and buildings were packed with animals, parents, kids and still life exhibits.
Upgrades to the Dairy and Beef Pavilion and a dedication ahead of the event might have stoked excitement for attendees. Work continues at the fairgrounds, with a new roof being built for the 4H barn and the design process about to begin for a new equestrian center.
Fans of the fair appear to have a lot to be optimistic about. Fair officials hope that new excitement translates to more and more updates all across the fairgrounds, as well as increased participation as the Southwest Washington Fair approaches in August.
During the Spring Youth Fair, the Dairy and Beef Pavilion housed roughly 240 cattle split between beef and dairy exhibitors. That’s an all-time record, according to fair officials, and it wasn't the only area with outsized attendance.
Elementary Art Superintendent Holly Abbarno said her department had 500 more entries than last year, counting 1,871 submissions from schools across the region.
The fair featured 460 youth participants who showed exhibits in one of the fair's 10 animal categories: rabbits and cavies, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, goats, swine, beef, dairy, and poultry.
The fair had hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of still life pieces.
Categories included hobbies and crafts; wool and fiber; home and family; elementary, junior and senior art and photography.
Next up for the fairgrounds is the Southwest Washington Fair Aug. 12-17. Learn more at https://southwestwashingtonfair.org/.
