Orleans gets ready for big week with annual 4-H Fair from July 24-29

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Goat superintendent Jamie Paratore talks to her husband Ben, who was doing some wiring for lighting and an outlet in the new judges’ booth of the animal barn.

KNOWLESVILLE – With only a few days left until the opening of the Orleans County 4-H Fair, staff and volunteers are in high gear with planning and preparation.

Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension director Robert Batt promises this will be one of the most exciting fairs, with nearly record-breaking entries, many new and returning vendors, exciting entertainment and unique events.

The 77th Orleans County 4-H Fair will officially open at 4 p.m. on Monday and run through July 29. Opening ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Education Center, featuring Orleans County veterans from all branches of service.

Batt said this will be the first time that three organizations dedicated to historic preservation have had a booth – the Cobblestone Society Museum, Medina Railroad Museum and the Medina Sandstone Society.

Also a first will be United Way of Orleans County promoting low-cost internet and a booth by Lake Ontario Fruit, hoping to not only support the fair, but recruit employees.

GO ART! is a new vendor this year, sponsoring an innovative fundraiser, Chicken Poop Bingo, a take on cow chip bingo.

Batt explained the Towpath Trading Post is a unique feature, located on the porch of the fair office and offering all kinds of merchandise specific to Orleans County.

Entertainment will include the Doc Magic Show, Jim the Balloon Guy and Wonderland Circus every day; Down Home Country Cloggers; Where’s Waldo activity of all ages in the commercial exhibits building; music by The Who Dats on Friday and Skycats on Saturday; and a karaoke challenge.

Leadership Orleans will be back with rubber duck races.

Food will include JCH Food Tent, Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, an ice cream truck, Dan Conrad’s Toyz n Candy, and Mann vs. Food Barbecue, in addition to the traditional waffles, fried dough, candy apples, Rob Renko with his homemade sausage and turkey legs, kettle corn and lemonade. A new addition this year are subs and donuts.

A new local vendor is Old Bear Candle Company from Lyndonville, whose owner Jason Helsdon is a former 4-H’er as well as fair king and prince.

The National Guard will be at the fair every day with a fitness challenge booth.

The midway opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday, with $30 wristbands available for unlimited rides.

On Wednesday noon in the Curtis Pavilion, Nutrifair will serve lunch for senior citizens, followed by entertainment by Craig Wilkins.

Thursday at 4:30 p.m. will be the annual chicken barbecue, featuring the famed Cornell barbecue recipe.

Nightly, visitors can watch or take part in the hay bale rolling contest, an event started to replace the greased pole when it had to be discontinued because of concerns from the insurance provider.

Friday night will feature a fireworks display at dusk.

(Left) Provided photo: Zachary Lord, 16, grandson of fair volunteers Gary and Dawn Marciszewski, paints the edging of the floor in the Senior Council stand. (Right) Photo by Ginny Kropf: Dawn Marciszewski watches her husband Gary apply sealer on the newly painted floor of the Senior Council stand, in preparation for the 77th annual Orleans County 4-H Fair.

Exhibits in the Trolley Building, animal shows, pony rides and psychic readings are among the free things to do.

Batt said 211 youths entered animals in the fair this year, not counting consumer science entries. In all, there are 1,288 entries in the animal division.

Youth from Monroe County are exhibiting at the Orleans County fair and staff from Monroe County Extension will be helping.

“We provide a 4-H experience for those 4-H’ers who don’t have a county fair, and I’m excited about that,” Batt said. “We also have a handful of 4-H’ers from Erie County who chose to exhibit here.”

Many of the fair’s vendors have been coming here for 30 years.

“They have formed friendships with us and keep coming back,” Batt said.

Admission to the fair is $3 for one day for 12 and older and $1 for 11 and under, or $5 per person for a week-long admission.

A full fair schedule is available on the Orleans County 4-H Fair website.