<p>Chelsea Aguirre holds her son Cain, 1, while looking in the back of a Ford Flex at the Tom Denchel Ford Country display Friday at the Umatilla County Fair.</p>

Off-road toys everything from Polaris ATVs, snowmobiles and utility and sport side-by-side vehicles are featured in a booth near the main entry gate this week at the Umatilla County Fair.

Ron Bowman, of MCGG public relations, said the weekly attendance at the Umatilla County Fair provides an opportunity to show off products available to thousands of people.

Weve got around 5,000 people in all of Morrow County, so getting your name out there is important, he said.

Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, boasted in his year-end highlights that the 2012 fair set attendance records of more than 86,000 people. Those people, Bowman said, are potential customers.

Jason Hanna, who works in sales and finance, said the visibility is well worth their time often leading to after-fair sales. Also, he said a couple saw a product they wanted to buy during Tuesdays opening day. They were in the Lexington store first thing Wednesday morning to make the purchase. In addition, Hanna said, some people will purchase machines on display and pick them up as the group is tearing down the booth Sunday.

Bowman and Hanna said its enjoyable to be able to get outdoors at events like the fair and meet people who may end up being potential customers.

Delene Ekwortzel, a digital detail manager at Tom Denchel Ford Country, echoed Hannas experience.

By Friday morning, the local Ford dealer had already sold an F150 pickup, a Fusion and a Super Duty Truck. Ekwortzel said the fair usually leads to nearly two dozen sales after the event ends. In addition, she said, seeing the vehicles on display serves as a reminder of the need for maintenance or service and people often set up appointments after the fair.

It brings in a lot of business, said Brooklinn Melson, an office assistant.

She said another key factor is the company supports the fair as one of the sponsors.

It shows that we are a very community-oriented business, Melson said. We support FFA, 4-H and sponsor a lot of golf tournaments.

Heidi Ronquillo, co-owner of Americas Window Tinting & Graphics along with her husband, Lucio Altamirano, took advantage of the event to get the word out that their business had changed locations.

We wanted to promote and advertise to let people know they dont have to go to the Tri-Cities for window tinting, Ronquillo said.

The booth will hold a raffle on Saturday for a free window tinting service. In addition, she encourages people to stop by and pick up an Oregon Ducks or Oregon State Beavers window sticker and ink pens with the business address and phone number, while supplies last.

Groups of employees in the Polaris and Tom Denchel tents also have a supply of ice-cold water on hand and welcome fair-goers to stop in, cool off and learn about their products.

The final day of the Umatilla County Fair is Saturday with the gates opening at 9 a.m. For more information, go to www.co.umatilla.or.us/fair.

Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.