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Oregon Country Fair set-up battles wet conditions

 Food vendors set up at Oregon Country Fair on the rainy morning of July 5.
Nathan Wilk
/
KLCC
Food vendors set up at Oregon Country Fair on the rainy morning of July 5.

It's the Oregon Country Fair versus the elements as volunteers prepare to open this week.

On Tuesday, rain delayed the set-up for booths, which must be ready for the public on Friday. Meanwhile, after two years away from the campgrounds, vendors have had to rebuild structures. Bill Koss runs a seafood stand:

“It's been a little more difficult to get things together. A lot of the wood rotted and so we had a lot of replacement to do.”

Water has led some areas to be temporarily unusable. Koss said a refrigeration truck has had to move farther away from his booth, lengthening transport times for perishable food.

Despite this, organizers are confident about pulling the event off. Media liaison James Pemberton said these issues are nothing new, and that crews in previous years have been able to work quickly to overcome any delays. The Fair opens Friday.

Nathan Wilk is a freelance reporter and former reporting intern. He began in radio at a young age, serving as a DJ and public affairs host across Oregon. He is a senior at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.