Rain doesn't stop community from attending Jamestown Fair

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September 5, 2012

Rain doesn't stop community from attending Jamestown Fair

By Konstantine Fekos Meadville Tribune The Meadville Tribune Wed Sep 05, 2012, 07:00 AM EDT

JAMESTOWN — Under a solid sheet of rain — as the first fairgoers huddled under vendor booths, and umbrellas dotted the streets — the Jamestown Community Fair opened for its 69th year Tuesday evening.

The dark and dreary skies, however, were offset by the vibrant lights of the fair rides, not to mention the vast array of indoor exhibits from local crops to handmade crafts.

“I come here to enter the fair,” said Jamestown resident Chickie Burns, carting in a wagon full of family-grown crops to the Exhibit Hall for display and judging.

The hall, located in the Jamestown High School gymnasium, houses art and photo exhibits, community organization booths and tables upon tables of locally grown fruits, vegetables, grains and other produce.

Also featured at the fair are the livestock barns, including the return of sheep to the fair.

“We didn’t have sheep for a while, but now they’re back because we reached out to the community,” said Kathe Wilson, fair treasurer.

Wilson and other fair board members attended the 100th anniversary convention of the Pennsylvania Association for County Fairs, where they brought back some ideas on how to offer and maintain an even better variety of vendors for the community.

“I’ve been working here for four years,” said Campi’s Pizza vendor Mark Aldrich. “It’s an experience.”

The Campi’s team prides itself on a generations-old Sicilian recipe which it presents at several local fairs.

As the evening’s festivities began, the horse barn was dedicated to the late Dane Mitchell, honored for his fair presidency and long-time dedication.

Other honorees include state Sen. Bob Robbins, this year’s recipient of the Fair Ambassador Award.

“Senator Robbins has been a friend of agriculture his whole life,” said Barron “Boots” Hetherington, special adviser to the governor for agriculture. “He and Governor (Tom) Corbett helped us get much needed fair funding; more than double that of last year.”

Robbins was also instrumental in securing grants for lighting and maintenance, more structured parking, better handicap-accessibility and the floor covering for the gymnasium.

“Funding will go to the other 108 fairs as well as the (Future Farmers of America) and 4-H clubs,” said Hetherington. “Robbins is a champion for agriculture.”

Hetherington emphasized the need for essential appropriations because fairs, as he said, are not profit centers. Baking competitions and other events act as charity fundraisers for the fair, he added.

“Equipment and materials are brought by staff or donated, and administrators volunteer their time; it’s a community celebration,” he said. “Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s biggest industry; the second is tourism. Fairs are the perfect way to cover both.”

You can go

Here are some of the main events remaining in this year’s Jamestown Community Fair.

Today

6:30 p.m. — Chuck Thorpe & Friends

7 — Demolition derby

Thursday

6 p.m. — Junior Country Beauty Pageant

7 — Mini Horse Pull

Friday

7 — Truck and tractor pull

Saturday

1 p.m. — Parade

6 — Demolition derby

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