New at the fair
<p>Hailey the dog takes Sampson the mechanical bull for a ride Tuesday at the Okee Dookee Corral ride at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The North Idaho Fair and Rodeo begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday.</p>
<p>At left, Adrian Martinez holds a support beam as Edgar Patrician attaches it to a carnival ride Tuesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in preparation for this week's North Idaho Fair and Rodeo.</p>
<p>Sharon Panabaker of Hayden hangs a historic photograph at the Hayden Historical Preservation Commission exhibit Tuesday at the Kootenai Couny Fairgrounds, Building 7. The building will house a handful of exhibits from historical societies from around Kootenai County during the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo, which takes place Wednesday through Sunday.</p>
<p>North Idaho snow sculpting champion Bill Dow of Billings, Montana, constructs a larger-than-life sand castle Tuesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The castle will have caricatures that represent different facets of Kootenai County.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - There are a number of new attractions at the fair this year, starting with the new grand entryway, to be dedicated by Gov. Butch Otter this morning.
"This is going to be a great fair this year," said Kevin Kirking, who organized the artwork for the entryway as a board member of the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation. "There are a lot of plans for the future too. It's only going to get better from here."
Kirking said all of the artwork for the grand entryway was sourced through local artists, and the pieces reflect the origins of North Idaho.
Otter will cut the ribbon to open the fair this morning and give a brief dedication speech at 10 a.m. Once the gates swing open, fairgoers will have plenty of new features to enjoy this year.
Just inside the new entryway in Building 7, 15 historical societies and museum representatives have booths to celebrate 150 years of history in Kootenai County.
"This is Kootenai County's 150th anniversary," said Robert Singletary of the Museum of North Idaho. "Dane Dugan (executive director of the fair) called me up and asked if I could help set up an exhibit to celebrate the 150th anniversary."
Singletary said he invited every historical society, museum and commission involved in the history of Kootenai County in the past 150 years. They will be selling history books and videos that detail how Kootenai County came into existence.
All of the history booths will represent their specific areas in Kootenai County, such as Rathdrum, Farragut State Park, Post Falls and Bayview to name a few.
Singletary said there is also a wall of North Idaho pioneers with photos and write-ups on how each of them helped shape the growth of the region.
"We thought it would be good to get them all in one building and let the communities tell their stories of the first 150 years in Kootenai County," he said. "It is the first time this has ever happened."
The fairgrounds have been improved over last year with new water features and planters. Sherry McKay, of McKay Shows, was aesthetically pleased after setting up her miniature roller coaster ride around one of the new planters.
McKay said the new big thrill ride at this year's carnival is the "G-Force" ride, which slings riders around at heights of 150 feet.
"We also put in a new kiddy land area and a zip line this year," she said.
Okee Dookee Corral is also new to the North Idaho Fair. It is a new mechanical bull riding machine for kids. Samson the bull is a big hit, said owner Jerry Boone.
So is his dog Hailey, who actually rides the bull. Sure enough a crowd of kids saw Hailey mount the bull, and they had to come over for a look.
"She has been in the LA Times and a plethora of other newspapers," Boone said, adding he gives rides to about 5,000 kids a year.
Boone's vendor space is right next to a new beer garden area on the south end of the grandstands. The Clubhouse beer garden area has also been remodeled.
Landon Krom, from Odom Distributing was stocking the Clubhouse with pallets of beer on Tuesday.
This year there are two more beer gardens. One is located behind the bleachers on the main stage, and the other is located right next to the main exhibit hall and fair office.
Kirking said there is also a new bingo fundraiser tent for the fair foundation. There is no need to purchase daubers because they are provided, he said.
For a dollar, payers get three bingo cards for a chance to win a prize. There are no cash prizes because the state won't allow that.
In all, Kirking said, a lot of the credit for the transformation of the fair goes to fairgrounds staff.
"Dane Dugan and Kristi Blaver are a couple of confident, hardworking people who really did a great job," he said. "We are expecting good weather, and it's going to be a great fair."