The Fair

Days til fair: 229
Weather: Rain.
Fair fact: The demolition derby was first held at the fair in 1978.

All’s fair

Seasoned draft-horse driver Dan Weidkamp pulled some pranks back in the day at the Northwest Washington Fair. Photo by Mike Urban

Even the most ordinary settings at the fair hold funny or sweet memories. Gary Anderson of Lynden recalls some shenanigans near the old draft horse barn.

“Years ago there was a big water tank outside the old draft horse barn where they watered all the horses,” he recalls. “If somebody came (to show at the fair) with new jeans they went in the water tank. I was one of ’em! Danny Weidkamp, shown above, was one of them that did it,” laughs Anderson, remembering old days at the fair.

The tank may be long gone, but Anderson still remembers the fun.

Axel Anderson drives the last team of horses he showed at the Northwest Washington Fair in the 1940s. Photo courtesy of Gary Anderson

After learning from his grandfather, Axel Anderson, Gary Anderson drove the draft-horse pull for 29 years at the fair, starting around 1978. “All the people that do it are hand-me-down sons of horse pullers,” he says. His wife, Linda, also pulled a team.

The horse has to like it,” Gary Anderson explains. “You can’t force the horse to do it, they gotta like it. They know they’re putting on a show, they know what they’re there for. They get their adrenaline going just like a track star.”

Gary Anderson competes in the draft horse pull at the Northwest Washington Fair. He always wore that red polka-dotted hat.

See you at the fair!
Sarah Eden Wallace