Neil Perry Horsemanship Clinic

Neil Perry, Natural Horsemanship clinician and all around nice guy, from Brownington, Vt, will be at the fair on Wednesday and Thursday. Neil has worked his whole life with horses, growing up on a dairy farm, he will tell of working with the horses in the woods as a child. He relates his experience with the horse at that time to what he does now, along with studying the techniques of many natural horsemanship trainers to develope his own style. Neil teaches in a way that is easy to learn and use on a daily basis. The Perrys' breed Morgan Horses and use those horses in daily routines. Neil gives clinics at his farm and offers boarding, training, and breeding as services as well.




In these two days, Neil will "start" one horse by teaching ground manners and will take the horse through being saddled, mounted and ridden for the very first time. He will demonstrate in his round pen how to get the horse to connect and bond with him and will go through the stages to that first ride.

Neil will also demonstrate with three other horses how to over come issues that make it difficult for horse owners to deal with their horses. Neil will work with the horse, and then the horse owners to teach them how to use his techniques to keep the horse working well.

"Ben" the Black Morgan Stallion will be much a part of the day. Neil will demonstrate with Ben how this bond of horse and rider make a wonderful working relationship. Neil will be available throughout the exhibition to answer questions for horse owners or any potential horse owner who is a bit affraid to take on that first horse or the horse with issues that could be changed through this type of horsemanship.



We are looking for horses that fit the above criteria for the clinic ( one to start and three with vices). There is a fee per horse to cover Neil's cost. If you have a problem horse or want one started, contact Scott Christian at the fair office: 518-962-8650 or email him at countyfairfun@yahoo.com.

Breed information and horse listings will be available at this site as well.

Our Wednesday "Carload" Special

This year a brand new evening special at Essex County Fair should be on your Plate. After 4 p.m., a one fee pricing of $25.00 per car load will get you onto the grounds and this includes rides, shows, and parking. Where can you find a deal like that anywhere else in the Adirondacks or beyond for that matter??

For the seniors citizens, regular price tickets get you a $2.00 food coupon to spend anywhere on the grounds.

What a line up we have for Wednesday! All the family entertainment shows on the South end of the grounds, animal shows, opening ceremonies, Garden Tractor and ATV pulls, and a new carnival with assorted rides and games for all ages.

Essex County Fair Idol To Be New Venue at the 160th

This year on Friday, August 15, 2008, the 160th Essex County Fair will feature an Idol contest. There is a lot of talent in Essex County that perform talent shows, community theatre and school musicals. We feel it important to give this talent an opportunity to be in the spot light on Stage at their local county fair.

There will be 30 singers featured as contestants for the judging. These contestants will come from the Ti Idol and Keene Valley Idol contests. There will be three categories, youth, teen and adult. Performing on Friday night of the Fair will be ten from each age group. The winners will be eligible for New York State Fair.

Interested people from the south should apply to Ti Idol and from the northern areas to Keene Valley Idol. Below is link for applications and rules for the Contests. Ticonderoga holds their prelim prior to July 4 and Keene Valley Idol will be held on July 12 at 7 p.m. at the Keene Valley School.

Competition is open to any individual, any age, who resides within 45 miles of Keene Valley, NY and does not plan on competing in the Ti Idol Contest.

cash prize and trophy

Top 5 winners, in each age group, from each contest (30 competitors) will be eligible to compete for the title of “Essex County Fair Idol”
on Aug. 15, 2008.
Family and friends please come support your favorite singer.

Idol Rules and Regulations as a PDF Document
Idol Rules and Regulations as a Word Document
Idol Application as a PDF Document
Idol Application as a Word Document

The Norsemen: Winners of The Essex County Fair Battle of the Bands 1967 or 1968

JOIN US ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH FROM 5p.m. to 7p.m. for the Return of THE NORSEMAN to Essex County Fair to help commemorate our 160th year!


If anyone out there can remember this event, PLEESE feel free to comment.



The Norsemen ‘classic rock and roll’: Decades ago in the 1960’s, a local group of young men got together and formed a musical group that played extensively in the Plattsburgh, Altona, Mooers, Ellenburg, Westport and Ticonderoga area. Well known for their diverse selection of songs and brilliant three part vocal harmonies.
Mark Facteau was the percussionist/vocalist, very well known for his accomplishments as a performer for many other well known groups from the Plattsburgh area.
Serge Bouchard was the bass player/vocalist and went on to develop his talents as a solo performer, recording bass, keyboard and guitar passages and playing solo as “Lonestar” throughout the Plattsburgh area.
Terry Infante was the guitar player/vocalist and spent several years playing in various groups in the Lake George, Glens Falls and Saratoga area. He has also enjoyed performing as a guitar/vocal soloist in that same region.
After a thirty-six year break, The Norsemen have re-grouped and picked up where they left off. They’re back with the great harmonies, songs from the sixties, thru today and excited to play again for old friends and new.
Come join us !

In reminisce, I talked with Ernie Lapine and he told me that Serge Bouchard, as a one man band on keyboard, was one of the first entertainers to appear at Essex County Fair in the early 70's, when he was new as Essex County Fair Manager (to his credit of service, the early part of his 20 years in that position). Serge played under one of the buildings down the midway across from Egglefield Ford. Ernie said he can remember attending the Battle of the Bands contests and that it went on all night long.

Serge filled me in on the night they played and won the Battle of the Bands at Essex County Fair, though he was not sure of the year. Each band played for one hour and they were judged on their performance. The judge or one of the judges for their performance was drummer, Jerry Petterson from the band, Sam the Sham and The Pharoahs, who performed "Wooley Bulley. It just happened that "Wooley Bulley was one of the pieces the Norsemen played that evening. He could remember a couple of the bands they played against, a rock band from Ticonderoga and a band call the Penetrators. Serge thought The fairs Battle of The Bands contest lasted only four or five years at most from the mid to late 60's.
Serge, his brother, Pete (who played lead guitar and sang the fourth part of the harmony), Terry Mark played together until 1970 or 71. According to Serge's wife Pat, who is ecstatic they are playing Essex County Fair, "their harmonies are wonderful".

History of the Essex County Fair

The first Essex County-Clinton County Fair was organized by Elkanah Watson in 1848. It was held on the Port Kent Road, on the plains east of the Town of Keeseville. The most important event was horse racing, which is still a component of the fair. In 1850, Essex and Clinton Counties separated and the Essex County Fair moved to Elizabethtown where it was held annually until 1865. In 1865, the fair committee decided to move the fair to Westport where it would be closer to the lake. They hoped that the accessibility of lake transportation would boost attendance. For fifteen years land was rented south of town for $150. However, during the period 1885-1889, various parcels were purchased by the Essex County Agricultural Society for $1,500 to form the present grounds. An additional $1,700 was spent to erect the track and buildings. Many buildings have been added to the fairgrounds since then. The Grand Stand and the Agricultural Center were built just after the turn of the century. The many 4-H barns were constructed by volunteers over the years since 4-H began in 1941. In 1985 the historic structures on the fairground were inventoried for the New York State Parks and Recreation Division for Historic Preservation. In 2004 Floral Hall was completely renovated keeping its historic look.