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Published on 07/28/1997 All articles from this issue

Los Altos Hills official points county fair in an updated, more high-tech direction

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By Linda Taaffe

Town Crier Staff Writer

It's time for the Santa Clara County Fair again. And while participants will still be flocking to display their home-made jams, floral arrangements, cows, swine and sheep, the 10-day event has taken a new twist thanks, in part, to Los Altos Hills public works director Jim Rasp.

Rasp was among those who set out to broaden the exhibit categories and emphasize the area's newest commodity - technology.

Rasp said the fair will always have farm animals and agriculture, but after several years of dwindling public interest, organizers wanted to attract new visitors by reflecting the county's changing society.

"People think the fair is limited to farm families," said Rasp, a member of the board of directors of the Santa Clara County Fair Association. "We're trying to encourage broad interest and be open to all aspects of living in Santa Clara County."

Rasp met with high school teachers throughout the county to encourage them to have students include their industrial technology class projects at the fair.

New displays such as graphic arts and computer programs, and more industrial design categories were added to the fair's venue. Rasp said the public's response has heightened this year. The number of displays in industrial technology, for example, has increased from 300 entries last year to approximately 650 this year. The industrial technology exhibits range from architectural drafting, plastic designs and computer-aided illustrations to traditional woodwork, Rasp said.

Rasp said he hopes the technology exhibits will both encourage people to come out to the fair and raise the public's appreciation for it. He said the future of industrial design at the high school level is in jeopardy since many schools are cutting those classes from their school budgets.

As the father of 4-H members, Rasp is also involved with the traditional livestock exhibits at the fair.

Approximately 15 exhibitors from Los Altos will be at the fair, including Skye Wilson, who is exhibiting June, a stuffed bear that took three days to make, and Shell, a polar fleece cat that wears a shell collar around its neck. Skye's bear took second place and her cat won first place. The 10-year-old's brother, Daniel, is displaying photographs of Koi fish taken with a disposable camera. His photos won first and second place.

The fair opened July 24 and will run through Aug. 3. This year's theme is "county fresh family fun." In addition to the animal exhibits, craft displays and international food booths, the fair will feature Elvis Day, where impersonators compete for prizes. For more information, call (408) 494-3247.