Essex County Fair opens today

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August 13, 2008

By LOHR McKINSTRY The Press Republican Wed Aug 13, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT

WESTPORT -- This year's Essex County Fair will see the return of the popular barbecue pit and the introduction of an interactive firefighter training show for children.

Fair Manager Irwin Bordon, who just took over the event, said they're also taking special precautions to make sure cars and trucks don't get stuck in the parking lot if it rains.

The 160th Essex County Fair starts at 9 a.m. today with an open draft horse show. Admission is $10 a person and includes rides provided by Dreamland Amusements.

"There's a lot that's new this year," Bordon said. "The new firefighter training show is interactive for the kids. They crawl through a smoke-filled building. They'll take kids right out of the crowd."

The firefighting show is three times a day on the South Lawn Entertainment Area.

Also new at the fair will be chainsaw woodcarver Matthew "Saw Dog" Hass of Vermont.

Bordon said Hass will carve bears and other animals from logs.

"He said he doesn't know what he'll carve until he walks up to a piece of wood."

Hass's work will be auctioned off during the fair, and he'll do four shows a day.

The barbecue pit has been reinstated, Bordon said.

"People requested it. It's back by popular demand."

One new event this year is the Essex County Idol contest, to be held at 7 Friday night in the grandstand, with a $5 admission fee.

"They (contestants) already qualified in Ticonderoga and Keene, so there should be some good entertainment," Bordon said.

"I think that event will be very popular."

The fair will also feature the Norsemen, a rock-and-roll band from the Plattsburgh area that was originally formed 36 years ago. They're back together and will perform at 5 p.m. Saturday on the South Lawn.

The fair's popular Demolition Derby will be at noon Sunday on the track, with a $5 grandstand admission fee.

Bordon said he agreed to be fair manager only for this fair, but he's having a lot of fun and doing a lot of work.

"Everything is coming along. We've resolved a lot of problems, a water situation, working around mud issues. I think this will be an excellent fair."

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com

FAIR SCHEDULE
The Essex County Fair opens today and runs through Sunday. Today is Senior Citizen's Day, and people over age 60 receive a $2-off food coupon with $10 admission.
It's also Carload Day, where $25 per carload includes rides from 4 to 9 p.m.
Here's today's schedule:
9 a.m.: Open Draft Horse Show.
10 a.m.: Tie Dying until Noon.
11 a.m.: Farmer For A Day until 1 p.m.
Noon: Midway Opens; 4-H Dairy Cattle Show, with 4-H Beef Cattle Show immediately following; and Harness Racing. The Upstate New Yorkers perform between races.
1 p.m.: Buffalo Barfield and 'Unherd' of Entertainment; Tie-Dying until 3 p.m.; Adirondack Harvest until 3 p.m.; and Master Gardener On Duty until 3 p.m.
2 p.m.: Firefighter Training Show; Medicinal Herbs Demonstration in Floral Hall; and Healthy Living until 4 p.m.
2:30 p.m.: Cracker-Eating Contest at Pizza, Wings and Things Booth.
3 p.m.: ESNY until 6 p.m.; and Farmer For A Day until 5 p.m.
4 p.m.: Firefighter Training Show; Card Weaving Demonstration by Christine Lee in Floral Hall; and Open Sheep Show and Goat Show.
5 p.m.: Buffalo Barfield and Unherd of Entertainment; and 4-H Horse Show (trail and dressage classes).
5:30 p.m.: Opening ceremonies with Essex County Board of Supervisors.
5:45 p.m.: Yandow's Garden Tractor and ATV Pulls.
6 p.m.: Firefighter Training Show; and Milking Demonstration.
6:30 p.m.: Buffalo Barfield and Unherd of Entertainment.
7 p.m.: Upstate New Yorkers.