During the Board of Lewis County Commissioners business meeting on Tuesday, the three elected county leaders took a short break for a hula hoop contest.
The odd exercise came at the request of Southwest Washington Fair Outreach Committee, which came to the meeting, Aug. 5, to promote and celebrate the start of the fair next Tuesday, Aug. 12.
The outreach committee packed the room with fair officials and staff along with members of the fair’s advisory board, Miss Lewis County, the Lewis County Dairy Ambassador and Little Miss Friendly Hadleigh Westover. Also present were the five finalists looking to win the Little Miss Friendly cape and title on the first night of the fair.
Starting with the hula hoop contest, the fair outreach committee then passed a microphone around to share some of the group’s favorite parts of the fair. They urged the commissioners and residents of Lewis County to come out to the fair, which runs from Tuesday, Aug. 12, to Sunday, Aug. 17.
Southwest Washington Fair and Events Manager Fionna Velazquez introduced herself and five members of the fair staff to honor them and thank them for the work they do with the fair. Before handing off the microphone, she also took the chance to highlight some of the exciting events scheduled for the fair, such as the Lewis County Rodeo Wednesday and Thursday nights and the monster truck rally on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a number of competitions that will be happening throughout the week.
Miss Lewis County Madeline Scalici and alternate Dairy Ambassador Addie Hodel got a chance to speak during the meeting as well, sharing their own experiences with the fair and how they had come to love it.
Scalici shared that, as a child, she didn’t care for the fair, but she went on to explain that she has come to love the fair and appreciate everything that comes with it, especially the rodeo, which is her favorite part.
“When I was little, my mom had to drag me there because she always wanted to go to the petting zoo, and I did not like the petting zoo. You couldn't make me do it,” Scalici said. “And I have grown to love the fair. I love going with my friends and going on all the rides.”
Hodel, who is from Pacific County, reminisced on her five years showing at the regional fair. As she gets ready to finish high school, this will be the last year she will show cows at the six-day showcase.
“I started showing when I first joined FFA and one of my cousins had talked me into going. I was like, ‘ugh, that's a really long time to be at a fair,’ but I ended up going and having the time of my life,” Hodel said. “This will be my final year, sadly, but going for the past five years, I've enjoyed showing both dairy and beef cattle, and I encourage you guys to come out.”
Current Little Miss Friendly Hadleigh Westover tuned in virtually to introduce the five finalists who are competing to become her replacement. Each of the finalists introduced themselves and shared their favorite fair foods. The winner will be “caped” – meaning chosen as the next Little Miss Friendly and presented with the Little Miss Friendly cape — on the opening day of the fair at 6 p.m.
The finalists are:
• Avery Mordick, 10, of Chehalis
• Harper Paulis, 9, of Chehalis
• Bentley Pitts, 10, of Centralia
• Kimber Serl, 10, of Chehalis
• Danielle Stahl, 9, of Napavine
Fair event coordinator Ashley Hamilton spoke to the size of the upcoming fair, letting people know that both the horse and pig barns are filled to capacity this year. With seven days until the fair, Hamilton added that exhibitors were already running around the fairgrounds to prepare their stalls as the first of the carnival rides arrived to be set up.
“Seven days until the fair. We are keeping our hair in. We’re not pulling it out just yet,” Hamilton said. “Please come out and just take a look around. Lots of new and exciting things across all the barns, and we’re happy to have you guys.”
Last to speak, a member of the fair's advisory board, Edna Fund, urged residents of any age to enter their dahlias and other flowers into the fair. She included that her mother was the oldest person to enter flowers in the fair long ago.
After the outreach committee had done its job, the Lewis County commissioners invited attendees behind the podiums to take photos, first posing with the Little Miss Friendly candidates and the members of the Southwest Washington Fair royalty and then with the fair officials and county employees who have worked to make the event possible.
Learn more about the fair and plan your visit at https://southwestwashingtonfair.org/.
