By STEVE BROWN

Capital Press

PUYALLUP, Wash. -- Tom Weimer, a cattleman from Susanville, Calif., takes his cattle to shows from Argentina to Canada, but he ranks the Puyallup Fair right at the top.

"We sell a lot of cattle up here," he said. "The Puyallup Fair is well run, and Washington has always been good for us."

He said this is the 27th year he's been bringing his polled Herefords here. "It's just part of the promotional, advertising and marketing end of the business."

Chuck Brown raises the same breed, but he doesn't bring them quite so far. His Shining Star Polled Herefords is in Grays Harbor, Wash.

He comes for the competition, he said. "Here you can see where your animals stand. They bring in quality judges from out of state."

The customer service at the fair is second to none, he said. "The Puyallup Fair is very good about helping us out and keeping things running smoothly."

A night crew patrols the barns, keeping the droppings cleaned up, he said. "It's nice to come in in the morning and not have to do that."

Also sold on the special touches was Wayne Adams, who raises Pinzgauers in Toledo, Wash.

"They're cattle-friendly," he said. "It seems like they want us to be here. They even furnish hay and bedding, which a lot of fairs don't do.

"The premiums are good, which is a consideration. The camping facilities are excellent and not too outrageous. This is the best fair in all the country."

Billie Lattire, of Lacey, Wash., said he has been showing his dairy cattle for years, from Texas to Washington, "and this is the best fair I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot, including five state fairs."

He said the premiums are better than anywhere else, "and this is a nice facility."

Matthew Manery, from Shelbyville, Tenn., said he drove out to help Lattire. "I'm hoping we win enough to maybe pay for the gas."

Bill Shagren, of Custer, Wash., has been farming with Belgian draft horses and showing them for 45 years, the past 10 at Puyallup.

"This is the best," he said. He said he appreciates the attention paid to all the animal facilities and to the owners. "Many fairs have tried it without livestock altogether, but people like it."