On Day Three of the 2024 Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I once again had the pleasure of interviewing some remarkable folks who each make a unique contribution to the Fair’s success.
We started our interview series with Ron Stubbs, whose Hypnotic Mayhem has delighted and mystified audiences for more than three decades. But Ron is also a “talent buyer” for casinos throughout the country. You’ll learn more about this talented gent (who grew up within walking distance of Don Wick’s childhood home) and get some some insight into how hypnosis works from a guy who started off as a sceptic.
Our next interview was with Robert Demarais, who in addition to being the owner of Sound Cedar, a major sponsor of the Fair, has recently founded the Skagit County Fairgrounds Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping fund the operations of our beloved Fairgrounds through grants and donations.
For our third interview, Don and I were pleased to interview Kristen Keltz, who seven months ago became the president of the Skagit Tourism Bureau after having served as the CEO of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years. We wanted to learn how one goes about promoting our beautiful Magic Skagit, but we also wanted to know about Kristen’s own history with the Skagit County Fair and her lifelong relationship with it.
If you’ve ever fantasized about running away and joining the circus, you’ll find Don’s and my fourth interview of Day Three to be especially interesting. Jason Barker, the ringmaster of Vuelta La Luna, brought his entire troupe with him to tell us their history and describe their unique talents. Meet Eros, Miss Ella, and Kendra — and discover how they came to embrace circus life.
Our fifth interview was with Caitlin Villaroman, a volunteer with Sardis Raptor Center, which started as an all species rehab organization and has since evolved into a rescue center for raptors ranging from bald eagles to eurasian eagle owls. Her participation at the Fair is part of her organization’s education efforts. Young and old alike come away from Caitlin’s daily presentations with a new appreciation for the amazing birds that call Sardis Raptor Center their home.
Please note that the sound quality of these recorded interviews is a bit rough. Don and I were competing with the 4H and FFA lifestock auction that was going on in the Pavilion where the Meyer Sign History Booth is located. Think of it as the ambient background of the Fair, and it certainly won’t detract from your admiration of the folks we were fortunate enough to speak with today. They’re a part of what makes our Skagit County Fair a cherished annual event!
