Fair’s 60th Mockonema show logs attendance comeback

With pumpkins, carnies, elaborate quilts, bucking bulls, kaleidoscopic flowers and animals of all shapes and sizes, the Palouse Empire Fair once again wowed the crowds at its 60th edition at Mockonema.

“It’s amazing to see how creative all these people can be,” said Gail Bilow of Endicott, as she was looking over a birdhouse made of flakes of black walnut by Frank Hughes.

More than 24,000 people enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the fair, said fair manager Bob Reynolds. The estimated attendance is an uptick from last year’s 23,000.

“Boy, it was great to see all those people out there,”...