FARMINGTON — Valmore Dunn, 69, of Vienna was among those enjoying Senior Citizens Day at the Farmington Fair on Tuesday, remembering when the exhibition was a three-day event in the middle of the week.

Dunn, who has been coming to the fair for about 64 years, is semi-retired and drives buses for Mt. Blue School District in Farmington part time. On Tuesday, he was taking a break from helping at the Vienna Historical Society booth.

Harold Bean, 74, of Vienna sat next to him on bench in the Exhibition Hall as they chatted. Bean has also been a regular fair-goer for years.

“I like seeing some of the shows and the pulling,” he said.

“I enjoy seeing the people I haven’t seen in about 100 years,” Dunn said. “At least it seems that way.” There used to be a lot more animals, he added.

“I think it is costly to move cattle to the fair,” Bean said, commenting on why there may be fewer animals.

“They tell me years ago that the farmers used to drive herds to the fair,” Dunn said, talking about cattle walking down the streets to get there. “When I was a kid, it seems like for $5, you could ride all day,” he said, but that’s not the case now.

Ann Dixon, 70, of Clinton sat on a bench outside the hall waiting for her daughter to arrive.

“I come every year,” she said. “I like a lot of the music they have. I like to go walking around to see all the different things. I generally go visit all the different areas to see what they have.”

On the opposite side of the grounds, Don Gossom, 82, and his wife, Helen, 83, of Farmington were resting on a bench. They, too, have been coming to the fair for decades.

“We like to go down to see the animals. We like pretty well everything,” Don Gossom said. “We think it is quite a nice fair, really.”

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Farmington Fair schedule for Wednesday, Sept. 23
10 a.m.: Oxen, 2,500 pounds and under
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Western Mountain Beekeepers
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Western Maine Blacksmiths
11 a.m.: Oxen 2,900 and under
12 p.m.- 2 p.m.: Crosby’s
1 p.m.: Oxen 3,300 pounds and under, 3,700 pounds and under, 4,100 pounds and under, Oxen Sweepstakes
1 p.m.-9 p.m.: Midway open, ride special $20
2:30 p.m.: Swine show, followed by market swine show
2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Dan Grady’s Marionettes, Conjuring Carroll
3 p.m.: Parimutuel racing
3 p.m.-5 p.m.: Barry Wood
4 p.m.: 4-H sheep show
5 p.m.: Kids’ pedal tractor pulling
6 p.m.: Kids class steer and oxen boys and girls
6:30 p.m.: Oxen 6-foot elimination 3,700 pounds and under
6:30 p.m.: Firemen’s Muster, 4-H Lead line
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Franklin County Fiddlers

Valmore Dunn of Vienna, left, takes a rest Tuesday during the Farmington Fair and talks to Joe Lord of Vienna.

Helen and Don Gossom of Farmington take in the sights Tuesday at the Farmington Fair in Farmington.

Allan Harville of Vienna cranks up the fire as he demonstrates blacksmithing techniques Tuesday at the Western Maine Blacksmith Association booth at the Farmington Fair in Farmington.

Eleanor Brennan of Mt. Vernon, right, and Ken Footer of Lewiston, left, look over the Farmington Grange Exhibition on Tuesday at the Farmington Fair in Farmington.

Members of the musical group The Melodears perform Monday at the Farmington Fair. The women started singing in high school. On keyboard is Diane Berry, and singing, from left, are Dianne Hamilton, Rae Perreault and Patty Doiron.

Susan McCleery Small, second from right speaking into microphone, gives a brief history in front of the Red School House on Monday at the Farmington Fair. The event was to honor former longtime substitute teacher Mildred Ross and former students, 2nd Lt. Earl Ellsworth and Pfc. Robert DeRoche, who died in World War II. Members of their families stand and sit at the left.