Fair attendance appears to be up

COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho Fair and Rodeo has come and gone for another year and outgoing fair director Chris Holloway says things went well.

"You couldn't have asked for better weather," Holloway said.

Final attendance numbers aren't available yet.

"But I know from sales at the gate that turnout appeared to be up a bit," Holloway said.

Many of the rodeo shows, and the demolition derby on Sunday, were sold out, and others were at least 75 percent full, she said.

They had no major issues or problems, Holloway said, just routine things that always happen during fairs.

"Everything went smoothly," she said.

Packing up the fairgrounds' 4-H office on Monday, Jim Wilson said this year saw enthusiastic support for the animal shows, though the cost of feed has driven down some entry numbers.

"The weather at least was cooperative, which definitely made it easier for the kids and the animals," said Wilson, with the University of Idaho Extension Office. "And hopefully for the fair itself, because it relies heavily on tickets to operate."

Inside the home craft building, Judy Krueger gently handled model buildings, dolls and other craft exhibits for contestant pick-up.

Entries were down this year, but "that fluctuates," said Krueger, the building superintendent. "You never know."

The exhibits were just as popular for viewing, she and other staff noted, with a steady stream of impressed visitors.

Krueger pointed out the big favorites: A miniature log cabin with precise stone chimney, an American flag made from origami stars.

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for families to do something together," she said. "The kids get so excited when they've gotten a ribbon. One little girl came in running and hopping and skipping, saying, 'Come on! I'll show you where mine is!"

Candy Allen was proud of the crowded attendance in the donkey and mule barn, set up by herself and fellow animal owners.

"It's a labor of love. We have animals and we want everyone to love the animals and understand them better," said Allen, who owns a donkey farm in Athol.

It worked, she added: "We had so many people. People were petting all day long."

This was the best weather seen at the fair in her five years doing the project, Allen added.

And the fair operation was just as smooth, she said.

"I don't know if the public understands the volunteer power that's put into putting on this 5-day fair. It's many hours and time and bodies that have to come down," she said. "And for a relatively small entry fee, they're getting everything under the sun. It's the diamond for Kootenai County, as far as I'm concerned."