By Stacee Sledge

Like so many Northwest Washington Fair fans, Lynden’s Jim Baron’s first fair experience was as a young boy, entering his horse in 4-H.
“I went to the fair every year as a youth,” Baron says. “My dad was a commercial vendor. He had an electronics store here so we always spent the days of the fair in his booth.”
But unlike the typical fairgoer, Baron sat for several years in the 1980s on the fair’s board of directors and has spent the past 11 years managing the event.
This year’s Northwest Washington Fair takes place August 11th through the 16th and for the first time in its 10-year history, the Lynden PRCA Rodeo will take place concurrently, on August 12th and 13th.
Baron lists the five core values that drive the Northwest Washington Fair: agriculture, youth, education, community, and entertainment.
“They’ve been the same since year one up to today,” he says, “and are really the essence of the fair.”

With 10,000 exhibits that encompass every facet of agriculture as well home economics, art, and more, the Northwest Washington Fair brings an eclectic mix for Whatcom County crowds. “I think the key to the success of the fair is that there’s something for everybody,” says Baron.
Fairgoer feedback has shown that the number one draw for many visitors is the animals.
“That’s what people come to see,” Baron says, “That’s one thing we don’t want to change.”
Visitors also come for the carnival, the food, the entertainment, the exhibits, and much more.
The fair is a 104-year-old Lynden tradition, so naturally many things remain the same from year to year. But growth and change is also important.
One of the big changes this year is moving the Lynden Rodeo – which has historically followed the fair by a week – to take place right smack dab in the middle of the big event.
“We asked why more people didn’t go to the rodeo and they said it was because it’s so close to the end of the busy fair time – they were tired,” says Baron. “So we said, let’s bring the rodeo into the fair.”

The camels from Camel Safari that were such a big hit last year will return for a second time. “People love to ride the camels,” says Baron. “But they weren’t in a great spot, so we’re moving them to a better location.”
Predators of the Heart is a new exhibit this year. The group from Anacortes runs an exotic animal rescue and also entertains crowds with the state’s largest traveling wildlife exhibit. They’ll put on a show several times a day.
Of course, there are always big-name live music acts at the Northwest Washington Fair. This year finds Gary Allan, Huey Lewis and the News, and Collective Soul performing their popular hits.
One thing that never changes about the Northwest Washington Fair is its ability to showcase all the things that make Whatcom County so special.
“That’s one of the things I love about the fair is that each one is unique to the geographic area that it’s in. What happens in Whatcom County is represented at the fair,” he says, “and I think that’s very cool.”

Gates for this year’s Northwest Washington will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and younger are admitted for free.
Discounted admission tickets will be available before fair week at Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores and Peoples Bank branches in Whatcom County and online here. Also, discounted carnival ride passes are offered before fair week at Little Caesars Pizza stores in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Many more details about this year’s fair can be found here.
All photos courtesy of David Willoughby Photography.