His 300-day performance schedule has him playing his washboard -- and accompaniments -- at fairs from Amador County to the Shasta District Fair. And during those performances, the strolling musician, along with his wife and partner, Donnis Hiskett, perform for and with children.

Most times his pint-sized musical recruits return their tambourines, drums, shakers and washboards. But sometimes the instruments do a disappearing act.

A bit of prevention curbs the problem.

"Instead of getting little egg shakers, it's eggs on a stick," Hiskett said.

Hiskett will play his washboard with Donnis (Washboard Wanda) at the Shasta District Fair, which runs through Sunday at the fairgrounds off Highway 273 in Anderson.

If you want to catch their interactive act, which includes Hiskett playing his 13-instruments-in-one washboard, get there early. His kid-friendly performance closes shop by 6 p.m.

Washboard Willy's act is also free with paid fair admission.

Just after rolling into the Shasta District Fair grounds on Tuesday, both Hisketts lounged in their RV and talked about the finer points of washboard music.

"This washboard started as a hobby," said Hiskett, a one-time landscape architect. "I saw a washboard player in 1976."

Hiskett remembered that washboard player as Washboard Leo, as a long-haired hillbilly in overalls and bare feet. And he dug the rattling of Leo's washboard.

Fast-forward to 1980 and Hiskett bought his first washboard ... and wore it out. By 1994 he was playing the fair circuit with his own hand-crafted washboard. To make music on it, he dons a pair of metal-tipped baseball gloves and strums his fingers across the metal grates.

He added Rocko, a battery-powered rhythm rig to the act which tows along the musical toys and has a built-in PA and amplifier system.

Hiskett took a moment to don his signature washboard, which includes a duck call, siren and samba whistle, cymbals, office bell, wooden blocks, bells and a horn.

"The washboard, like the banjo, is an original American idea for a (musical) instrument," Hiskett said, after strumming and banging the contraption.

But behind all the props, Hiskett said he hopes the act helps children develop an appreciation for music.

"Rhythm, to me, is the most vital part of playing music," Hiskett said.