Yvonne Knuth

Yvonne Knuth Position 3 WSFA Director 2001-02

The opening session on Saturday afternoon kicked off the convention with a welcome from WSFA President Yvonne Knuth.After an introduction of the WSFA directors and a couple of committee reports, the floor was given to the opening speaker.

Fair manager Yvonne Knuth said attendance was down for the three-day fair, most likely due to the heat, but people did come out at night.Attendance figures for this year were 2,004 fair-goers, down from 2,836 in 2003.

"I wouldn't have been here if it was that hot, unless I had to," she said Monday, especially mentioning Friday's scorcher.

Knuth said she brought in 84 pounds of ice Friday morning for the concession stand and the rabbits."It was gone in four hours," she said.

Youth showmanship and other events ran two hours later than scheduled that day, Knuth said."We had to keep those animals cool," she said.

Yvonne Knuth, fair board president, said Andersen was among those more than 40 years ago, who worked to move the fairgrounds to the present location on the west side of the Cowlitz River, just outside town.
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"Before that, the fair was held at the county shop (now the city shop), the Woman's Club, Grange and other places in town," Knuth said.

The fair had to move back to the downtown locations in 1981 after the fairgrounds were buried under mud from the Mount St. Helens eruption.

"With the skills of Harvey, Dean (Boss) and Lee (Rogers), we were able to get back on the fairgrounds within two years," Knuth said.
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Knuth also credits Andersen with the success of a concession stand to raise money for the fair.
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"Even after he left the fair board, he was called upon for answers," Knuth said.

Yvonne Knuth, a board member of the Washington State Fairs Association, said she always checks the grange booth when she visits county fairs to see whether the community is making a proper effort to promote agriculture.

"This is what fairs are all about," said Knuth, a former manager of the Cowlitz County Fair.

She gave the Evergreen State Fair high marks across the board: It's easy to navigate, and along with its events and activities, it has plenty of nice tree-covered spots to take a breather, she said.

And best of all, Knuth said, the fair offers a good, solid education about farm life.

"Some kids think you get your chocolate milk from a chocolate cow," Knuth said.

Manager Yvonne Knuth (360) 274-8422