FARMINGTON — Tractor batteries are charged, the grass is trimmed, historic displays are dusted and buildings are cleaned. It has taken months of dedicated work but organizers of the week-long 178th annual Farmington Fair are ready to welcome fair-goers.
The exhibition takes place Sunday, Sept 16 through Saturday, Sept. 22 with all the usual displays, animal exhibits, horse racing, entertainment, and, of course, rides with Smokey’s Greater Shows.
Tom White, superintendent of buildings and grounds, said major projects included rebuilding all of Section 1 and a part of Section 2 of the Grandstand.
Jeff O’Donnell works on a piece of machinery in the Farmington Fair Agriculture Museum. (Dee Menear/Franklin Journal)
“We’ve spent quite a bit of time preparing the New Sharon Library. The building arrived last year but not in enough time to do any major work. The crew has been busy with plastering walls and restoring woodwork in the library,” White explained.
The building dates back to at least 1860, noted local historian and fair volunteer Don DeRoche.
An Ideal Clarion wood stove which belonged former librarian Faith Dyer is on display in the library. It is located in the historical section of the fairgrounds next to the Red School House and Blacksmith Shop.
DeRoche will have a display of historical photos and artifacts in the seating area of The Ice Cream Shoppe food booth. Many of the photographs on display were captured by the late-Barbara Yeaton.
“Niles Yeaton offered a lot of photos belonging to his mother. Her albums will be here for display so people can look through them,” DeRoche said.
DeRoche’s display covers many themes including fair history, former Mt. Blue High School basketball coach Jim Bessey and the 1950’s.
By setting up the display in the seating area, DeRoche is hoping to attract those who may need a place to sit and rest during the fair. He’s also hoping to attract young generations who may not initially be interested in history.
“Once you get one person in and they find something interesting, they will go out on the midway and tell someone about it and, hopefully, get them in,” said DeRoche.
DeRoche, who has been involved with the fair since the mid 1980’s, said he has spend a great deal of time seeding and watering grass.
“A lot of getting ready is keeping up with the grounds. We have done a lot of work on grassy areas that get trampled on,” said Rupert Pratt, President of the Board of Directors.
“We work all summer long for the purpose of one week of fair,” DeRoche added.
In the Agriculture Museum, Jeff O’Donnell has spent the last few weeks dusting and organizing artifacts and equipment. O’Donnell, who has been head of the museum for two years, said he has always been interested in agriculture history.
He said, “The thing is: someday if the lights go out, all of this will be relevant again.”
Worthley Arena will be the location for several new events for children, said secretary Neal Yeaton.
On Sunday, Sept. 16, at 2:30 p.m., there will be a country-themed costume contest for 3 and 4-year olds. Children 5 to 8-years old can take part in a pie eating contest on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
“They will have nice gooey chocolate cream pie with lots of whipped cream,” said Yeaton.
Also new this year is the Junior Farmers Frolic on Saturday, Sept 22 at 10 a.m. in the Show Ring, weather permitting. Children will have the chance to try their hand at general farm chores such as shoveling saw dust and handling hay. They can also experience milking a cow.
“Not with a real cow, mind you, but by using a feeder type bottle,” said Yeaton.
Each day a boy and girl will have the chance to win a new bicycle. Sign up for the daily drawing will be in the exhibition hall. The drawing will take at the gazebo Sunday and Saturday at 5 p.m., and Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. Children must be present to win, stated Yeaton.
The demolition derby takes place Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Race Grandstand. Yeaton said the purse has been increased and the overall winner of the derby will go home with $1,000. Drawings for two cars will also be held during the derby, Yeaton said. Tickets are 3 for $5 and can be purchased throughout the week.
For more information and a full schedule, visit www.farmingtonfair.com
dmenear@thefranklinjournal.com
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