Saturday, May 10, 2025
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FAST FIVE Serena Caples: Lovin' the fair life

DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 3 weeks AGO


Photo by Lacey Green Photography

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by DEVIN WEEKS
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | August 17, 2024 1:00 AM

Meet Serena Caples, a wife, mother, small business owner and the development director for the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation.

With nearly two decades of involvement with the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and 4-H programs, Serena brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our community. Born and raised in the Inland Northwest and a resident of Kootenai County for almost 20 years, Serena's roots run deep in our region. Coming from a ranching family, she is passionate about Western culture and agriculture. Serena is actively engaged in the community, contributing her time and skills to fundraising committees, various events, outreach programs and her church. She loves to utilize her expertise in event planning, design and production, as well as her background in health care to impact our community. Serena is thrilled to leverage her knowledge and experience to promote and share Western culture and agriculture for many years to come.

1) What is the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation and what is your role with it?
The North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports our local community by contributing to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Some ways we do that are capital improvement contributions, scholarships to local youth who have participated with the fairgrounds in any manner and other educational opportunities. We believe it is a history worth preserving and a future worth supporting. As the development director for the foundation, I help to further our mission, work within our community to impact many families and keep our history alive.

2) How and when did you get involved with our local fair?
I have been involved with our local fair since I was 10 years old starting in 4-H.

3) What are some of your fondest fair memories from your youth?
Some of my fondest memories at the fairgrounds include horse camp, a weeklong adventure with your horse to learn better skills and engage with other 4-H members, learning work ethic, assisting in painting and joyful memories of unwavering friendships. I have not missed a single fair since. I love everything about our fair. The crisp mornings, smells, tastes and feels. It takes me back to such a simple time, of memories dearly cherished.


4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
People may be surprised to know that aside from working at the fairgrounds, I own a business with my husband called Integrity Landworks. I am also a mom and I have a long history working in the medical field and hold numerous certificates pertaining to health care and management. I am certainly well invested in our community and hope to continue adding enrichment to our local area! 

5) Why are our local fairgrounds and the North Idaho State Fair such an important part of our community?
When most people think of the fairgrounds, many just think of a 10-day fair at the end of August. It is so much more. In a world that is so divisive, it is truly the community gathering place — it has something for everyone. It is a place that always brings people together. The joy of a wedding, the love of honoring a loved one at a memorial, the excitement of the fair, the adrenaline rush of motocross, the unity of church gatherings or hard work at a home and garden show. This is a place that leaves no person untouched in some way. 

We have many events during the year! The North Idaho State fair goes through Aug. 25. Today, Aug. 17, the Fair Foundation is hosting a Brewfest fundraiser. It also has an exciting cornhole tournament at 3 p.m.!

The Fair Foundation is also hosting three days of bingo during the fair. All ages are welcome all three days! Aug. 20 is Senior Day when we are honoring those 60 and over with a discount. The 24th we are teaming up with Make-A-Wish Idaho to support their mission within our community, and even more bingo on the 25th! Make sure to mark your calendars for our annual Cowboy Ball in April of 2025!

      


      
      
      
      


      


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Cruising around a tall pine with a small measuring tape, Ava Stone examined the numbers and wrote them down on a paper secured to her clipboard. "It's the diameter, and then you take a clinometer from the 66 foot back and then the 100 foot back, then you look up and get the height to find out the board foot volume," she said Thursday morning.

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May 9, 2025 1:08 a.m.

Students sharpen timber skills at Idaho State Forestry Contest

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Cruising around a tall pine with a small measuring tape, Ava Stone examined the numbers and wrote them down on a paper secured to her clipboard. "It's the diameter, and then you take a clinometer from the 66 foot back and then the 100 foot back, then you look up and get the height to find out the board foot volume," she said Thursday morning.