Don Jelsing likes to try to add something new to the Pierce County Fair every year.

This year, that special feature is the addition of a carnival with the Mighty Thomas Carnival, which will provide 6-7 rides at the fair, which runs from July 3-6.

“To us on the fair board, what’s different about this fair from the past few fairs is the addition of the Mighty Thomas Carnival,” he said. “As tough as it is to get a decent carnival at your small county fairs, we feel blessed they’d consider us. To be able to get some actual mechanical rides back to the fair is a huge, huge step for us. Even though we won’t have as many rides as we hopefully will have in the future, we’ll have a start.”

The entertainment lineup includes 32 Below on July 3, followed by the PlowBoyz on July 4 and Ashley Buchart on July 5. Fully Loaded closes the fair on July 6.

“We feel very good about our entertainment lineup,” he said. “Anybody that likes to listen to music at night, we have four really powerful bands.”

Jelsing said the thing that drives the fair is community involvement, and that means the open class entries.

“All of the entertainment is nice at the county fair but it comes down to community participation and that boils down to the open class,” he said. “Whether it’s an art painting or a picture or a pan of brownies, it’s an opportunity for people to exhibit their talents. I hope people take that opportunity.”

Jelsing said there will be a strong 4-H presence at the fair and a few local reunions have been scheduled to coincide with the fair.

Jelsing said the fair board is thankful for all of the financial support each year.

“Thank you to all of our sponsors and financial people and the county commissioners,” he said. “A lot of this boils down to cash. Also, a big thank you to our volunteers and our supporters.”

Jelsing said the fair is still about families and community activities, and that has kept him motivated to keep the fair going.

“I still believe it’s about bringing the community together for an event that families can sit together and talk to their neighbors and show their livestock and have some fun and enjoy themselves,” he said. “It’s a family event. Hats off to the board and the volunteers who have worked on this thing for the whole year.”