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Fair makes some changes, welcomes new additions

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2026 at 8:52 am

Pro wrestlers, laser show instead of fireworks, and more challenges for the people

Photos by Tom Rivers: Luke Gregoire (left), and Vinnie Snell chomp on corn on the cob that was provided by Rush’s in Waterport during last year’s debut of a corn of the cob eating contest. The event returns at the fair today at 6:45 p.m.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair kicks off today for six days of events and entertainment for the community. The fair typically draws about 25,000 to 30,000 people over the six days.

There has been a 20 to 25 percent increase in livestock entries for this year’s fair, from rabbits to bigger beef animals.

People can buy a week-long pass for $10 and parking is on the west side of the fairgrounds off Taylor Hill Road. The fair will have free shuttles, including a golf cart, Kubota and the tram from the American Legion in Lyndonville.

Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, and Marty Zwifka, the fair manager, are shown on Sunday when many of the 4-Hers and their families moved in with their animals for the week. Many of the exhibitors and vendors also were busy getting ready for the week.

“If you come to fair, you might as well come over and over again,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County.

This year there won’t be Friday fireworks. Instead it will be a laser show on two big screens and also in the sky. The Fair Committee wanted to try something different that was more animal-friendly. The fireworks with the big booms and bursts of light was hard on the animals, especially the horses, said Mary Zwifka, the fair manager.

“We try to do everything we can to appeal to everybody,” Zwifka said.

The committee also is moving the 4-H Animal Meat Auction from Saturday to Friday, with the preview at 6 p.m. and the auction to start at 6:30. There are more animals in the auction this year. Doing the auction on Friday gives an extra day to arrange for the purchased animals to go to the processor.

The grand master showman competition, which has been a staple of the fair on Friday night, will now be on Saturday night. That competition features the top showmen from the larger animals and makes them show all the animal species, even ones they’re not familiar with. Moving it to Saturday gives the participants an extra day to practice with animals.

The fair also will be capped on Saturday night with professional wrestlers from Empire State Wrestling. They will have a ring in the Curtis Pavilion and there will be matches from 7 to 10 p.m. There is no additional charge to see the wrestlers.

The fair also has three prominent acts throughout the week, including Lew-E the Clown, Agri-Puppets and Pompeyo’s Ranch, which performed on America’s Got Talent!

Elijah “The Bull” Starr pushes an 800-pound haybale through a course on July 26, 2025 at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. He won the title despite not having a partner to help with the challenge. Jeremy Neal, the event chairman and judge, is in back. This will be the fifth year of the haybale rolling challenge at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

This year’s fair adds more challenges for people. Karaoke remains a staple from Monday through Thursday nights. Little kids can test their mettle in the small fry tractor pull at 6:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday at JCH Tent Lot. That has been a mainstay of the fair.

But there are some new competitions including a frozen T-shirt contest at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the JCH Tent. Participants have to chip a shirt out of a block of ice and then wear the shirt.

Some other challenges and competitions for the community include:

  • Hay bale rolling 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at Byron’s Barnyard. Teams of one or two people have to move a heavy bale of hay through an obstacle course.
  • Mom-calling competition at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Orleans Hub stage. Mothers are blindfolded and try to identify which kid calling out “Mom!” is theirs.
  • Stick pony rodeo for ages 4 to 7 on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
  • Basketball free throw contest at 5 p.m. Tuesday at JCH tent.
  • Rubber chicken throwing contest at 5 p.m. Wednesday at JCH tent
  • Inflatable costume race at 8 p.m. on Thursday at the horse arena
  • Steampunk costume contest and parade at 8 p.m. on Saturday at the JCH tent
  • Disc golf at 6 p.m. today on the lawn west of the horse arena
  • Corn eating contest at 6:45 p.m. today at Orleans Hub stage
  • Survivor Orleans at 5 p.m. on Tuesday
  • Pickle eating contest at 6 p.m. on Friday at JCH tent