Sonoma County Fair kicks off 11-day run with tribute to first responders

The fairgrounds in Santa Rosa came to life Thursday for the start of the 11-day Sonoma County Fair, which will highlight the region’s deep agricultural roots while honoring first responders who battled October’

This year’s fair, themed “Salute to Heroes,” mixes favorites - such as horse racing, concerts and a bustling carnival - with new features, including an exhibit about first responders and a “Seasons of Sonoma” exhibit at the Hall of Flowers to pay homage to local resilience.

The fair last year drew 140,839 paid attendees. Organizers hope to see a 5 to 10 percent increase in paid attendance this year, CEO Becky Bartling said.

Thursday - a free day for kids - brought in 10,000 to 11,000 attendees, about on par with last year, Deputy Manager Kaitlyn Findley-Thorn said. Paid attendance figures were not available. Last year’s paid attendance for opening night was 6,618, according to Findley-Thorn.

Gleeful screams Thursday spilled from the midway, and the saccharine scent of cotton candy and kettle corn drifted in the hot air.

“Fairs traditionally are just the community gathering place where you come and meet friends and see amazing exhibits and livestock,” Bartling said. “It provides all kinds of diverse entertainment for everyone.”

The fair has been a tradition for E.J. Rogoway, 4, of Sebastopol. His vanilla ice cream cone, free courtesy of Clover Sonoma, dripped down his hand as he observed KuneKune pigs in Saralee and Richard’s Barn. Much like goats, two wattles hang from their chins.

“They’re very cute - that’s what their beard looks like,” he said, gleefully pointing to the wattles.

Outside, Cotati’s Linda Velyis, 73, watched her grandsons, 4 and 7, as they pretended to operate a New Holland Workmaster tractor. They were headed to Brad’s World of Reptiles in Finley Hall to see anacondas, turtles and blue skinks.

“It’s a great place, and the ice cream is pretty tasty,” she said. “Every year they look forward to it. … They say ‘Grandma, are we going to go to the fair this year?’?”

For Daniel Burgess, a 14-year-old Annadel 4-H member, Thursday was emotional. It’s his first time showing, and he brought two sheep, Gyro and Issa. They placed second and fourth in their class, though the glory of their performance was eclipsed by the joy he felt knowing his stepfather was there with him.

Greg Way, a 48-year-old contract bulldozer operator for Cal Fire, was injured Sunday fighting the River fire, which has burned more than 41,000 acres in Lake County. When Burgess’ stepmother, Jessica, got the call that her husband of 12 years was hurt, she feared the worst.

“I’m glad he’s here - let’s just say I could have gotten a much different call,” the 40-year-old said.

Way, who previously worked for the Healdsburg Fire Department, was accidentally sucked into the 6-inch tread of his bulldozer while working on the east side, nearest to Lakeport. His left side was severely bruised, but he doesn’t have broken bones or internal injuries, an “absolute miracle,” he said.

The accident compounded an already tumultuous year. The Tubbs fire forced the family to evacuate a multigenerational homestead on the south side of Chanate Road. The property was unscathed, but it’s all been “nerve-wracking,” Burgess said.

“I’m blessed, really,” Way said of being at the fair with his wife and two children. “I’m grateful. Family has a whole new meaning. I’m grateful for our community, for my family, friends and being alive.”

Reminders of the firestorm were displayed through the 82nd annual Sonoma County Fair, with signs of thanks in livestock barns and elaborate paintings and posters in exhibits.

But longstanding traditions were also present in the bustling livestock barns, where 17-year-old Madisen Collier, a Sebastopol resident and the Sonoma section officer who represents 10 FFA chapters, walked her heifer, Seven.

“I love teaching people all about livestock. … Some people think that ag’s not really big, but it really is for the youth,” Collier said as she stood by her cow. “We learn so many life skills and some adults don’t even know them, like responsibility and time management.”

Other upcoming highlights include concerts that are free with the price of admission, and Saturday’s Norcal Brew Fest, which offers unlimited tastings of 50-plus beers and ciders from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $47, which includes admission.

On closing day, the Destruction Derby takes over the fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $10-$20.

Horse racing will take place Aug. 2-5 and Aug. 9-12, with no additional races after the fair because of scheduling changes forced by state entities. Last year, overall fair revenue was ?$6.4 million, a number that’s expected to drop $200,000 as a result of the loss of race days, Bartling said.

You can reach Staff Writer Hannah Beausang at 707-521-5214 or hannah.beausang@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @hannahbeausang.