Whatcom CD Staff Northwest Washington Fair Reflections

“It’s amazing how much the livestock farming community pours into training their young people in the trade. It was great as a farm planner to be able to support our farming families in this small way and I look forward to seeing this side of our programming expand.” – Katie Penke

“I had two favorite moments at the fair this year: literally seeing a child’s jaw drop at how raspberries are harvested and reading to a toddler who had all their own motions to the Barnyard Dance. It was very meaningful to connect with so many young members of the community and show them how incredible Whatcom County agriculture is!”  – Alexi Guddal

For the first time, maybe ever, Whatcom CD was able to sponsor the Northwest Washington Fair both financially and with our expertise and enthusiasm. Rather than hosting our own booth or creating separate programming, we were able to support the Farming for Life exhibit as docents, help judge 4-H oral presentations, host barnyard story time, and assist kids and families in navigating the livestock show area. Our staff loved being a part of the fair and connecting with all of you over the fair week!

“Finding ways for Whatcom CD staff to use our expertise to enhance the already amazing programming at the NW WA Fair was a highlight for me. These opportunities allowed us to build connections, strengthen relationships, and showcase our skills while meeting real needs in the community. I’m so thrilled to have been part of this new collaboration and excited about where it can lead.” – Aneka Sweeney

“At the Farming for Life exhibit, it was great to meet people at various levels of familiarity: from visitors to the county, to Bellingham folks learning something new, to parents sharing with their kids how they used to harvest raspberries in the summer. There was a strong sense of connection I got to participate in.” – Adam Brayton

“For me, something that stood out was how cool it was to be a part of something time-honored and central to the local agricultural scene, where youth get to show their competence and skills which build to future generations of farmers.” – Adam Brayton