Getting ready for the fair

I don't know how so few do so much for so many. Saturday was the day for fair superintendents and other volunteers to get together and get ready for what would happen Tuesday night … the grand opening of this years Boundary County Fair.

I was impressed for all the wrong reasons. There were few volunteers. I expected a cast of at least 50, the cast was actually in the 10s. It was the day to get a dry, dusty fairgrounds ready for it's biggest event of the year.

And except for a rare few, they were people who've been there in the days before the fair for years; unsung heroes.

Linda Lederhos, a benefactor for more than 30 years. Evelyn Smith, who came and went with alacrity to make sure everyone had what they needed.

I don't know how long Anna Thompkins has been a volunteer, but it was neat to see that her kids, Emma and Ben, barely in school, were there with her, wiping the tables and doing the churl work so essential to making an event such as this a success.

Judging by the fun they were having, I'm convinced they will be following in Mom's footsteps and grow up to be the next generation of volunteers who will be there to ensure the fair goes on, even if they have to do it themselves.

There was Barb, who sat across from me at the Superintendent's lunch and whose last name I never caught, who regaled us with tales of her garden's doings and who somehow enticed her son, an aspiring musician and Bonners Ferry High School senior, to come down and spend a day working. I doubt he remembers my name, either, but he was an impressive young man, one who didn't really want to be there, but who was seeing that his efforts mattered.

Janice John, Sharon Schneurle and Gayle Alexander were all there working, and congratulating me for helping … even though I hadn't done anything.

All I did was slice a few tomatoes and onions, build a snap-together kitchen table, and eat.

I was there to try to figure out my role as supervisor of poultry, and to throw in where I could. Fair administrator Sandy Schnepf somehow found time to tell me (I hope) all I need to do to not look like an idiot when I carry out my job.

I don't know that I was much of a help, even though I sliced the tomatoes, onions and lettuce for that day's lunch.

Sandy did try to find me something more “masculine” to do, building that kitchen table, but I think she was doing her best to convince me I was being useful while keeping me out of the way of those actually doing the work.

I didn't have time to get all their names. They were too busy to talk to me, and I didn't think it right to intrude on the work they were doing.

Sandy did say that this has been the hardest year to find volunteers. Likely has to do with the tough economic times. But she wasn't complaining.

When the number of volunteers dwindles, it seems, the more those few remaining old timers step up, it's just a matter of working harder.

Emma and Ben are too young to know about hard times. All they know is that they helped make this year's county fair and that they had fun in the doing.

People might worry about the future … the future will take care of itself.