FARMINGTON – Fried dough, oxen pulls, pie-baking contests, livestock exhibitions, harness racing and kiddie rides will all be back again Sunday when the Farmington Fair opens its 165th year.
Returning will be Atlas Wrestling, a demolition derby and a 4×4 truck pull. Musical entertainment will include the Don Campbell Band at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21; Franklin County Fiddlers at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20; and the Dave Wooley Band at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.
New demonstrations will be exhibited behind the historical museum, including wooden snowshoe making, chain-saw sculpture and beekeeping. This year the Farmington Historical Society will present the inside exhibit, said Neal Yeaton, secretary for the Franklin County Agricultural Society, which sponsors the event.
Yeaton said last year’s premiere 4-H livestock auction was so successful, more participants have enrolled this year. The auction is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23.
Also new, an apple pie baking contest will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22.
Yeaton said the fair has been fortunate with weather the last few years and has seen good crowds. Entry fees and proceeds from harness racing have made a small profit for the group, which uses the proceeds to maintain the grounds. In addition, the fairgrounds are being used year-round, he said, to generate a bit more income.
With 10,000 to 12,000 exhibit entries and typically 35,000 visits, High Street in Farmington will likely be a busy place next week.
“I hope it’s going to be a good year,” Yeaton said Wednesday. “But given gas prices, people will come but they won’t spend as much,” he speculated.
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