Country Fair mixed music and art

The llamas at Patterson Ranch lined up along the fence line on Saturday morning, August 11, watching with curiosity as visitors began streaming into the Episcopal Church grounds on Highway 242.

Something big was up and the llamas knew it. It was the Sisters Country Fair.

Hundreds of folks, mostly locals but many from out of town, turned out to enjoy a pleasantly warm afternoon of old-fashioned fun and entertainment.

"This is a nice deal," one visitor said. "A real pleasant event."

They dined on hot dogs and sauerkraut and indulged in marionberry cobbler. The cobbler, served with ice cream, was so refreshing on a hot day that many thought it was only prudent to have a second helping -- to ward off heatstroke, of course.

Singer Mark Kershner mingled with the crowd, employing a cordless microphone to range among fair-goers while serving up his light-hearted take on the standards of American popular music.

The Booher Family provided a rousing set of old-time classics performed on guitar, bass and fiddle. They were followed by the folk duo The Hoarse Whisperers, who served up their patented mix of original songs, gospel tunes and "bad-tooth hillbilly murder ballads."

Singer-songwriter Brad Tisdel performed solo, then introduced Americana Project student Sam Noel, who performed a mix of originals and covers.

Meanwhile, art aficionados explored the church undercroft, admiring the talents of Sisters fine artists who displayed watercolors, oil paintings and photography.

Children enjoyed pony rides and a petting zoo before learning about the dangers of fire from a puppet show staged off the back of a Sisters fire truck.

Then they wore themselves out jumping like popcorn in a big, red bouncy tent.

Shoppers went home with art, heirloom collectibles, home-canned treats and odds-and-ends from a white elephant table.

The fair was judged a success by churchgoers.

"The best part was, they came and they stayed," said Georgia Fritz. "It was just great to have all that wonderful music."

Proceeds from the fair go toward the church's community outreach programs.