Barn animals are back, rides have increased, and the grounds are spruced up for the 42nd annual Southeast Alaska State Fair.

Contests, displays and workshops will punctuate the four-day Haines tradition that begins at noon Thursday. Organizers are excited for a banner year.

“We’ve been working really hard getting ready for this big week, and it’s all coming together. I’m really excited,” said fair director Kelly Hostetler.

Farm animals will be on display at McPherson Barn, after a three-year hiatus. Animal exhibits faltered with the dissolution of the local 4-H club, said Jessica Edwards, who is in charge of animals at the fair.

Alpacas, goats, sheep, a Shetland pony, miniature horses, ducks, chickens, geese and bunnies will be on display.

“There has been clamor in the community for animals in the barn,” Edwards said, and residents with domesticated animals have been quick to help out.

Adrian Bochart will bring her two goats into town, the animals’ first interactions with crowds.

“I’m excited to see if I can pull it off,” said Bochart, of transporting them in a vehicle.

Jacque is a six-year-old mother, who produces nearly a gallon of milk a day, and her four-year-old son Ivan is a wether, or neutered male.

Horse rides will be offered in the arena on Saturday.

Outside the barn, the American Bald Eagle Foundation will have raptors on display Friday and Saturday.

A most lovable dog competition will be held in town at Tlingit Park. Registration is at the fire hall and all dogs will walk in the parade. In its 16th year, the contest has 12 categories including largest, most lovable, cutest, smallest and more, said organizer Carrie Kinison.

Over at the pavilion, recent drainage upgrades and gravel work should make for a less muddy fair and new paint and tents have spiffed up the grounds, said Edwards. The fair will have a will-call booth this year for fairgoers with season passes.

Two new rides are offered in addition to the ferris wheel, carousel and kiddie train.

The bungee run will hold two contestants, who race down an inflated lane, while harnessed to a bungee cord. The cord will then snap them back. “It’s like bungee jumping on a horizontal plane,” said Edwards.

A full-size, inflatable bounce house with a slide and basketball hoop also has been purchased and added to the rides area. Odin and Phoenix Jacobson were the first kids in it at a test ride Saturday and rated it two thumbs up.

Two new features are planned for the logging show, a frozen T-shirt contest and an antique chainsaw display.

The T-shirt contest is the brainchild of Deana Stout, who learned of the idea at a national fair conference last winter.

Teams of two can compete in the event, where partners race to remove a T-shirt encased in ice inside a plastic water bottle and get it on one of them. The event is $5 and the winners take a cut of entry fees.

“It’s a riot,” said Stout, and usually takes 40 minutes to one hour to complete. It will kick off the logging show.

Dave Luchinett of Hoonah also will have display eight antique power saws, ranging from a 1943 two-man, 100-pound Diston to a 1948 one-man McCulloch. “That basically set the power saw world on its ear,” he said. It weighed less than 25 pounds and boasted a three horsepower engine with a diaphragm carbeurator allowing it to be “run in all positions.”

All eight saws will be “fired up” and cutting wood. “That’s the neatest thing about it, making them come back to life.”

New food vendors include a wandering weenie hot dog cart, ice cream, French fries and baked potatoes. And Gov. Sean Parnell will be the grand marshal of the fair parade on Saturday.

A fair pass for four days and all music events is $40.

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