125th Chautauqua County Fair

TIM LATSHAW OBSERVER Staff Writer

7/24/2006 - Before the Chautauqua County Fair opens its gates to the public, a whole lot of equipment, people and animals must make their ways in first.Vendors, operators and other participants of the fair’s events and attractions made final preparations Sunday in anticipation of its 125th year grand opening today at 9 a.m.While many arrive two days prior to the fair’s opening to begin their preparations, Board of Directors President Jeanne Stewart said that heavy rains on Saturday gave some cause for worry.“A lot of people did not come yesterday (Saturday) to set up,” she said. “We were concerned, but they are here today.”J & J Amusements, the company responsible for the majority of the midway rides and attractions at the fair, made it to the fairgrounds after becoming stuck in mud at their last venue, Stewart said. The grounds began to take a familiar appearance Sunday evening as rides were erected into the sky and cars were added one-by-one to the Ferris wheel.The Victoria Circus, a new attraction to the fair, was also expected to make it in Sunday night. Planned acts from the circus include two different highwire acts, a motorcycle “globe of death” and a comedy trampoline routine.Preparations were going on inside the fair’s display barns and buildings as well. A team of approximately 18 judges had already finished distributing awards to the variety of arts, crafts and foods that fill Floral Hall, but workers were still busy preparing an area to host demonstrations throughout the week.“We’re glad we’re almost to the point of opening,” said hall superintendent Ann Woolley. “The hardest part is done.”Participants who brought more animate entries — cows, sheep, pigs, etc. —often have a little more time to prepare them for judging, but that doesn’t mean there is much time to loaf. Felicia Winton moved in 18 cows from her family’s Arlaine Farm on Saturday. Even with help from her brother Brooks, only about half of the cows were prepared for judging Wednesday.Glen Moss, who has been part of the fair for about 10 years, was preparing his own cows in another barn. When asked what he had done since 9 a.m. Saturday morning, he simply replied, “Everything.”“I’ve been getting the display ready, milking the cows and washing the cows,” he explained. Like many other animal keepers, Moss will be staying with his cows around the clock, sleeping on the fairgrounds until festivities end next Sunday.The fair’s opening ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m., with state Sen. Catharine Young expected to speak. The dedication of the new dairy barn roof, made possible through over $25,000 of funding raised by 4-H members, will also be made.And while it may take quite a lot to be ready for that opening, Stewart is confident that the talents of all those involved in the preparations are enough to get the job done. “Everybody seems to take on a particular area,” she said, “but everyone pulls together and it all works out well.”


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