Cliff Buchan
News EditorRome wasnít built in a day and nor are vanity tables restored in a few days. Vanessa Berglund of Hugo, an incoming senior at Forest Lake High School and a member of the Big Lakers 4-H Club has learned the lesson well.
Early last summer, Berglund, her father Joe and other 4-H club members were working concessions at an estate auction in Centerville when they came across an antique vanity. Joe Berglund won the cherry wood vanity with a $45 bid.
The optimistic and ambitious youth took on the vanity as a Washington County Fair project last summer, but soon learned the furniture refinishing project was far more ambitious than she had imagined.
So, when last yearís county fair rolled around, Berglundís vanity table stayed at home and in its place was the tableís stool which was refinished and ready for the fair as a 4-H self-determined project.
To Vanessaís amazement, the foot stool was the fairís grand champion in the category and went on to the Minnesota State Fair where it received a blue ribbon.
But this year Berglund is ready with the big piece of furniture which is entered in the same category at the Washington County Fair which runs all week in Lake Elmo.
For the past three weeks, Berglund has been busy in the family garage putting the finishing touches on the vanity table. Five coats of paint ó white, blue, pink, green and more white ó had to be removed.
ìIt took so much to get the paint off,î Vanessa said. Three gallons of paint stripper were used and a pressure washer helped do the job, too, she says.
But as Berglund nears the home stretch this week with her project, she is finding satisfaction in her efforts and what she has learned.
The old vanity was probably made around 1922 by the Rockford Cabinet Company. Custom made mirrors that make up the three-fold mirror arrangement are dated 1922.
When the vanity shows at the fair this year, Berglund says the finished product will be much the same as the foot stool finished for the fair last year.
ìItís (the vanity) almost to the point where it matches,î she says of the foot stool.
Joe Berglund is pleased with his daughterís willingness to take on tough projects and learn new subjects like wood refinishing.
ìIt was a big undertaking for her,î he said. ìShe learned a lot from doing the old stool.î
But such a challenge has been the rule for the two Berglunds, Vanessa and her older sister, Tabitha, their father said.
ìThe girls have an ëI can do ití attitude,î Berglund said.
County Fair events
The 133rd annual Washington County Fair in Lake Elmo opened Wednesday, Aug. 4 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 8.
Daily admission is $5 for those 16 and older while youth 6-15 are admitted for $3. Kids under 6 are free. A season pass for admission is $15 for those 16 and older while those 15 to 6 will be admitted every day for $5 with a seasonís pass.
The fairgrounds is located on TH-5, roughly two miles southwest of TH-36
A number of special days are planned.
Today (Thursday) is Family Fun Day.
Friday, Aug. 6 is Senior Citizenís Day.
Saturday, Aug. 7 is Fire Fighters Day.
Gold Star Amusements will offer its carnival rides and attractions throughout the fair.
Todayís events include 4-H swine and poultry judging. A miniature horse show will take place at 10 a.m. while a number of stage shows are on tap throughout the day.
4-H dairy goat, beef and rabbit judging is on the Friday schedule along with the free shows and acts. The 4-H Arts-In Show is at 6 p.m. along with a draft horse pull at 6:30 and the open division talent show at 8.
Saturdayís events include 4-H dairy cattle judging, a W.S.C.A horse show, a fire Fighters demonstration, pygmy dairy goat judging, stage shows, the 4-H dog show and the 4-H livestock auction.
The Killer Hayseeds Band and Rodeo Renegades will perform from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
Sundayís events include an English horse show, community church service, 4-H performing arts festival, a tractor pull, 4-H style review, a fiddlerís contest and a final day of stage shows. A 4-H awards program will help conclude the 2004 fair at 6:30 p.m.
For details, see: www.washingtoncountyfair.org.
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