Don’t Miss Out on the Kittitas County Fair! Insights from Kristina Paquette

Exploring the Magic of Kittitas County Fair with Kristina Paquette

Step right up, folks! In this episode of *Exploring Washington State*, we get the scoop from the delightful Kristina Paquette about her thrilling experiences at the Kittitas County Fair.

Gather ’round as we unravel the enchantment of fairgrounds, cotton candy dreams, and the tantalizing array of food offerings that will have your taste buds doing a happy dance!

Behind the Scenes of the Fair

Kristina takes us on a mesmerizing tour of the Kittitas County Fair, where she wears many hats, from promoting and ticket sales to overseeing exhibitor entries.

Delve into the fair’s rich history, from its origins in 1885 to its evolution into a dazzling extravaganza held at the Kittitas Valley Event Center from August 29th to September 2nd, 2024.

Unlocking the Fair’s Secrets

Discover the insider’s guide to the Kittitas County Fair, including tips on parking, admission discounts, and the not-to-be-missed pre-show events. Uncover the heartwarming tales of community support, the magic of livestock auctions, and the vibrant energy of over 1100 exhibitors showcasing their talents.

Kristina and Cotton Candy

Kristina is the mastermind behind the delightful Cherry on Top Cart Company, serving up the fluffiest, naturally flavored cotton candy in town. She dishes on her journey from university to launching her mobile cotton candy venture, with exciting plans to expand into frozen drinks and popcorn. You can almost taste the magic of her favorite flavors – coconut, root beer, key lime, and cherry!

Kittitas County Fair Kristina Paquette Episode Transcript

Hello, friends, and welcome to the Exploring Washington State podcast. My name is Scott Cowan, and I’m the host of the show. Each episode, I have a conversation with an interesting guest who is living in or from Washington State. These are casual conversations with real and interesting people. I think you’re gonna like the show. So let’s jump right in with today’s guest. Alright. I am sitting down today with Christina Paquette.

Scott Cowan [00:00:28]:

We’re gonna say that’s the pronunciation, Christina. We’re gonna stick with it because that’s probably the best that I’m gonna do. And Christina is on the board of directors for the Kittitas County Fair, which I didn’t even realize that fairs I guess, my is I’m to be completely transparent with you, you know, you think of a fair as somebody who goes there.

Right? And you’re like, oh, you don’t think necessarily about the big group of people who put this thing on every year. So the Kittitas County Fair has a board of directors. Your title here is your marketing, advertising in the kids’ egg zone. Yeah. What I wanna start off with the very, very first question from you is, was did you start with the kid ag zone and ad marketing and advertising, or did they say, hey.

Scott Cowan [00:01:13]:

You’ve got marketing and advertising, and we want you to do the kids zone. How did that happen? That seems like a interesting blend.

Kristina Paquette [00:01:20]:

So I joined the board back in 2016, and when I joined, there’s a board of directors. There’s 18 of us. And so when somebody steps down, whatever position’s open, the board can decide if they want to rearrange their titles or what they’re in charge of their area. So when I first started, I was in charge of commercial and concession vendors. So, that kind of just morphed into moving into marketing and advertising when that became available when somebody else stepped down off the board. So the kids ag zone was kind of an addition in the last few years with a fellow board member. We, worked on that together to make something fun and free for kids. So, but the marketing advertising is the one that I’ve been doing.

Scott Cowan [00:02:10]:

So Alright. So before we start you know, I threw you into the bus right right to start. Okay. But before we really start about the fair, what’s what’s your story? When we talked on the phone originally, you yeah. What how did you how did you get involved with the fair? And you I mean, I don’t wanna say obviously, but you you live in Ellensburg. So, the big question is why does anyone live anywhere? So why do you live in Ellensburg? Would none is a good thing. I mean, you know, you know, why, why do we choose to live where we live? So why are you living in Ellensburg and, what brought drew you to getting involved with the fair?

Kristina Paquette [00:02:47]:

Great. Yeah. So I moved in Ellensburg in 1998. Moved here in high school. So, after high school, went to Central and just stayed here in Ellensburg. And, my family moved to the West Side, Seattle area, and Tacoma. And I stayed in Owensboro because I like the small towns. So, but when I was at Central, I interned at the Fair office and got to kind of see the behind the scenes, work in the office, work with the staff members, but then work with the board at the time.

Kristina Paquette [00:03:20]:

And so I actually came back 2 years, after that. Like, I went 1 year and then came back for another 2. So I loved working in that fair office and then went to go work at Central after I graduated for about 15 years. And just I I heard about, being able to apply to be on the fair board. And when I, yeah, I just wanted to be involved and see on that side of it and interviewed and got in. So it was exciting.

Scott Cowan [00:03:48]:

And what did you major in at Central?

Kristina Paquette [00:03:51]:

I double majored. I double majored in ITEM, information technology and administrative management, and law and justice. So, wasn’t sure what I wanted to do fully and kind of halfway through my law and justice degree decided, I don’t think I’m meant to be a police officer. So I really like the program though and continued to finish that out and then, took on the ITAM, and that really kind of shaped my career at Central with, working there and learning more about marketing, advertising, and communications. So that was exciting to get that experience there. And then, when I left Central a couple years ago to work from home and do some things, I just continued to be on the fair board and, that a lot of people do think that’s my full time job, but it’s not. It’s a volunteer position and, but it’s it’s been fun to learn and try new things on the board.

Scott Cowan [00:04:47]:

So So when you were growing up, were were you involved like farms, a lot of animals, things like that. So were you were you a 4 h kid? Did you were are we like, I grew up in the city. So Right. You know, no no no 4 h here.

Kristina Paquette [00:05:03]:

Right. Same here. I didn’t grow up on a farm, and, I have friends that were in 4 h and FFA, but, didn’t I wasn’t involved in the fair that way. Through high school when I moved here, I did enter as an exhibitor.

Scott Cowan [00:05:18]:

I

Kristina Paquette [00:05:18]:

entered in, some art projects and photography and some baking. So, that was kind of my involvement in our fair here. And previously, before I moved to Ellensburg, I was kind of the same at my old, cities or my old town’s fair. So Alright. Just an exhibitor.

Scott Cowan [00:05:36]:

Okay. Well, now let’s talk about, like, kinda, like, the the history of the fair because there’s this I I’m confused and I think my confusion’s probably. Well, I hope I’m not the only one because that’d be really embarrassing if I was the only person who didn’t get it. But so I think, I think people confuse the fair with the rodeo and they think that they’re the same thing. And as I’m realizing now, I think I’m wrong.

Kristina Paquette [00:06:13]:

No. That’s totally valid. But, I mean, we happen the same time of you know, it’s Labor Day weekend, and a lot of people, if you mention Ellensburg, they say, oh, the rodeo. We know we bought the rodeo, and and it is. It’s a big deal, and we are a fair and rodeo town for Labor Day weekend. So, and last year, we celebrated 100 years of the rodeo at the fairgrounds. And so a lot of people did think it was the 100 year of the fair as well. Mhmm.

Kristina Paquette [00:06:39]:

But it’s actually, the fair’s been going on since 18/85. So it started, before 1923, and they just created the fairgrounds for the rodeo and the fair to start happening in 1923. So 100 years celebration of the fairgrounds and the first buildings that were built there. But, again, the fair has been going on before that and and some yeah. It’s it’s pretty cool to say, you know, we’ve been around that long. But, we do work together with the rodeo board. The fair board and rodeo board are separate, but we we have to work together for the Labor Day weekend.

Scott Cowan [00:07:17]:

That’s actually really fascinating to me that the that the that the fair started back in 18/85. Do you know where the fair took place physically in 80 in, in 18/85?

Kristina Paquette [00:07:30]:

I do. So if you know the exit to Ellensburg, we have 2. Right? Right. So the one that’s down by McDonald’s, that that interchange is where it used to take place. Oh, really? They had cleared out a bunch of land and made their, space for people to bring in exhibits. There’s no buildings constructed or anything like that. It was all outdoors. But, yeah, it was out there.

Kristina Paquette [00:07:53]:

And then in 1923 is when the community came together and built the the rodeo track. And, the photos, if you go out to the history, like, the library and the Kittitas County Historical Museum has a lot of great photos to show you of, like, the community building, the fairgrounds, and the grandstands, and the first building for exhibits. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:08:14]:

So I didn’t realize that the the the freeway was there in h n e no. I’m just kidding.

Kristina Paquette [00:08:20]:

That space out there, that area off of it by 90.

Scott Cowan [00:08:23]:

Yeah. I know. I’m sorry. I just I think if if what little history I’m aware of here, I do think that the the Yakima Canyon, the the river down that that way to Yakima, that that road is probably the Mhmm. The road of accident, you know, between, you know, Yakima and Point South and Ellensburg. And I don’t know I don’t know what and that would have been a wagon. I mean, I don’t know what there would have been going over the Cascades at that time. There was something, but not

Kristina Paquette [00:08:54]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:08:55]:

Not I ninety. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:08:57]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:08:57]:

So in 23, they moved to the new facility. And I I could just, you know, ask you the question, what’s changed in a 100 years? But, obviously, a lot has changed. But as the fair continues to grow and evolve and modernize, I mean, buildings buildings have to be replaced, buildings are updated, things like that. What’s what’s going on at the fairgrounds now that people might not be aware of? Like, what what’s this is kind of a question to ask you both what’s current and maybe what’s looking looking ahead a little bit. What what are you guys working on to keep bringing the fair to people contemporarily? Because how do I wanna say this? Ellensburg’s a rural community. Like, Wenatchee is a little similar, but not quite. Ellensburg has a different sort of makeup. In my mind, you have a lot of of rent more ranching and things like that than we do.

Scott Cowan [00:09:55]:

We have more ag stuff. How is the how do you make the fair viable to today’s fair attendees? And what what are you guys doing to make the fair a must must visit event every year?

Kristina Paquette [00:10:14]:

So, I would say, you know, every year, we’re looking, to bring, you know, new entertainment, new new attractions. In the last few years, we brought in a brand new carnival company, Paul Mauer Shows out of California, that brought new carnival rides and things like that. So, but, again, with the entertainment, trying to look at that, and, when you buy a fair ticket, a lot of people say, like, I don’t have a lot of money to really spend on whether it’s carnival rides or other attractions. So the entertainment is included in your fair ticket admission. So there’s the shows on the main stage. There’s walk arounds, things like that. But also, you know, our small county fair really is that we focus on the youth and the agriculture and the community and, our exhibitors for livestock and other groups. They’re it’s it’s a big group of kids that are entering animals into the fair or their exhibits.

Kristina Paquette [00:11:19]:

And so, our buildings house, I believe it’s last year, we had over close I mean, it was the 100 years, so we had a little bit more about 3,000 exhibits.

Scott Cowan [00:11:30]:

Wow.

Kristina Paquette [00:11:30]:

And that includes photography, and includes, artwork, and, things like baked items, and crafts and stuff like that. Flowers, like vegetables. So, and it would be great to say we have more buildings coming that we could expand that. But, at this time, there isn’t a lot of room to grow on the fairgrounds. There is a master plan out there to to expand north, but we are kind of limited in the space that we do have at the fairgrounds. But the 2 buildings, that were originally built in 1923, the and 1924, the hallmarks and the 4 h building are our main exhibit halls. We do have more in the armory building too. So, a lot of people that do come to the fair, come to the rodeo as well, and their rodeo tickets get them into the fair.

Kristina Paquette [00:12:25]:

And Okay. They like to go see the rodeo, and then walk around our barns and our exhibit buildings and see things like that. So

Scott Cowan [00:12:32]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:12:33]:

Yeah. Just trying to to bring something for everyone. Not everyone wants to go to the rodeo. Not everyone wants to go see the animals. So having commercial vendors, concessionaires, the fair food, that’s a big draw. Things like that. So

Scott Cowan [00:12:47]:

Well, okay. Excellent. One of the things you mentioned was you, the fair changed ride vendors. So I had this, you know, this mental image went through my head that the board of directors and I’m joking. Do not take me seriously. That the board of directors got on the Kittitas County Fair private jet and flew around the country to check all the vendors out that do, you know, do rides for carnivals and fairs around this around the US. I know that’s not true. I’m kidding.

Scott Cowan [00:13:18]:

But how does one pick a vendor to provide rides? I mean, do you

Kristina Paquette [00:13:26]:

Sure. Sure. Yeah. We had, we were with one company for years years years, and I do believe it was because they were, you know, closer proximity. I mean, they all travel

Scott Cowan [00:13:39]:

Mhmm.

Kristina Paquette [00:13:40]:

United States. But, I I think because we’re through the county, there is the the bidding process of, you know, this is our budget. This is what we can do. And then, our event center director and our fair board director that’s in charge of carnival, they work together to find the show the Paul Mauer shows that we’re working with out of California. And they’ve brought such high end rides and, wide variety every year that it’s been such a great, great change to what the community was very happy with our decision as well. So and it’s such good deals on the ride bracelets as well for before fair if you can buy the tickets before you save money.

Scott Cowan [00:14:20]:

Okay. So here I have to ask you is I’m gonna ask you this question, variations of the question a lot through this this conversation. So here’s the first variation of it. What’s your favorite carnival ride?

Kristina Paquette [00:14:30]:

Oh my goodness. So would you believe me if I told you that a bunch of us scare board directors actually it’s not my favorite ride. They wanted us to go on a ride, and we went on the really tall drop, one that dropped. It’s not as high as the one at the Gallup State Fair, but, it drops you down. So it raises you up and drops you, and we were like, let’s go. And we went on it, and I will never ride that again. But I really like the carousel. Always gone on it with my kids, and I just it’s Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:15:00]:

That’s a pretty big difference. A drop type to a drop tripe ride and then a carousel. Boy, that’s I got this has nothing. This has nothing to do with Washington state at all at all, but it is welcome to my mind. Many, many years ago, my my daughter and my son lived with their mom in Cincinnati. And I went out to visit them one time, and there was a big amusement park out there. Okay. I can’t remember what it’s called.

Scott Cowan [00:15:25]:

Kings Island or something like that. And my daughter wanted to go on, I think it was called the drop zone, which is that that large and this was 20 20 years ago or so. Maybe 20 more than 20 years ago. So this was when they were fairly new and exotic. Right? And my daughter wanted to go on it, so she and her step parent stood in line for almost an hour to go on this ride. Right? And her mom and I were standing off to the side watching people, and we’d watch people as they go sit down and get in and dropped and all this stuff. Okay. So my daughter my daughter’s gonna be on she’s in line now, and she’s gonna be in the next group.

Scott Cowan [00:16:11]:

After this group that just boarded is done, she’ll be getting on. So we’re, like, paying attention now. This has stuck with me. This guy sits down in the chair. You know how they you sit down the chair. Right? And he had a prosthetic leg, and he took the leg off, laid it on the ground, went up, dropped, and put the leg back on. And I just to this day and I I thought I had forgotten that story, but you just reminded me of it. I I No.

Scott Cowan [00:16:37]:

There’s no way you’d ever catch me going on that thing. So kudos to you. I’m a character.

Kristina Paquette [00:16:42]:

People take off their shoes. They take off their shoes all the time. You know? They know what’s gonna Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:16:46]:

But a leg. The fact that he sat it there and he he just laid it on the ground.

Kristina Paquette [00:16:50]:

He was ready. What? He was

Scott Cowan [00:16:52]:

ready. Anyway. Okay. So you’ve the rides have been kind of, well, we’ll say modernized, upgraded, and all that. And that’s, that’s a huge draw. You’re right. Kids, kids love that stuff. I think the way we’re going to go through this conversation is I’m going to ask you, put you on the spot the entire time.

Scott Cowan [00:17:07]:

Your favorite things about each each of these categories. So sure. Exhibits. What’s your go to exhibit? If you and I are walking around the fair and you, and, and I’m going to say to you, we’re going to go wherever you want. Where are you gonna take me?

Kristina Paquette [00:17:26]:

Sure. I would probably start you out, at the armory just because that’s where the photography and the quilts get displayed at. And that is, you know, quilts to me are just so beautiful and Yeah. The way they display them up there. But and that building’s a little, away from the other 2 big main halls. The other 2 are amazing as well. So definitely going into Home Arts in the 4 h building to check out everything in there. There’s the floor culture, people that, you know, enter hundreds of their flowers from their gardens and their vegetables and fruits.

Kristina Paquette [00:18:00]:

So that’s always neat to see. And the baked items, I love seeing those as well. And I remember when I would enter bread, like, you have to enter it in a few days before fair so they can judge it, and then it’s just on display. So it doesn’t always look as good as when it’s, you know, that first day of fair. So first day of fair on Thursday, I always say check out all the exhibits because by Monday, they’re some are not looking so good. Tired. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:18:23]:

See, I think I think baked goods would do better. Like, you’d get a lot of people if you had samples.

Kristina Paquette [00:18:31]:

That’s what I always say. Yeah. Because that’s you have them on display and I’m like, oh, they’re just sitting there. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:18:35]:

It’s a shame.

Kristina Paquette [00:18:35]:

Nobody could see that. This pie

Scott Cowan [00:18:37]:

is going to waste. I mean, come on.

Kristina Paquette [00:18:38]:

So if you sign up to be a judge, then you really get to try. But and then, of course, then walking through the barns and seeing the animals. And, there’s always something happening in Bloom Pavilion with our 4 H, FSA, and Grange kids. You know, they have the different departments classes, and, the big show for them is the market the livestock market sale that happens every Friday, every Labor Day weekend, and, the community comes together there to support our kids. And last year, I think it was over $650,000 was raised for just buying animals at that sale for our kids. So, it’s it’s it’s a pretty cool event.

Scott Cowan [00:19:19]:

$650,000?

Kristina Paquette [00:19:21]:

Yes. That’s right. All going back to these kids that are selling their animal at the fair. So

Scott Cowan [00:19:26]:

So last year, though okay. Last year was the 100th anniversary of the rodeo, so there might have been a little bump with that.

Kristina Paquette [00:19:33]:

But The year book the year before that, I think it was 600,000.

Scott Cowan [00:19:36]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:19:37]:

So, I mean, it’s still

Scott Cowan [00:19:39]:

That’s a lot.

Kristina Paquette [00:19:39]:

That’s too many.

Scott Cowan [00:19:40]:

That’s real money. So Yeah. Approximately how many animals were entered in the fair last year?

Kristina Paquette [00:19:47]:

So that’s the thing. 4 HFFA and Grange Kids can, enter, I believe it’s a lot of them show 2 animals. Mhmm. Because you can only sell 1 at the market sale.

Scott Cowan [00:19:59]:

K.

Kristina Paquette [00:19:59]:

So, a lot of them are showing 2 pigs or maybe 1 pig once too. And so, I think last year, there was over 1100 exhibitors Wow. Entered, like, for the fair. That that includes kids for, you know, the animals as well as people who don’t enter animals. So, but, yeah, there’s

Scott Cowan [00:20:20]:

That’s that’s a lot. I mean, that’s that’s a really impressive number.

Kristina Paquette [00:20:25]:

Okay. Alright. The community support is amazing. They come out and bid on these animals and support each kid that worked really hard all year long to

Scott Cowan [00:20:35]:

Right.

Kristina Paquette [00:20:35]:

Raise that animal.

Scott Cowan [00:20:36]:

So So if you were put on the spot livestock, what’s your which what’s what’s what are you picking?

Kristina Paquette [00:20:43]:

So I I’m excited. I love to see all of them. I think my favorite one of my favorite barns though is, you know, the sheep just they’re so sheep and goats crack me up because they’re always, you know, trying to escape their pens or just eat their decorations. But, last year, the the 4 h dogs and, came back. And so seeing the the kids that brought their dogs to fair, that was pretty cool to see. And they do, because our fair is not big enough to house all the pre shows of these, animals, they have a pre horse show that happens 2 weeks before fair, and then, same with the dog show that happens before because it’s just too busy with all the barns full and everything to have that during fair. Mhmm.

Scott Cowan [00:21:35]:

So I

Kristina Paquette [00:21:35]:

always tell people, like, check our website, check what’s happening, go support the kids before fair. Mhmm. Because, you know, it’s it’s it’s not the same type of event during fair for them. They’re just there to educate the the public about their animals. So the dogs are gonna be there again. There’s even cats, 4 h cats.

Scott Cowan [00:21:55]:

So somebody brings their barn cat in. I’m sure that

Kristina Paquette [00:21:58]:

that Not barn cat. Like, house cats. I mean, maybe there are some barn cats, but, you know, there are kids that have house pets that, enter that as their project. So

Scott Cowan [00:22:09]:

My dog would love to go. My cats would probably kill me on the ride there.

Kristina Paquette [00:22:14]:

It’s just You gotta enter them as exhibits though as a Kittitas County resident. Yeah. But, no,

Scott Cowan [00:22:18]:

I’m saying my cats are like, no. You’re not putting me in the car. That’s like, no. Right. It’s they’re we’re not going. We’re not social. We’re not gonna like any of this. But you said something, and I kinda come back to this piece.

Scott Cowan [00:22:30]:

My my brain was going, you mentioned the sheep and the goats, and they’re trying to escape. In your recollection, has there ever been a a, quote, unquote, jailbreak? And has has any of the have any of the animals gotten out and run around the fairgrounds at all? I mean,

Kristina Paquette [00:22:44]:

And I shouldn’t say all of them because there’s a lot. They will just they’re used to being in a pen, so they’ll stare. But I see some that that definitely would love to walk around with you and get out of their pen. And they they get out. The kids get to take them out. And, you know, in the mornings, they’re all there with farm duty and things like that throughout the day. But, when I was an intern, we had a couple sheep that did get out and, but they were there’s enough parent I don’t know if you noticed, but over 500 volunteers help at the fair during member day weekend and leading up to as well.

Scott Cowan [00:23:17]:

Wow. So

Kristina Paquette [00:23:17]:

Okay. Throughout the year, you have your 4 HFR big range parents and leaders and superintendents. But so there was a lot of people there to to catch the

Scott Cowan [00:23:28]:

Okay. But still, it would be kinda fun to see. You know, just like, you know, a pig going running through the through the carnival area. It’d be like

Kristina Paquette [00:23:34]:

Oh, no. So

Scott Cowan [00:23:36]:

so a couple couple more, you you know, thank you. You’re just teeing me up with questions. So you said about 500 people are are volunteering to put the fair on. And that’s those 500 people are obviously all hands on deck. This year’s 29th August through September 2nd. So those days are all hands on deck. Yeah. But how early before opening day are people being, you know, getting the fairgrounds freshened up, getting you know, what’s it take to prep the facilities for the public?

Kristina Paquette [00:24:16]:

Sure. Great question. Yeah. We have, you know, volunteers that are helping throughout the whole year to get decorations, things like that, ready for the fair. So they’re working on it. And then, usually, August 1st is the day that we’re, because it’s an event center fairgrounds, so things are happening year round there. Mhmm. But August 1st is kind of the day that we start to get into those buildings, start to really, like, let’s prep for fair.

Kristina Paquette [00:24:44]:

So, but you should see the grounds the week before, how many people are there, just, you know, getting everything ready. And, we do have a community, volunteer day that we welcome people to come help with, beautifying the grounds or giving some projects done in the barns, things like that. But I should say our throughout the year, the the 4 HFFA range leaders and parent volunteers are, you know, helping the kids get ready and do all that as well. So it is a it’s a big community event that we get to do together.

Scott Cowan [00:25:20]:

Okay. So then you you said, you know, the board of directors, you’re a volunteer. And I’m gonna guess that August and September are probably the 2 busiest months for you as you with your duties?

Kristina Paquette [00:25:37]:

No. I I mean, actually, I would say July August. I mean, that’s when I’m really we’re pushing. I work working with Monash Cash Media, this year for the first time, and it’s been really helpful and exciting to help with pushing out social media marketing and advertising. But, yeah, those are the months, you know, trying to promote ticket sales, online ticket sales, and, exhibitor entries, things like that. So it’s really busy this month and

Scott Cowan [00:26:05]:

What what does your job look like? Your your volunteer job. What does your volunteer job look like during the off season? What what are you like, walk me through? Let’s just say the the fair is over and the facility has been secured, and we can all take a deep breath that we survived another year of the fair. Right? Alright. You might not wanna think about the fair for a few days so you can take a break.

Kristina Paquette [00:26:29]:

Yeah. You’re no.

Scott Cowan [00:26:32]:

It’s fair. That’s not a bad statement. You probably put 16 hours in for 4 or 5 days in a row. You’re tired. You wanna take a break. Alright. It’s and it’s September in Ellensburg. It’s beautiful weather.

Scott Cowan [00:26:41]:

It’s a great time of year to Mhmm. Okay. Now but next year, the fair is showing we got 12 more months of the fair is there. Okay. So it’s it’s coming back. So what’s what’s the cycle that the board of directors works through on an annual basis to put this together?

Kristina Paquette [00:26:56]:

Sure. Right. So right after fair, we do a recap board meeting where we all get to sit down. And throughout the fair, we have a list of, you know, things that we want to remember to bring up and talk about. Good, bad, and ugly. All that good stuff. So, but yeah. Usually that week, a lot of people that are involved in the fair, were exhausted.

Kristina Paquette [00:27:17]:

But because Owensburg is a, Kittusk County, it’s just we surround around the fair and rodeo. School starts right after that. So a lot of us have to get our kids out to the out to school that week. So, catching up on sleep that first weekend, and then the board of directors meets, usually October November, and then we take a little break in December. And then right in January, we’re back to once a month meetings until the summer when we start to meet twice a month, and August is every, every Thursday leading up to fairs. So, but, yeah, it’s usually once a month meetings that we’re getting together and talking about the next year’s plans.

Scott Cowan [00:27:59]:

Okay. A couple of the draws, from me at a fair, food that I not I’m not really gonna go look at the pies because, like I said, if I can’t try them, I mean, what’s the point? But but food and, you know, it’s always nice when there’s when there’s live entertainment. So this year, is there anything new at the fair food wise?

Kristina Paquette [00:28:25]:

Let’s see. Food wise, I think she said there’s gonna be I’m gonna say new new because they’ve been here before, but they haven’t been in a few years. So it’d be exciting to have them back, but there’s a burrito place out of Oregon that’s coming up. They make really big monster burritos. But, of course, the favorite, we got more than one vendor doing elephant ears. So Why

Scott Cowan [00:28:47]:

are those so popular? I mean, they’re not they’re good. Don’t get me wrong, but they’re disproportionately popular everywhere.

Kristina Paquette [00:28:54]:

Yeah. Okay. And funnel cakes. That’s one of the things.

Scott Cowan [00:28:57]:

Your what’s your you’re at the concession stand. I’m handing you my my credit card. You can buy whatever you want. You know? What what what do you what’s your go to, Fair Food?

Kristina Paquette [00:29:08]:

So I would say I I love a good baked potato. And so there is one group that does baked potatoes, loaded baked potatoes, and we have this amazing, it’s just, like, cheese spread that they put on, and it’s based out of Clio on Hunter and Holden’s cheese spread. And they so this group buys that spread and uses that on their baked potatoes. So, I mean, fried food is always good, but that’s something I can I’m hungry working late Right. Go grab a baked potato. What about you? What’s your favorite?

Scott Cowan [00:29:42]:

Boy, historically, so I have to go back. So I’m much older than you, but and we talked about this on the phone. So my fondest fair memory. So I grew up, it’s always gonna be the Pell fair to me. Sorry. It’s just gonna be the power fair, but I grew up, you know, 7 miles or so away from the public fair. And when I was a kid, we all got a day off of school with a free ticket to the fair. So it was okay.

Scott Cowan [00:30:06]:

It was kind of, you know, I think. Yeah. All right. And I always liked getting the Fisher scones, but back then they had raisins in them. And, you know, through the years they have adapted. That’s a nice word for shrinking. And, but I just remember as a kid, the, I really, really liked the various scones. And I remember like my grandparents would go to the fair and they’d bring scones over to my mom, my mom, my house.

Scott Cowan [00:30:33]:

Right. Or we’d go to the fair and we’d take scones over to them. And it was this, my family kind of liked the scones thing. So I have a soft spot for scones historically in my memory. And I’m I’m probably at the fair. Okay. The last time I went to the Chelan County Fair, I had some amazing tacos. Like they were amazing as like, oh, where’s the where’s this truck at? And where do I find it on a daily basis? Amazing.

Scott Cowan [00:31:04]:

Like, they were great. But I, you know, everything historically for me is through the pelt fair. They didn’t have a lot of tacos back when I was a kid there. I mean, we had burgers and hot dogs and corn dogs and all those things. And so I’m probably a burger guy, but I’m not the fried onions on a fair burger. That’s that, that can, I like the smell of them, but I don’t like the taste of them per se? So I’m, I’ll probably pick a burger if I’m going to run around the fair that way, but I’m also going to be intrigued by things that I haven’t seen before. So if somebody is deep frying butter or something, I’m probably going to try.

Kristina Paquette [00:31:43]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:31:43]:

So You

Kristina Paquette [00:31:44]:

can always count on something deep fried.

Scott Cowan [00:31:46]:

Yeah. So what in your opinion, when you, when you’re walking around the fair and you’re seeing all this fair food, and maybe you’re not, that’s not your thing, but like what, what sort of interesting things have you seen over the years show up at as from food vendors?

Kristina Paquette [00:32:03]:

Sure. I remember 1 year a group did, like, fried apple fries or apple fries. So they would take fresh cut apples and coat them and then deep fry them and had, like, cinnamon sugar and then some sort of caramel dipping sauce. And I was like, that is delicious. That and

Scott Cowan [00:32:22]:

and that didn’t I would think

Kristina Paquette [00:32:24]:

that would be a big

Scott Cowan [00:32:26]:

hit. Like

Kristina Paquette [00:32:26]:

Yeah. Well and then I remember working in the fair office. You know, they tried it because it’s a small fair. They try not to have too many competing vendors. They still do that. They wanna make sure you’re not from all the Dippy Dots. Like, everyone has Dippy Dots, so there’s only one booth that does that. But, so they brought in this group that wanted to do something different, and they do just, fruit dipped in chocolate.

Kristina Paquette [00:32:51]:

And so they were a big hit because nobody did that. And, yeah. So that was one thing, and I think it’s still around. But I think, you know, I’ve seen deep fried Oreos, which we didn’t have that at our fair for a while. I know Yakima did and some other fairs, but yeah, I’m trying to think of some of the other I I

Scott Cowan [00:33:13]:

always just get a kick out of, you know, the creativity that people have. You know? They’re Yes. Deep fried Snickers bars or Yeah. Or, like, the chocolate dip fruit’s kinda cool except for when it starts to melt, and then it becomes really, really messy. Right. You see a toddler running around with chocolate smeared all over their face going, oh.

Kristina Paquette [00:33:33]:

Right. Well, that’s the ice cream for my kids. So but, no, the fair

Scott Cowan [00:33:40]:

for me, the fair has always been a place where if if you’re dieting, you just give yourself a day of grace that day and just Yes. Just don’t stress it at about it. Just go in and find something you like and enjoy it, and and it’s and then go because you’re walking, you’re gonna get some exercise in. How’s that? That’s my rationalization.

Kristina Paquette [00:34:00]:

Well, how about this? If you really want something that’s not fried or anything, you want some I don’t know how you feel about pickles, but in our Frontier Village, which is a big draw for people, that we have a general store in there that you can go buy a bagel pickle from.

Scott Cowan [00:34:14]:

The out of a barrel? Do they have them in the barrels like they used to have?

Kristina Paquette [00:34:17]:

Basically, yes. Yeah. Yeah. And you can buy yourself some penny candy there as well. Like, really penny our kids go there and spend all their nickels and dimes. And my favorite is the, it’s the Rocky Saddle Saloon, where you can get the root beer and fill, you know, the glass bottles, you get root beer and cream soda. So that’s one of my favorite areas at our fairs, Frontier Village.

Scott Cowan [00:34:42]:

Do they do they sell sarsaparilla?

Kristina Paquette [00:34:45]:

They I don’t think so. It’s just the cream soda. There’s, like, black cherry and

Scott Cowan [00:34:49]:

It’s kind of the old the old Mhmm. The old timey sodas that, you know

Kristina Paquette [00:34:54]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [00:34:54]:

And I still don’t know what sarsaparilla is, so I was hoping maybe you could help me out with that. But, you know, it seems like relative to root beer of some sort. I don’t know. Yeah. Okay. So so we’ve looked at the exhibits a little bit, snacked now, and we’ve already discussed that I’m not going on any rides, especially after eating. Just just not gonna do that. Right.

Scott Cowan [00:35:18]:

What sort of entertainment are you guys gonna have at the fairgrounds this year?

Kristina Paquette [00:35:23]:

Yes. We, like I said, I’m excited that we have some new entertainers, but also, you know, if you don’t wanna ride rides or maybe you just don’t wanna spend the money on carnival tickets, we have free entertainment. Free things for kids to do as well, and that’s part of your admission. And so over by Frontier Village, which is all free in there, lots of activities in there. Outside of that is a kids area that’s, like, meant towards for younger kids, kind of playing with water and,

Scott Cowan [00:35:56]:

some

Kristina Paquette [00:35:56]:

other things like that. And next to our kids’ AgZone, which is very interactive with, like, a farmer’s market little booth, you know, you can play farmer’s market or you’re selling apples and things like that, or learning about, corn, growing corn, and milking cows, things like that. And then we have our, kids interactive area. That’s by our main gate. And there’s different shows throughout the day, where we have this, the kids’ tractor pull that they can sign up to do. Have you ever seen a show where kids are it’s a pedal tractor pull where they put in weight, and these kids are racing to try and, you know, get to the other end.

Scott Cowan [00:36:35]:

So the kids are pedaling on the tractors with added weight.

Kristina Paquette [00:36:39]:

Yes. And it’s it’s really kind of cool to see because the people that put that on are just so so great with every age group. You know, even the littlest kid that really wants to try and beat their their brothers, something like that. But, so it’s fun to watch and cheer them on there, and that happened throughout the day every day of the fair.

Scott Cowan [00:36:58]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:36:58]:

So and it’s free for kids to do that. There’s also, a magic show that they put on, when they’re not doing the tractor pull. So kids, it’s very interactive as well. Yeah. And throughout the grounds, we have people that are walking through. We have a magician. We have a juggler. We have, a hula hooper, some stowt walkers, walking I’m I’m blown away that they can just walk around on those true crowds.

Kristina Paquette [00:37:26]:

But new this year is a hypnotist show. We were able to catch, his name is Michael Mesmer Mesmer, and he’s coming on Sunday. And so he’ll do one show, and hopefully next year we can have him for all 5 days.

Scott Cowan [00:37:40]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:37:41]:

That is something that’s, you just sit at the main stage, and he picks people from the crowd and puts on a show and, but we’ll have live bands on that main stage throughout every day at the fair. Okay. And, local groups, local favorites are Rodeo City Gymnastics, dubstep studio dancers. Those are kids in our community that put on a show on our main stage. And then, a big favorite that’ll be back this year is our free mutton busting. Do you know what that is?

Scott Cowan [00:38:14]:

Free mutton busting?

Kristina Paquette [00:38:19]:

So kids can sign up and ride sheep, and it’s like you’re, basically, they let you out of the gate, and you see how long you can hold on. And the sheep are trained to, you know, the people that put this on, the group that puts it on. They’re a really great company that works with the kids and, keeps their safety, you know, top of the line. That’s that’s their priority to keep them safe and the sheep safe. And so it’s just, interesting event to watch these kids try and hold on to the sheep that are not all of the sheep run out of the gate. Some just walk. And so

Scott Cowan [00:38:53]:

So how old

Kristina Paquette [00:38:54]:

are how

Scott Cowan [00:38:55]:

old are the kids that are participating in this, typically speaking?

Kristina Paquette [00:38:58]:

So they’re I think the weight limit is a £100 or less. So they’re they’re younger kids.

Scott Cowan [00:39:03]:

Younger kids.

Kristina Paquette [00:39:04]:

So, and they have helmet here, like, you know, it’s it’s kind of like they’re in the rodeo, like, you know, watching this.

Scott Cowan [00:39:14]:

That’s exactly yeah. Yeah. My wife’s niece’s sons, whatever that you know, they’re both early teenagers now, and they’re both in a rodeo, and they’re riding riding bulls. And and she’s constantly not constantly, but she’s sharing very short videos of of the rides. And so I’m thinking this mutton busting, and I’m kind of thinking it’s a a a low risk version of that. Although, dead Yes. That’s kinda funny. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:39:53]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:39:54]:

So you’ve got that. I like that idea. I think mutton busting would be kind of fun. I I actually think that’d be kind of fun to go and watch and cheer the kids on. But you said they train the sheep. How do you train a sheep to do this? I mean, what on earth? Can you imagine the training regimen for this? I mean

Kristina Paquette [00:40:10]:

Yeah. I don’t I’m not sure, and I I I would love to chat with them and find out more because I know that these sheep are, they’re traveling with them to different events and things like that. And, but again, you have some sheep that are, like, alright. You open that gate, I’m gonna run. And the others that just walk. And so some kids are, you know, holding on and others are just, you know, going for a little ride. And it’s a small it’s a small pen area. It’s not like they’re still having them ride them for a really long time.

Scott Cowan [00:40:41]:

That’s awesome. Alright. I like that. Yeah. So when we’re talking about the fair and all of the things, so, you know, I’m looking at the hours of 10 AM, so you’re not starting super early.

Kristina Paquette [00:40:57]:

And you

Scott Cowan [00:40:58]:

go into 10 or 11 PM, except from Monday Monday, it’s over at 6. But because I I have a feeling by Monday at 6, everyone’s like, we’re done. Like, I need a break. Yes. Including including including all the perks. The the exhibitors are done. The parents are done. We’re all

Kristina Paquette [00:41:13]:

done because

Scott Cowan [00:41:15]:

Labor Day can still be pretty warm, in Ellsberg. But I had a couple of questions about admission because when you’re on the website and I’m just gonna Mhmm. Go back. So who came up with the contest county fair 2024, Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights? Who came up with that slogan? Sure.

Kristina Paquette [00:41:37]:

So every year, I mean, we take them throughout the year. Anybody can send in a recommendation for a fair team.

Scott Cowan [00:41:43]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:41:44]:

And so we have a running list. And every year, usually in August, the fair board will go through the list, and we all vote on next year’s theme. And then that theme is announced on Monday, the last day of fair for the next year.

Scott Cowan [00:42:00]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:42:00]:

So that way, the 4 h, FFA kids, like, all of the Grange kids can start prepping for the next year’s fair thing, because they’re decorating barns, decorating buildings based on that

Scott Cowan [00:42:10]:

theme. Got it. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:42:12]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:42:12]:

So I can’t get you to tell me what next year’s is because this will go out and be spoiled.

Kristina Paquette [00:42:16]:

We haven’t we haven’t voted yet. So we have, like, over a 100 that we go through. And then we we try and look at the other fairs, and, you know, we don’t know when they’re gonna announce fairs. But, yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:42:27]:

You don’t wanna copy. You don’t wanna have the same slogan as the Solan County or the Grant County or you gotta yeah. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:42:36]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:42:38]:

Admission looks pretty straightforward, actually. That general admission, 13 and over, unless you’re a senior, $10.

Kristina Paquette [00:42:47]:

Mhmm.

Scott Cowan [00:42:47]:

Seniors or and your generous seniors are 60 and over. I qualify. I can get a discount. $6 Kids 6 to 12 are $6. Under 5. Are dogs allowed in free? Bosley wants to know I don’t know if you could hear him bark there. Bosley wants to know.

Kristina Paquette [00:43:05]:

No dogs unless they’re service animals. No dogs. No dogs. Just because we have animals livestock there, we wouldn’t, you know No. We we do like to say that’s a no no pets. Right.

Scott Cowan [00:43:18]:

But I like the fact that you guys have a season pass. You have this just kind of season pass, $30 for all 5 days.

Kristina Paquette [00:43:25]:

If you’re gonna go mhmm. If you’re gonna go a few more days, then, you know, it’s worth it to buy that. We also say though, as a Kittedas County resident, if you plan to go more than a couple days, if you enter at least one thing into the fair as an exhibitor, you get the option to buy the $15 exhibitor bracelet for all 5 days.

Scott Cowan [00:43:43]:

Oh, wow. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:43:44]:

Find find those photos you took and, you know, look at our exhibitor guide because you can start entering, August 1st online, and there’s hundreds of things to choose from to enter.

Scott Cowan [00:43:54]:

So That’s very cool. Okay. Mhmm. Now

Kristina Paquette [00:43:58]:

Yeah. But, also, I want to mention the last day of fair, it’s half off admission. So you can come on that day if you, you know, maybe are gone for the weekend and come back and you wanna go check out the fair. And then, like you said, 10 AM to 6 PM on that Monday is half off. So

Scott Cowan [00:44:15]:

k. I’m kinda looking through some of the photographs here. I see the penny candy thing. All sorts

Kristina Paquette [00:44:23]:

of Frontier Villages. It’s pretty amazing to go if you’ve never been. That’s our valley’s history of buildings that were donated, from families across the valley. There’s, like I said, the general store. There’s a writer’s cabin. We have, somebody who comes in and does blacksmith work throughout the weekend there, so you can see that. And then, yeah, it’s

Scott Cowan [00:44:48]:

So these are actual

Kristina Paquette [00:44:49]:

area and pan for gold.

Scott Cowan [00:44:51]:

These so I’m looking at there’s a photo here of a of a building that on the on the front of it says district number 11. So that’s that’s an original building that was moved to Frontier Village. So it’s not a replica. These are

Kristina Paquette [00:45:04]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [00:45:05]:

Oak. Very cool. Alright.

Kristina Paquette [00:45:08]:

Yeah. They built this, that little they started to build Frontier Village in the 19 eighties. So they started finding different buildings, and then they’ve kind of added, so it’s it’s really neat to hear the history. And all the volunteers in there in each building will tell you, you know, their stories of whether it’s from their family or from people. You know, they’ve been volunteering in that Frontier Village for years. So it’s just awesome to have them.

Scott Cowan [00:45:35]:

That’s that’s very cool. I saw something. I’m trying to find it now. This is where we get dead air in a podcast. So where did I see? There was some and I don’t wanna I don’t wanna misspeak, so I’ll I’ll look while we talk about something else. What what about parking? Parking is always a pain.

Kristina Paquette [00:46:01]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [00:46:02]:

What about parking? How are you guys handling parking? And and, approximately, what do you how much attendance did you have last year?

Kristina Paquette [00:46:09]:

So last year, roughly between 65,000 to 70,000 became for the full weekend. Wow. So that’s spread out. Our busiest days are Friday Saturday.

Scott Cowan [00:46:19]:

Mhmm.

Kristina Paquette [00:46:20]:

Saturday being because we have the, Ellensburg Rodeo Parade happening. So a lot of people come for that and go to the fair and rodeo after that. So

Scott Cowan [00:46:29]:

k.

Kristina Paquette [00:46:29]:

Because rodeo happens Friday to Monday. That’s kind of, you know, busy busy days. And then we also have the extreme, bull riding event Saturday evening. So there’s 2 rodeo events happening that day on Saturday. Right. But parking so, locals know this, and, the city will the city goes around and covers all the, residential parking zone permit, so that all the city streets surrounding the fairgrounds become available for parking Okay. If you don’t wanna pay. But those fill up very fast because a lot of, you know, the 4HFFA Grange parents and people park, you know, early on so they can get to the fairgrounds.

Kristina Paquette [00:47:13]:

But, so if you can’t find free parking, we do offer lots. This year, near the closest lots to the fairgrounds, run about $20 for the day. And then all of the lots that are north of the fairgrounds, throughout Central Washington University that we contract with them, run about $10. So, and that’s, again, that’s for the full day. So, it’s not come and go. If you leave, you do lose your spot, but, pretty much, it’s it’s not too far. We also run shuttles, though, parking, golf cart shuttles. So you can wait at the front of your lot and get a ride to the front gate.

Scott Cowan [00:47:52]:

Perfect. So the thing that I was looking for earlier I couldn’t find is you guys have a scholarship program.

Kristina Paquette [00:47:58]:

Oh, yes. So that’s through our Friends of the Fair Foundation. Yeah. And that is, they do offer 3 scholarships, and that is, awarded every year, like I said, through our our nonprofit Friends of the Fair Foundation.

Scott Cowan [00:48:15]:

Okay. And what the scholarships

Kristina Paquette [00:48:17]:

but we also oh, okay.

Scott Cowan [00:48:19]:

What what l what age group are the kids available and all of that?

Kristina Paquette [00:48:24]:

Alright. So they’re it’s open to high school student or seniors that are, looking to go to the to college afterwards. And so

Scott Cowan [00:48:43]:

We had a Bosley emergency, everybody. Had to let had to let Bosley out.

Kristina Paquette [00:48:47]:

Sorry about that. Right. So, it is like I said, it’s open to, high school seniors that are k. We look at, their eligibility, meaning that they’re they’re, like, going to a university or vocational tech school. Yeah. And then, applications are submitted, and the Friends of the Fair Foundation Board will, pick 3 peep 3 students up from the applications and looking at their it’s all anonymous. We don’t see names that come through. We just, make it to see, you know, what their involvement in the fair or in the community and things like that.

Kristina Paquette [00:49:28]:

So

Scott Cowan [00:49:30]:

Alright. So now I gotta ask you a couple of questions, and some of these might be a little hard. K? You ready? Tell us something about the fair that only locals know, that somebody who’s thinking about coming out to Ellensburg on Labor Day weekend is and maybe they already think about the rodeo because that you know, the Riddlesburg rodeo. But something that only locals know about the Kittitas County Fair.

Kristina Paquette [00:49:56]:

I don’t know if they want me to say that. I

Scott Cowan [00:49:58]:

told you it was gonna be kinda hard.

Kristina Paquette [00:50:02]:

Yeah. I mean, I will say Thursdays. I don’t want everyone rushing to come on Thursdays, but Thursdays are a great day to go to the fair. And I think a lot of locals Mhmm. That’s that’s what they like to do, because that’s before a rodeo starts, where you get all the big crowds coming in. It’s still fizzy

Scott Cowan [00:50:22]:

Right.

Kristina Paquette [00:50:22]:

But it’s also Super 1 Foods, our grocery store. One of our, local grocery stores here, they do a lunch that day. And so you can buy a discounted ticket at their, grocery store to go on Thursday.

Scott Cowan [00:50:38]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:50:38]:

So, but, yeah. Okay. So that’s good.

Scott Cowan [00:50:41]:

We’re not gonna look. We’re not gonna tell which grocery store. That that’s we’re gonna keep that for the locals, you know. You just have to figure it out, folks. I can start naming grocery stores in Owensboro for you, but we’re not going to. Okay. Alright. I I warned you about this question when we talked on the phone, but now now you’re live and now you got to try to put me on the spot.

Scott Cowan [00:51:01]:

So I’d like to ask people that are businesses, What was this great idea? We’re gonna do this, and it was gonna be a smash. It was gonna be so successful, except for whoops. It wasn’t. Because I think we always learn from those those experiences. In your time with the fair, you guys ever have an idea? I don’t know. We’re gonna I don’t know. I could be I’m not, you know did something sound really good on paper and not in reality?

Kristina Paquette [00:51:40]:

Yes. So, you know, coming out of COVID, we didn’t do a fair in 2020. And so that was coming back. We had to change a lot of things to, you know, open our gates again. And we offered, we for the 2021 fair, it was called Blast Pass, which was cashless for our concessions.

Scott Cowan [00:52:07]:

K.

Kristina Paquette [00:52:08]:

And that was something, you know, nobody had ever done at the our fair, and we launched it, and it was not well received at all.

Scott Cowan [00:52:18]:

Not well received.

Kristina Paquette [00:52:20]:

We have not since brought that back. It was, you know, a lot of community feedback.

Scott Cowan [00:52:25]:

What was the what what did the why did the community not like it? Know, what was the feedback that you received?

Kristina Paquette [00:52:33]:

I think, you know, so many people here in cashless, they just could not get behind the fact that they wouldn’t be able to use their cards, which in reality, if you’ve ever been to a cashless park or system anywhere, like, you’re still using your cards. Mhmm. You’re just having to go get another card or whether it’s an app or something like that. So it is an added step, but that was a big thing that people I only have cash, which we did have people that could, you know, use your cash to buy the card. Mhmm. But they did not want to do that. So, I I think it was when we started to plan and figure things out and try and, you know, see the the benefits to using the LastPass, it just didn’t pan out the way we we had talked about and planned.

Scott Cowan [00:53:22]:

Well, and, you know, and as as we get further and further away from the pandemic, and as it blurs in our memory, hopefully, because we’re blocking it out because it, you know, it’s like, oh my gosh. I don’t think about it. But and you a lot of us had to do things, try things, because we there wasn’t a manual to, like, this is how you open up a fair after a pandemic. This is this is how you open up a a restaurant after a pandemic. You you had to adapt, and we Right. We’re trying to

Kristina Paquette [00:53:50]:

figure things out on the fly. And I think we

Scott Cowan [00:53:50]:

a lot of people, we we bumbled the transition from lockdown to post pandemic life. Okay. Alright. What are you super excited about for the let let’s bury that. No. I mean, we’re just gonna move on. Happy happy times now.

Kristina Paquette [00:54:14]:

Get more bus.

Scott Cowan [00:54:15]:

What are you super excited for for this year?

Kristina Paquette [00:54:19]:

I think I’m, you know, I’m always excited to just see the the community and the support and all the the decorations and things that people have been working on, exhibits they enter. But just, you know, leading up to, I see, everything getting put together. But it’s the, like, opening day. Everything’s in place. Everyone’s, you know, where they’re supposed to be, whether it’s showing animals or, you know, in the buildings or serving food. I I just love walking around and getting to, like, see that and talk to people. And and since I this is my this will be my 8th fair on the board.

Scott Cowan [00:54:58]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:54:59]:

So I I get to see returning vendors and returning, of course, volunteers and everyone. But it’s it’s just it’s fun to see that and

Scott Cowan [00:55:09]:

talk to

Kristina Paquette [00:55:09]:

people and

Scott Cowan [00:55:10]:

Opening day.

Kristina Paquette [00:55:10]:

Hear all the good things that they yes. Opening day.

Scott Cowan [00:55:13]:

Opening day. Alright. So when you’re when you’re not in meetings about the fair, when you’re not putting in a 16 hour day on fair day, when you’re when you’re when you’re living your normal day to day, you live an Ellensburg life. Very important questions. Now I love coffee. Where should I go in Ellensburg for coffee?

Kristina Paquette [00:55:37]:

I mean, there is some great coffee shops, and I I don’t drink as much coffee as I used to. But when I was drinking it every day, I was drinking. D and M has a Klassen, which is their Americano with their homemade caramel sauce. So that’s my go to drink, iced Claussen. But I now drink Lotus drinks, Lotus flavored drinks from a place called 1883 Coffee. So they have great coffee as well. But

Scott Cowan [00:56:05]:

yeah. So the Clawson, how did do you know, not that you’re a D and M representative, but how did you get its name?

Kristina Paquette [00:56:11]:

So I hear that it was created by one of the baristas. I think I think her name is Amy Claussen, I wanna say. So if I got that wrong, I’m so sorry.

Scott Cowan [00:56:24]:

That’s okay. What’s

Kristina Paquette [00:56:25]:

I’m pretty sure that’s that’s the story.

Scott Cowan [00:56:27]:

But I also have this vague recollection that isn’t there a class and building in downtown Ellensburg. Isn’t one of the old buildings named Clawson. I I could be completely wrong, so don’t don’t you know? That’s okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:56:43]:

I think that’s Alright.

Scott Cowan [00:56:44]:

Alright. Alright. So coffee. So you you liked Americana with a little caramel, but now you’re drinking these lotus drinks. And those are are they tea based?

Kristina Paquette [00:56:55]:

No. They’re like a, it’s like an energy drink, but it’s not as strong as, like, I can’t do Rebel or Monsters or anything. So it’s a, plant based type energy. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:57:06]:

So Alright. Another thing, then when we’re not eating fair food, where’s a great place for lunch in Ellensburg?

Kristina Paquette [00:57:15]:

So I really like if I want a sandwich, I’m gonna go to Dairy Bread because they make homemade breads there, and they have really great options for different sandwiches and wraps and homemade soups. But, if I want a good burger, it’s gotta be the tab. So that’s all we wanna go to for burgers. So

Scott Cowan [00:57:36]:

Oh my gosh. I’m not laughing at you. That’s not a laugh at you. Man, that place has got just it has brainwashed thousands of people. I I don’t mean that in a mean way. It’s like my old roommate, my old college roommate, his father lived in Walla Walla, and he lived in Seattle, and they would meet to go to lunch together. That’s where they would go. I just all my other friends a lot of my other friends, same thing, go there.

Scott Cowan [00:58:07]:

I mean, and they have been, they’ve had that reputation for at least since 1980. Because that’s what I w I started at central in 1980. So I mean, it’s, you know, 44 years. Oh my gosh. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [00:58:22]:

Right. Well, if you need a good brunch spot too, not sure if you’ve been, but the early bird is right around the corner in 20 5. I’ve eaten

Scott Cowan [00:58:30]:

it’s the early bird too. That’s a I like that place a lot. I and and I like the I mean, I like the tab too. Don’t get who doesn’t like the tab? That’s why I’m laughing at it. It’s just this Right. It’s just like, jeez. I I shouldn’t have I mean, I guess I should have made a bet with myself to see if you would have said the tab or not. I would’ve you know, probably the odds are that people would it’s so funny to me.

Scott Cowan [00:58:50]:

It’s so funny to me that the tab is just I swear I I’m kidding, but I swear, like, the owners, like, going here, mention me for 5 free burger. I’ll give you a super mother mentioned the tab.

Kristina Paquette [00:59:00]:

Send them this podcast.

Scott Cowan [00:59:02]:

Oh my gosh. All right. So then the last question I always ask my guests, and now we’re going to tie this into the fair a little bit, because you said you liked the exhibits and you, you mentioned, and I mentioned that, you know, I think the, the some of the exhibits, the baked goods would go over better if there were samples, right? And not that they don’t go over well, but I’m just saying, I mean, could you imagine the lineup to sample the the the the grand the the the number one apple pie in the in the fair? Okay. Alright. So you have to answer this question. K. And you have to give me a reason too, by the way. This is the only question you you will ever be held accountable to on the show.

Scott Cowan [00:59:39]:

Alright. You ready?

Kristina Paquette [00:59:41]:

Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:59:41]:

Cake

Kristina Paquette [00:59:42]:

Mhmm.

Scott Cowan [00:59:42]:

Or pie? And why?

Kristina Paquette [00:59:45]:

Goodness. I can’t say both. No. You can’t. I like I like pie. Pie?

Scott Cowan [00:59:52]:

Alright. Is that your final answer?

Kristina Paquette [00:59:53]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:59:55]:

Pie? Yes. Okay. Why? Why are you picking pie? Why are you excluding cake? I’m kidding you. I’m teasing you. But why why pock?

Kristina Paquette [01:00:02]:

Why do pie win? Because I like different kind like, I I like almost all different kinds of pies, whereas cake and just, like, one flavor.

Scott Cowan [01:00:12]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [01:00:13]:

So I think and I like to bake too. So I like baking pie. So I like

Scott Cowan [01:00:17]:

to bake. So what, If you were baking pie, what’s your what’s your go to? What do you like? What do you are you a apple? Are you a roo

Kristina Paquette [01:00:25]:

Usually an apple pie.

Scott Cowan [01:00:26]:

Okay.

Kristina Paquette [01:00:27]:

Mhmm. Apple pie. But I love cherry pie too.

Scott Cowan [01:00:30]:

Okay. Ice cream, yes. Ice cream, no. That’s optional.

Kristina Paquette [01:00:33]:

Yes. Okay. Vanilla ice cream Okay. On top.

Scott Cowan [01:00:35]:

Alright. So we’ve got pie. We got apple. We’ve got ice cream. Okay. I love asking that question because, like you said, can I have both? No. Some people you you didn’t deliberate very long. Some people are like, it’s this, and it can’t be that.

Scott Cowan [01:00:55]:

And they’re very adamant, like, just and then some people are like, I have 2 children. You’re asking me to pick 1. You know? I just okay. Alright. What about the fair? What didn’t we talk about that we should have? Did we overlook something?

Kristina Paquette [01:01:14]:

Oh, I think I’m we’re 38 days away from open At

Scott Cowan [01:01:17]:

the time we’re recording this, we’re 38 days away. It’ll be less than that when we go live and less than that when you listen to it, audience. So

Kristina Paquette [01:01:26]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [01:01:27]:

August 29th

Kristina Paquette [01:01:28]:

So I’m just, you know, countdown.

Scott Cowan [01:01:30]:

August 29th through September 2nd for 2024. Kittitas County Fair At the Kittitas Valley Event Center. That throws me. The Kittitas Valley Event Center thing Yeah. Throws me.

Kristina Paquette [01:01:45]:

Right. Because they’re, you know, year round. Right. They have events at the fairgrounds Right. Year round. So and they’re Kittitas Valley event center, and you can say the Kildas County Fair. It’s the home of the fair and rodeo.

Scott Cowan [01:01:58]:

Got it. Alright. We didn’t we covered it. You think we got it?

Kristina Paquette [01:02:06]:

I think so. I yeah. I just wanna thank all our FAIR sponsors and volunteers and board members to help put it on. So

Scott Cowan [01:02:13]:

500 volunteers. That’s crazy.

Kristina Paquette [01:02:17]:

Yeah. Right?

Scott Cowan [01:02:19]:

That’s crazy to me.

Kristina Paquette [01:02:20]:

It’s awesome.

Scott Cowan [01:02:22]:

I do have one question. Mhmm. To enter a photograph, a quilt, a pie, a cake, an animal, do you have to be a Kittitas County resident?

Kristina Paquette [01:02:35]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [01:02:36]:

Okay. So the only people that can enter exhibits in the fair Mhmm. Are from Kittitas County.

Kristina Paquette [01:02:45]:

Correct.

Scott Cowan [01:02:46]:

Okay. Reason I’m bringing up that very specific question is early on when we talked about food, you said there was a food vendor from Oregon. And Right. I was like

Kristina Paquette [01:02:57]:

Yep. So we have vendors and, commercial and concessions. So people that, you know, can apply to the vendors at the fair and then same with entertainers come from all over. We have some entertainers that are out of Colorado, Florida. So, but as an exhibitor, you have to be a resident.

Scott Cowan [01:03:15]:

Okay. So should have asked this question. Actually, I think it’s better we’re asking it now. So when you’re not working on the fair, what do you do? Mhmm.

Kristina Paquette [01:03:26]:

So I, work from home, and I just recently started, my own mobile cotton candy cart business. I won 2nd place, Chambers Enterprise Challenge for new businesses, and that just happened in May. So I’m a brand new business working on that and trying to get that off the ground and, have already done some events. And, so it’s fun. And it’s funny because when I say that, people are like, you’re on the fair. You’re gonna are you are you gonna do your cotton candy at the fair? And I’m like, nope. We have a great vendor that does cotton candy. She brings her cotton candy truck.

Kristina Paquette [01:04:07]:

And, I don’t think I could keep up with that type of demand with my little cart that I built for weddings and birthday parties and parades, things like that.

Scott Cowan [01:04:17]:

So you built Yeah. You built the cart. Alright.

Kristina Paquette [01:04:21]:

I did with the help of my husband and a, couple friends. We built this little cart that I can pull on a trailer and have a umbrella that I put in. I have to say too, my cotton candy is not the fair cotton candy that you see. It’s all natural flavoring with no added colors or, some added dyes and preservatives. It’s a big white cotton candy puff of, you know, one of my favourite flavours and

Scott Cowan [01:04:46]:

So that’s spun sugar. Right? Mhmm. Okay. So you’re spinning sugar and you’re flavoring it naturally, so it’s not that artificial pink or artificial blue. I mean, cotton candy is awesome. Don’t get your home. But, you know, there’s those very bright specific colors. So you’re flavoring it with natural flavors.

Scott Cowan [01:05:05]:

Give me an example of a flavor.

Kristina Paquette [01:05:07]:

Mhmm. So I, order these, flavor extracts from this company in California that’s all natural flavors, and I have about 12 different flavors. But a real number one hit has been coconut, surprisingly, And root beer, we have key lime, cherry. I oh, orange creamsicle was another favorite too. So, people are surprised. You know, they see a big white puff, and the flavor is not overpowering. Just a But I love, doing my mobile cart outside and sugar smell like, everyone smells it from far away and comes How did you get the

Scott Cowan [01:05:47]:

idea to do a cotton candy business?

Kristina Paquette [01:05:52]:

Sure. So when I left working at the university after 15 years, I I needed something that was gonna be fun, and I love being creative and doing things like that. So I saw an idea on Instagram of a lady doing this in Tennessee. I’m like that. I’m doing that. And so kind of have been planning and just it didn’t work out, until this last January when I’m, like, I’m gonna enter this competition, and I’m gonna just go go for it. So, but it’s been so much fun. And my plans are to expand the so, to offer other options besides cotton candy, like frozen drinks, popcorn.

Kristina Paquette [01:06:32]:

Just because I have the cart built and it can, you know, house other things. So not just cotton candy.

Scott Cowan [01:06:37]:

Okay. Very cool. So we’re not gonna see it at the fairgrounds. You’re not gonna you’re not gonna be you’re not gonna

Kristina Paquette [01:06:44]:

I won’t have my cart there, but I will be there working at the fair. And I hope if somebody sees me there and

Scott Cowan [01:06:51]:

Say hi.

Kristina Paquette [01:06:52]:

Chat Well, that’s I will be there every day.

Scott Cowan [01:06:54]:

That’s very cool. So so for the cotton candy business, is it are you keeping it in Kitas County primarily? Are you, you know, what

Kristina Paquette [01:07:04]:

I am, but I’m open to traveling outside. Actually, I’m gonna be going to Euphrates, shortly and doing a birthday party there. So I’m open to travel.

Scott Cowan [01:07:14]:

Very cool. And alright. So specifically for your cotton candy business, where can people find out more about that?

Kristina Paquette [01:07:22]:

Yeah. On my Instagram or Facebook right now, it’s Cherry on Top Cart Company.

Scott Cowan [01:07:27]:

Cherry on

Kristina Paquette [01:07:28]:

Top Cart Company. Cherry on Top Cart Company.

Scott Cowan [01:07:29]:

Watching. Okay.

Kristina Paquette [01:07:31]:

Yes. We’ll be watching soon. Cool.

Scott Cowan [01:07:32]:

And that’s that’s a really cool thing. So where should people go online and look for the the Kittitas County Fair?

Kristina Paquette [01:07:39]:

At Kittitas County Fair.com. If you go there, and you’ll check out all the different, menu options for different areas that you can learn more about.

Scott Cowan [01:07:49]:

Awesome. Well, thank you so much. This is kind of fun. The Cotton Candy thing is very cool. That’s very cool. I’m I’m excited. I actually think I say this with some hesitation because it seems like every time I say I’m going to go do something this summer, something has stopped me. So my intention is to physically make it to the Kittitas County Fair.

Scott Cowan [01:08:15]:

And and I’m probably gonna take your advice and I’m gonna try to do Thursday because, you know, the Labor Day weekend traffic. Okay. Yeah. Like, I’ll pass. But, I’m excited to see to see the fair. I I haven’t I probably haven’t been to that fair since maybe 1982, so I’m gonna guess some things have

Kristina Paquette [01:08:36]:

changed. Yes. And I will show you around. Let me know.

Scott Cowan [01:08:39]:

I will let you know. No, that’d be fun. Fun. That would be fun. So, so thank you very much for taking the time, and I hope that this year is a smashing success. And, and I hope you have fun with the cotton candy business too.

Kristina Paquette [01:08:51]:

Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.

Scott Cowan [01:08:53]:

Hope you enjoyed the show. You can reach me on Twitter at explore law state. I’d love to hear your comments. You can also visit our website at explore Washington state dot com. If you know anyone who would like the show, it’d be amazing if you’d share the show with them. This is the biggest way that we grow this show. Good old word-of-mouth. Glad you were here with me today, and I hope to have you listening to the next episode.

Scott Cowan [01:09:18]:

See you then.