LIHU‘E — “We’re right on schedule,” said Sue Keller, one of the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau coordinators for the Annual Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair. Volunteers turned out early Saturday to start preparations for the opening set for Thursday evening at
LIHU‘E — “We’re right on schedule,” said Sue Keller, one of the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau coordinators for the Annual Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair.
Volunteers turned out early Saturday to start preparations for the opening set for Thursday evening at 6 p.m.
“By the end of the day, all the tents will be up,” Keller said. “The only thing we won’t have will be the electricity.”
Keller was pleased with the turnout of volunteers that included a large number from Pioneer, Far West Ag, the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center, the Kapa‘a High School J.R.O.T.C., and “us diehard farm bureau members.”
“The bridge first,” is how Col. Jerald Knudsen of the Kapa‘a J.R.O.T.C. program described their orders. “Sue said, ‘The bridge first, then…”
Reyn Mossman, one of the leadership cadets for the J.R.O.T.C. noted, “There’s supposed to be more, but it’s a long weekend, and we didn’t have school yesterday (due to the Admission Day holiday). They’ll come out later, hopefully.”
Mossman, who was scheduled to be part of the color guard for the KIF preseason football game against Hawai‘i Prepatory Academy Saturday night, added that the Kapa‘a cadets will also be in charge of manning the parking during the fourday run of the fair.
Cadets who turned out Saturday included Mossman, Max Vandervot, Jonathan Ganir, Makaleka Ferreira, the only female in the contingent, Sidney Imperial, and Richard Cain.
Jerry Ornellas, one of the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau members, was driving the fork lift to move piles of lumber as Dereck Nishimura, another farm bureau member, helped.
“This is all for the food booth,” Ornellas explained. “But, the sad thing is that we lost 10 tents this year. We had to go out and get replacement tarps and other supplies this morning. But, that can’t stop the fair from being good.”
Roman Ishchenko has been on Kaua‘i for just about a week, and was busy working alongside the other volunteers.
Peter Tausend, a farm bureau member and Ishchenko’s host, explained that the high school exchange student is from the Ukraine, and with just about a week to get acquainted with the island, is out helping set up for the Thursday opening.
Tausend, who is employed by Pioneer Seed, said Ishchenko is here through the International Hospitality Center on O‘ahu, under the Future Leaders Exchange program. Ishchenko, who will be either in the 11th, or 12th grade when Kaua‘i High School opens on Wednesday, will spend the school year, here on Kaua‘i, returning to his homeland some time in May, or June, Tausend noted.
Sarah Styan, another Pioneer employee, normally spends her time in the laboratory at the Westside facility, but didn’t mind coming out, Saturday to help with the setup.
“I’m originally from Massachusetts where my dad was the farm bureau president, there,” Styan said. “I grew up on a farm.”
Under the shade of one of the manicured kamani trees, Harold Naumu waited for the rest of his crew to show up.
“We’re going to have the food booth, again,” Naumu pointed out. “It’s going to be the first one closest to the stadium.”
Kaua‘i High School football coach Dean Petro had his crews out helping along with Red Raider athletic booster Bob Crowell. “We’ll be here, again,” they said. “But, this year, there’s going to be something new on the menu,” Crowell added. “We’re supposed to have (pull) pork sandwiches from Pedro’s.”
Ralph Suniga of Meadow Gold was also on hand. “I’m helping the Pop Warner people, but we’re (Meadow Gold) also one of the fair sponsors, so gotta help, eh?” Suniga said as other Pop Warner officials including Kurt Toma headed towards their respective stations.
“We always do the tents and setup with the E.K. (Fernandez) people,” Keller said. “They’re supposed to put up our commercial tent, and another big tent. We’re right on schedule.”
The Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair opens Thursday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. with the official opening ceremonies honoring Mamo Kaneshiro and his family.
