In Our View: Clark County Fair defines community

A dictionary defines “community” in many ways. One meaning is “a group of people forming a smaller social unit within a larger one, and sharing common interests, work, identity, etc.” Other meanings include “likeness” and “friendly association.”

Clark County might define “community” by its history, like Fort Vancouver, or its institutions, such as Clark College. At The Columbian, we like to think we create a sense of community by reporting on local news not covered by Portland media.

And, of course, the Clark County Fair defines our community. For more than 150 years, the fair has been a pillar of our community, a highlight of the year, and, as its slogan puts it, “Summer’s Best Party.” This year’s fair kicks off its 10-day run at 10 a.m. today. By the time the last corn dog is consumed on Sunday, Aug. 11, more than 200,000 people will have passed through the gates of the fair, which for several generations has taken place on the fairgrounds along Interstate 5 near Northeast 179th Street.

Like the community it reflects and serves, the fair is both traditional and ever-changing. If you grew up around here, you know that the Monster Trucks always race on the last day of the fair, and that the Dairy Women will be selling milkshakes from that little red barn along the midway.

Some of the old traditions, like the opening day free pancake breakfast, are gone. But new attractions have taken their place, such as the popular butterfly garden and the Dinosaur Encounter featuring “a 78-foot-long T-Rex inflatable obstacle course” and “prehistoric golf.”

There will be hamburgers from the Ridgefield Lions, fresh pies from the Community of Christ church, three grandstand concerts, a demolition derby and bull riding. Local 4-H and FFA kids will show their animals, give their presentations, and exhibit their baked goods and strawberry preserves. There will be a pretty baby contest. (Pity the poor judges who have to choose that kid.) And horses, morning, noon and night.

In a world where everyone talks about artificial intelligence and virtual reality, a visit to the fair is about horse sense and dust, sweat and, if you visit the barns, the odors of farm animals.

If you go to the fair, here are a few things to consider. The fair opens at 10 a.m. daily and closes at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., so you can beat the heat by going early or late. Admission discounts are available on Monday for families, Tuesday for military personnel past and present, Wednesday for seniors age 62 and older, and kids on Thursday. You can get a $1 discount anytime (and save the $8 parking fee) by riding C-Tran to the fair from eight different locations, including the 99th Street Transit Center. The bus ride is free.

If you want to see the animals, avoid Tuesday evening, when some of the barns close early to change the animals for the second half of the fair. (Pro tip: the hogs are only on the grounds for the second half of the fair.)

Stay hydrated at the fair. Clark Public Utilities provides ice water from its booth in the commercial exhibits portion of the event center, which is fully air conditioned and has tables and chairs at the back where you can sit and cool down.

Most of all, have fun. Try something different. Poke your nose into the bee barn. Watch a 4-H kid prepare a meal for the judge at the demonstration kitchen. Eat an Irish Sundae.

Whatever you do, you’ll be building community. Since the first event in 1868, that’s what the Clark County Fair is about.