(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)
HELPING THE FAIR: Paideia High School student paints poultry barn as part of senior project…
Heather Petty has been a longtime Valley Fair volunteer, enjoying the community event every year it comes around in the summer.
For five years she has helped as a volunteer when Valley turns into a gathering point for showing livestock, seeing friends and family, partaking in many games and activities while also enjoying great food.
While the fairgrounds have been quiet this year because of COVID-19, many improvements have been made for the fair including new structures and layouts.
Petty has now added to the improvements happening at the fairgrounds.
The Paideia High School student recently had a chance to do her senior project and decided to give back to the event she enjoys so much. For her project, she painted the fairgrounds poultry barn, installed raised flower boxes around the structure.
“I just wanted to give back to the community after all they have given me the past 12 years,” Petty said.
Vaagens Bros. donated bark and Lane Mountain donated rock for the landscaping around the barn. The Valley Fair Board, Sety’s Ace Hardware, Paideia Boosters for Bears, Don Dawson, Valley Market, Wendal and Michelle Wright and Dave and Theresa Carr also donated to the project.
Before, the Valley Fair’s poultry barn had no stain but now looks like a traditional red barn. The landscaping around the building now features irises, lillies and lupines planted by Petty.
It took several days for the junior to complete her project.
Petty said she has had a blast working on the project. She also told the newspaper that after graduation from Paideia, she plans on going to SCC-Colville for their welding program.