WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Fairs enthrall crowds, enliven economy

More than most other states, Washington boldly affirms a long-standing love affair with fairs. And yes, fans, Fair Season 2014 is fully underway.

Community, regional and statewide hoopla small, medium and large is the bill of fare in most every one of our 39 counties. The North Central Washington Junior Livestock Show in Moses Lake got the ball rolling in March, and the Southeast Spokane County Community Fair in Rockford will carve an exclamation point on the schedule in September.

Fruits, vegetables, livestock, and whatnot from the Evergreen State’s farms and ranches always claim top billing at any given fair. This copious agrarian bounty has been headlining since General Motors was a lieutenant.

The Washington State Fairs Association notes that fairs draw visitors from all over the known world, and local economies take in more than $5 million a year, thanks to what the Fairs Association calls “Washington’s Largest Classroom.”

Check the association’s website for a fair near you. Or better yet, pick out a fair in some far corner of Washington, and make that the road trip of the summer!