PORT TOWNSEND – Sue McIntire and other volunteers at Jefferson County Fairgrounds can hardly rein in their enthusiasm about the fairgrounds’ new horse arena.

The arena is scheduled for a 10 a.m. Sunday ribbon cutting to mark its official opening, and some serious horsing around is likely.

The opening ceremony will include a horse show by the Silver Spurs 4-H Club.

“It’s a big deal for us,” said McIntire, looking out over the nearly finished project that expands the arena by 20 feet on the south and west sides to 117 feet by 217 feet.

New drainage, new fence poles and rails wrap around the arena that in the past was often plagued by poor drainage and deep mud.

“It flooded all the time. It was a hazard for kids and barrel racers that came for the fair,” said McIntire, who with her husband, Bill, has long sat on the county Fair Board.

He is board president.

The new arena comes 600 volunteer hours and $26,000 in grants later.

That includes an $8,000 special assistance grant from state Department of Agriculture through the state Legislature, and an $18,000 grant from the Warren Weadell bequest.

Weadell, the late owner of award-ribbon-maker Western Publishing, intended in his bequest to give back to those who bought his awards ribbons, such as county fairs.