Everybody knows about the Chelan County Fair — the animal showings for FFA fanatics and 4H members, the hordes of food stalls with many various choices of culture cuisine, the amazing colorful carnival — but what people may not know is exactly who the people are who put all the effort into the project.

Every year, the Chelan County Fair Commissioners offer a position which is open to any junior in Chelan County who has been associated with the fair before. If one is interested in the idea, they first go through a written exam. Then, if they pass that, they go onto an oral application, which is an interview with three other county commissioners. The top two candidates are then awarded the title of Chelan County Ambassador, and get to work with the commissioners on the fair for the next year. They are also presented with a $1,000 scholarship.

This year, this title was awarded to Dane Schwarz of Chelan and Adrian Robinson, a junior at Wenatchee High School.

“It was a little surprising as the competition was pretty tough this year and a lot of people entered for the job,” Robinson said. ”But it’s a huge honor and I’m so glad to have been chosen. I’ve grown up with the fair board, and this fair in general, as I have been showing here for around nine years and it was kind of natural for me to apply for this position. I know that this fair is a fun experience for kids, and I’m passionate about that.”

This year, though, the state legislation has cut off much of the funding for the county fair, which is something that Chelan County desperately needs. The popularity and income has been declining in the past few years, and so part of the job as ambassador is to help gain back some of the popularity and awareness of the Chelan County Fair.

“Our job is to really boost exhibits and help generate funds, and in general just help keep the fair going,” Robinson said. “We travel to many places (like Ag stores around town) and participate in parades — my first one was the Apple Blossom Parade — to bring more awareness to our fair.”

The Chelan County Fair opens Sept. 9 and continues until Sept. 13. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for students and seniors. A reduced price is offered for many of the nearby elementary schoolers.

“One really cool thing about [the fair] is that you don’t even need an animal to be able to participate. You can show just about anything,” Robinson said. “If you sewed a really cool dress or even built an awesome Lego house — you can show it. And that’s one of the best parts about the Chelan County Fair; that people who don’t usually get much recognition will be recognized.”