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New Fair Manager Flags Budget Problems, Long‑time Volunteers Push Back
Summary
New Fair Manager Crystal Baker said she found 'the worst budget she’s ever seen,' citing questionable expenditures and vendor discrepancies; long‑time volunteers criticized the tone, and a longtime volunteer said she will resign amid the dispute.
Crystal Baker, the Wahkiakum County Fair Board’s newly appointed manager, told the board at its June 10 meeting that she wants to treat the fairgrounds as an events operation and has already found budget issues she called alarming.
"I'm a numbers person," Crystal Baker said, and added that she felt the board's budget was "the worst budget she’s ever seen," citing what she described as questionable expenditures and discrepancies in vendor charges. Baker distributed a printout of the budget to board members and said improving community rapport at the grounds is an early priority.
Some long‑time volunteers took Baker’s remarks as a personal attack. Phyllis Westley replied that the written budget has elements of a "wish list" and that Baker’s presentation came across as critical of past volunteers. The exchange touched off broader discussion about food booth divisions and whether proposed changes might reduce community events.
Becky Ledtke, a volunteer who has worked with the fair for years, said recent records requests and the atmosphere of distrust had left her unwilling to continue. Becky said the books and office records have been open for inspection and announced she will submit her resignation to the Commissioner’s office. Jerry Ledtke urged her not to "give up during a hard pull."
