Kimmy Naranja, 17, an Anzar High senior, leads her blue-butt pig to a stall Monday at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in preparation for the opening of the fair today. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula)

More than 300 volunteers, vendors and employees were at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Monday preparing for the opening of the fair today at noon. Some were unloading livestock, some were preparing their booths and others were setting up exhibits for the week ahead.

Anzar High School senior Kimmy Naranja, 17, was dropping off her blue-butt pig, which will appear in the junior livestock auction on Wednesday. She said she was excited to be back. A member of the Royal Oaks 4-H Club, she’s been showing animals at the fair since she was 9.

“I really like the atmosphere of the fair,” she said. “You get to see your fair friends.”

Her 6-month-old pig weighs about 160 pounds. She said she really like pigs.

“They’re pretty docile,” she said. “Pigs are pretty sweet.”

And while she will earn some money when her pig is sold, it’s still difficult to see the animal go, knowing it will be slaughtered for meat.

“You kind of learn after so many years that’s it’s just gonna happen,” she said. “You get used to it, but it’s never easy.”

Deborah Gillis, a small-scale Watsonville farmer, understands exactly how Naranja feels. Gillis brought her Jersey cow Buttercup to the fair and was preparing her pen Monday. It’s the fourth Santa Cruz County Fair for Buttercup, who spent her first one in the Yesterday’s Farm petting zoo. Accompanying Buttercup this year is new calf Mocha, who is a beautiful black color and as cute as can be. Gillis said she has found a buyer for Mocha who will keep her as a milk cow.

“I’m just delighted Mocha will not be in somebody’s freezer,” Gillis said. “I’m so glad we found somebody who wanted a dairy cow.”

Near the livestock barn, Judy Sauve was tending to the Monterey Bay Rose Society’s rose garden. Sauve was deadheading the old blooms and picking up petals that had fallen during Sunday night’s rain. The fragrant blooms couldn’t be passed without a notice.

“I’ll have a headache by the time I’m done smelling all these flowers,” Sauve said.

But Sauve’s task was easy compared to the crew setting up the Encounters with Sea Lions exhibit. Stefani Skrovan led a crew of more than a dozen people in setting up the water tanks, the stage and even a special fish kitchen for the sea lions. Skrovan said her crew had spent about 12 hours per day over the past four days setting up. There is a 10,000-gallon tank and a 5,000-gallon tank, both with special filtration systems. It took a couple of tons of salt to get the water just right.

“Before we bring the animals here, we have to make sure everything is 100 percent ready,” she said. “Sea lions are hugely labor-intensive.”

Overseeing all this intensive labor were interim fair manager John Kegebein and his assistant, John Scurfield. On Monday morning, they were answering questions from vendors, resolving disputes, making quick fixes and trying to place a second beer booth behind the Administration Building. In addition to a second location for a cold one, the two men added additional seating behind the Administration Building so more families would be able to sit down and eat.

Visitors will also notice other changes. There will be more rides than ever at the carnival and some will be moved outside their traditional setting in the back parking lot. A giant slide will be placed in the outdoor amphitheater area and a carousel will be put in front of the Crosetti Building. A mechanical bull will also be put on the amphitheater lawn.

Unfortunately, Scurfield said, country singer Buck Covington will not be appearing at the fair. Scurfield said the musician canceled after there was a death in his family. The fair is looking for a replacement for Wednesday’s entertainment.

Gina Locatelli, chairwoman of the Agriculture/Horticulture Department, spent her Monday judging produce, weighing giant pumpkins and tasting entrees in the cooking competitions. She said donations from the local berry companies and Monterey Mushrooms will keep all visitors to her department well fed.

“We’ll be able to spoil our patrons,” she said. “It’s all going so good.”



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