FARMINGTON — Trailers stacked with rides sat in the sun at the Fairgrounds on Thursday while workers and volunteers prepare the grounds for the 172nd annual Farmington Fair.

With opening day just over a week away on Sunday, Sept. 16, last-minute cleaning, painting and decorating is under way. This year it’s been mostly painting and making repairs to ready the grounds and halls for the seven-day exhibition.

Repairing some summer vandalism took time and funds away from other projects, Glenda Barker, hall superintendent, said. A small crew helps her husband, George Barker, prepare the grounds, she said.

After an off-year financially for the fair last year, partly due to the weather, bills were paid but there was little left for ground projects or to start this year’s fair, she said. Even so, the fair will go on.

“Next week is it,” Barker said. The preparations will wind up before Grangers and individuals arrive and set up their displays.

Along with the usual animals, Smokey’s rides, horse racing and demolition derbies, local entertainment, pulling contests and 4-H showings highlight the schedule.

Phillips Historical Society will display items from that town in the museum next to the exhibition hall.

The Franklin County Animal Shelter is moving its display to a spot in the Starbird Building, she said.

A couple new food vendors are expected this year. Barker said Tim Heap, who lives in the area, will offer fried veggies this year. She said she tried some at Harmony Fair last week and thinks they’ll be a hit.

Mosher’s Seafood will also serve lobster rolls and lobster stew this year.

Once again, Don DeRoche is preparing historical displays for the second floor of the exhibition hall. This year the displays center on the local magazine, “Paper Talks,” he said.

He started a display using magazines from the last three years centering on veterans from World War II, the Korean War and an upcoming issue on Vietnam veterans, he said. 

The magazine recently notified him that this year’s issue won’t be ready until Sept. 20, he said.  He hopes to have copies of the magazine available on that day but can’t finish the display.

He does have several displays from local schools from the magazine, including photos of students and athletes from days gone by and other historical photos and items.

Other agricultural fairs around the state are reporting a slightly lower attendance this year, although some are seeing more people on the weekend fair days, Barker said.

A complete schedule of events is listed on the fair website at www.farmingtonfairmaine.com

abryant@sunjournal.com

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