Revamped horse arena to be dedicated Sunday on Jefferson County Fairgrounds

Sue McIntire, Jefferson County Fairgrounds board treasurer, shows off the fairgrounds’ renovated horse arena, which will be dedicated this weekend. -- Photo by Jeff Chew/Peninsula Daily News

By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND - Sue McIntire and other volunteers at Jefferson County Fairgrounds can hardly rein in their enthusiasm about the fairgrounds' new horse arena.

The arena is scheduled for a 10 a.m. Sunday ribbon cutting to mark its official opening, and some serious horsing around is likely.

The opening ceremony will include a horse show by the Silver Spurs 4-H Club.

"It's a big deal for us," said McIntire, looking out over the nearly finished project that expands the arena by 20 feet on the south and west sides to 117 feet by 217 feet.

New drainage, new fence poles and rails wrap around the arena that in the past was often plagued by poor drainage and deep mud.

"It flooded all the time. It was a hazard for kids and barrel racers that came for the fair," said McIntire, who with her husband, Bill, has long sat on the county Fair Board.

He is board president.

The new arena comes 600 volunteer hours and $26,000 in grants later.

That includes an $8,000 special assistance grant from state Department of Agriculture through the state Legislature, and an $18,000 grant from the Warren Weadell bequest.

Weadell, the late owner of award-ribbon-maker Western Publishing, intended in his bequest to give back to those who bought his awards ribbons, such as county fairs.

Discount excavation
Port Hadlock-based Shold Excavating also did the arena groundwork at a major discount, said McIntire.

McIntire said she will be sending photos to state officials to show them where their special assistance grant dollars are going.

Project construction, often interrupted by a long, wet winter, began after the fair in August, which drew nearly 17,000 visitors.

Work is wrapping up this week, said McIntire.

About 24 volunteers worked on the project, she said.

"We've had a lot of community support from the horse people," McIntire said, adding that there is still come work around the arena to be completed before the 70th annual fair Aug. 10-12, including landscaping.

With work never quite ending at the fairgrounds off Landes Street, McIntire said upcoming projects include upgrading the facility's campgrounds with better drainage, new horse arena grandstands and American With Disabilities Act-accessible rest rooms near the 4-H Building.

"My goal is to make this look like a golf course," said McIntire, looking out over the fairgrounds Tuesday.

Promotion under way
Until fair time in August, McIntire said the Fair Board is doing what it can to promote the fair.

This year's main fair performers will be The Coasters, the remnants of the legendary rhythm and blues group of the late 1950s and early 1960s whose hits included "Yakety Yak," "Searchin'" and "Poison Ivy."

Trying to increase attendance is the board's goal, she said,

"We figure we could go up 2,000 if we could get the locals to come," she said.