Fair-well

PALMER — On the last day of the 2007 Alaska State Fair yesterday, vendors and fairgoers agreed on one thing: The weather this year was better than fair.

With final tallies of ticket sales and profits not expected until the end of this week, most vendors agreed this has been a top-notch year for attendance. Mother Nature may have played a large role in why.

“We did a 10 out of 10 this year,” said Barbara Cranshaw, employee at Becky’s Original Kettle Korn near the Red Trail entrance. “The weather has just been stupendous.”

For much of the 12-day fair, Palmer saw mostly sunny skies and very few clouds, with the exception of scattered clouds on opening day and light rain on Friday and Saturday mornings, which quickly dissipated. For nearly two weeks the people came, and on Labor Day it was no different. Kids and parents enjoyed the holiday by taking in one last hoorah with many vendors offering last day specials and deals on merchandise and services.

At the Purple parking lot entrance, attendant Toni Williams was happy with how the 2007 fair went down.

“The weather was ridiculously nice,” Williams said. She is a cook at a restaurant in Soldotna year-round, but made the trip to Palmer twice to work the fair parking lots.

“I have too much fun doing this,” she said. “This year we were crazy busy, but it’s always worth it in the end.”

Williams plans to return next year to offer more smiles to the busy, and often weary, parking crowds at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

“We don’t get to do this very often, so it’s a perfect day for it,” said Jill Sturgeon, mother of two making her first trip to the 2007 fair Monday. She has noticed how much larger the fair seemed this year with traffic extending into Wasilla, making it difficult to get her son to football practice.

“It doesn’t seem as crowded this morning, though,” she said.

Strurgeon, her husband Paul, and children Berit and Harlee made the pilgrimage from Wasilla to take in the sunny weather, the rides and family time.

“My husband is off from work, so it’s the only time we get to go together,” Sturgeon said.

Harlee, 11, a two-time fair-goer this year, said she likes the rides most of all. “I’ve been on all the big ones.”

The Matanuska Maid Corral again filled its bleachers with spectators turning out to see the Backhoe Rodeo, where professional operators used heavy equipment in skill and timed events. One event, which saw competing backhoe experts try to scoop eggs from sand pit without breaking them, received a huge crowd response in the warm afternoon sun.

At the food pavilion outside the amusement ride area, Joe Lentz, owner of Husky Burger, said the crowds were no big surprise to him. Lentz has been operating Husky Burger at the state fair for 46 years and said as the southeast part of the state grows, so does the fair.

“We’ve done good this year,” Lentz said. “When the weather is good though, you’re obviously going to get the people to come. The first weekend was a hell of a good weekend for everybody.”

Over at the Golden Wheel Amusement carnival area owner Jacqueline Leavitt agrees.

“God blessed us with this weather,” she said. “I’m not sure, number-wise, if we did better than last year, but in my opinion we did good.”

The Leavitts bought Golden Wheel Amusement from Joe’s mother, Claire Morton, in 2000. The family run amusement company has become the staple of entertainment for families attending the fair since, employing roughly 85 at the rides, games and ticket areas around the carnival.

On the last day, Leavitt said the show’s not over yet for the amusement park.

“When we close ship tonight, we’ll then pack up everything and start winterizing the equipment,” she said. “We have to paint the rides, make repairs, replace the lights and then get ready for Fur Rondy in the winter.”

Next year, Leavitt said Golden Wheel add a few new features that will make the public happy. “I can’t say what the new rides will be, but you’ll not want to miss it.”

Leavitt said the view from the top of her ferris wheel, the most popular ride at the Alaska State Fair, is what most people appreciate.

“The Alaskan fair-goer is an awesome group of people,” she said. “They come up and tell you that had a great time this year.”

Lt. Barry Wilson of the Alaska State Troopers, who assisted attendees inside the trooper’s booth at the fair, said this year was a good one because there was less crime and mischief involved over the course of the 12-day event.

“We had a few lost child reports or a concerned parent come in looking for their little one this year,” Wilson said. “But all-in-all, we have seen a very content and good flow of friendly people show up to the fair.”

Wilson, who taught the dangers of drinking and driving at his station along the Yellow Trail, said most of the incident reports called in were from outside the fairgrounds, not confined to any specific area in particular.

“Good weather brings good attitudes,” he said.

As the final numbers are being added up and people made their last day of fun count at the Alaska State Fair, many believe that when the weather is good, the fair is better than ever.

Contact J.J. Harrier at 352-2269 or valleylife@frontiersman.com.