SPONSORSHIPS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED

Thank you to the many sponsors who believe in keeping our county fair alive. Sponsoring events or even giving a small amount towards them is a huge help in covering the cost of putting on this fair. There are many who give in just volunteering their time. Countless hours go into running each division and we much appreciate the time given. Would you like to get involved? Give us a call.

The decision to sponsor the fair is a good advertising choice. Your business canned be linked to our site which is year round advertising. You will be advertised during the shows you sponsor. Sponsoring over $250 will provide you with banner space and other special advertising related to the fair. Contact the fair office to ask about sponsorships. Don't forget that this can be a deduction for you under advertising expense on your income tax>


In the meantime, please use the following sponsors to help you with your needs to help thank them for supporting our fair: http://www.essexcountyfair.org/sponsors.html.

Congratulations to all winners and thank you for participating!

Thank you to all who participated in the many divisions of the 160th Essex County Fair. Please click on this link to see this years winners. http://www.essexcountyfair.org/2008fairwinners.html

DRAFT SHOW WAS A HUGE SUCESS!

Wednesdays Draft Show was great. Superintendent, Ben Christian, Sr. and grandson, Benjamin as announcer and show clerk did a fine job running the show smoothly. Judge for the day was Denise McLaughlin who besides judging, kept the audience informed as to what she was looking for in each class. This year breeds represented were Clydesdales, Belgians, and Spotted Draft.

The draft riding classes were exciting to watch. Walk and trot is a norm for these horses, the canter classes are a real challange as on a daily basis these horses are driven and not asked to canter in most cases, so it is a lot of leg work and driving forward to pop them into the stride as asked. What was breath taking to watch was the hight of the stride and the size of the horse with their rider staying atop. Amazingly, these huge horses have a huge amount of impulsion to move forward with lightness and ease.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE 160TH FAIR A SUCCESS

Thank you to each and everyone that helped before and during the Essex County Fair. There are many volunteers that help us put on “the Adirondack Agricultural Fair”. There are so many people that give us their time. We want you to know that we do appreciate it.
It takes a lot of preparation to have the buildings, grounds and exhibits ready for the fair. Many people worked in the down pouring rain to prepare the Horse Show Ring and Race Track plus they put the finishing touches on the buildings. Many more worked on their derby cars, crafts, gardens, and with their animals to have everything ready for exhibiting at the County Fair. Thank you.
A big thanks goes out to the advertisers and sponsors of the fair. Entertainment for a fair does cost a lot and we could not do it without businesses and individuals contributing. Thank you. Remember, next year, give us your banner so it can be displayed all week long to advertise for you.
Plus we would like to thank the people who came to the fair. We do this for you, the Essex County Residents and Visitors. It makes us happy to see you enjoying the entertainment we have put together for you. The board of the Essex County Agricultural Society volunteers all year long to bring you an end of the summer entertainment package called the “Essex County Fair”. Thank you for coming.

Bertha Rand, secretary
Essex County Ag. Society, Inc

Count Down to Fair- An Exhibitors point of view

Fair is one week from being under way. The prospective of the exhibitor getting ready for fair is very hectic and at times panicky, yet it leads to diligence in getting everything cleaned, organised and ready to make that trip for the weeks stay.

As a horse exhibitor, it entails making sure over a month a head, that the animals have the necessary coggins tests and rabie shots required to exhibit this animal. These negative tests and proof of shots have to get copied along with breed registrations for horses going in classes for registered horses. Then one has to decide the proper classes to enroll in that fit that specific horse. That with all of the above, stall requests and memberships all have to be paid. Yes, there is that due date to get this all done by.

Well, then there is the tack to check out for proper fit and condition and then it all has to get cleaned and oiled and packed away. Supplies of hay and grain have to be considered and gathered to make the trip.

Then, comes readying the horse. Feet have to be properly trimmed and the horse fitted and groomed with proper care. Training is continual with a horse, ground manners, daily workouts of flat work and/or jumping to condition the horse for that course of jumps.

Getting the trailer ready to make the trip entails checking condition, cleaning, and packing. Of course making sure the vehicle you are hauling with is in condition to do the job is most important. Then we load our horse hoping that it is a good day and it can all be done easily with no fuss. Off we go! See you at the show ring!!!!!!!!!!

Auction set for Matthew Hass Chainsaw Carvings

Matthew Hass, the chainsaw carver, "Saw Dog" as he likes to be called, will be creating four times daily so check schedule daily for exhibition times. Watch and see his creations unfold. We are excited to have Matthew with his unique variety of designs. Each art piece is inviting to own!

On that note, Matthew will create several pieces during fair. All but one will be completed by Noon on Sunday and the last, later in the day after being purcased at auction as a custom order. That's right! Bid, win and have your own choice of what the final piece of art will be. Watch it unfold before your eyes and take it to it's new home.

The first auction will be held at Noon on Sunday at the start of the demolition derby. The "choice of design" piece will be sold at the noon auction. The second auction will be at 5 p.m. There will be an opportunity to leave sealed bids near the carvings for those who can't be at the auction. So if you have been wanting a piece of art for your yard, take the opportunity to see what Matthew creates!

Fire Works Display-Thursday Night

John Sheehan and Sons of Willsboro are helping to sponsor a fire works display to be set off Thurday night at dusk between the truck pulls. So if you love fireworks we have it for you!

Thanks John for helping to sponsor this event as it should bring even more excitement to Thursday's line up of entertainment.

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.

KEENE IDOL PARTICIPANTS QUALIFY FOR IDOL SHOW AT THE FAIR

The Keene Idol qualifying show was held at Keene Central School on July 12. This is the first year for the Essex County Fair to hold the Idol Contest. The show was a success and paved the road for future contests.

This competition was open to any individual, any age, who resides within 45 miles of Keene Valley, NY and did not compete at the Ti Idol Contest. The top five contestants of each age group from Keene and Ti will compete on Friday, August 15Th at 7 p.m. on the grandstand stage at the Essex County Fair Idol Contest. Thirty people will perform for this event. Don't miss out on the fun. Come and support your favorite singer.


Time allowed for contestants to sing their favorite song, hear the judges comments and then come back and do the second selection they had brought for a tie breaker. Kaitlin and Aaron Diskin winners from the Ti Idol Contest were quest performers. Thank you to the all participants for being willing to come on stage and sing. You did a great job!

Trophys and award money were presented to the first through third place winners. Junior Division: first place-Haley Pierce from Willsboro; Teen Division: first place-Caitlyn Reynolds from Keene; Adult Division: first place-Alyssa Rusio from Ausable Forks, second place-Tara Diskin from Ticonderoga, Third place-Kathleen Shadows. Congratulations to each of you.

Thank you to Jim Ratliff for who was announcer for the evening, Russell Feher, sound man, and the Keene Central School for giving us access to their wonderful auditorium. A special thank you goes to board member, Bertha Rand who persevered to get the Idol on the program of The Essex County Fair.

Appreciation goes to KV Idol sponsors: The Essex County Fair, Champlain National Bank, LeRoy Crowningshield- Willsboro Lawn Furniture, Stop DWI, Elizabethtown Community Hospital and the Town of Keene.

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.

Horse shows at ECF are super fun.

Horse shows are addictive and they are available everyday of the fair.

Our draft show has big changes guaranteed to be a blast to watch. The show is now on Wednesday and will be held at the horse show ring. In hand classes are broken down to registered and non registered drafts. There are now eight riding classes: walk-trot and walk-trot-canter classes, each with equitation, pleasure and command. A trail class has been added along with a cross rail class. Come watch these big horses with their wonderful, natural, high footed gaits. Just one riding class brought new excitement to the fair's draft show last year, hopefully these added classes wil cause an even larger draw. It seems that many people enjoy riding their draft horses, and this is a great way to show the draft versatility.

Wednesday night, the 4-H horse show starts with dressage and trail classes. 4-H classes resume all day Thursday. Each 4-Her will do fitting and showmanship and then the classes break into English and Western. An all time favorite, the costume class, finalizes the day. It is fun to see what these 4-Hers choose for themselves and their horses to wear.


Saddle horse classes for the horse show on Friday will remain nearly the same. A couple of jumping classes have been added to make the action more enjoyable. Driving classes for beginner-junior and senior-adult have been added just to bring back the old fashioned feel.

Laurie Ducharme has run her Saturday Horse Show now for over 15 years. This is always fun because of the variety of classes to fit every riders style.

The Sunday Gymkhana has a whole new look with musical rides starting at 8 a.m. These will include drill team and dressage freestyles. The gymkhana itself will include many traditional games and several new ones. This is the fun show where everyone cheers on their competitors in timed, patterns. If you like speed and excitement, here's the place to be at 8:30 Sunday morning.

People who come to our horse shows have a blast. Why not join the fun. Come for the week and watch or participate. Once your here and settled, you can stay put and enjoy the fair.

North Country Cloggers-Performing Thursday with Too Tall String Band

I asked Ann Hough to write up the following Bio for the North Country Cloggers:

First of all your invitation to the NC Cloggers has peaked our interest again. We have been on a little "sabbatical" these last couple of years. We are delighted to get together again and dance at the fair.
The North Country Cloggers have developed a distinctive style of clogdancing which blends Appalachian and international influences, as well as our own Adirondack flavor. The fun, foot-stomping, fiddle playing rhythmsand choreography appeal to all audiences.
The North Country Cloggers have been dancing for over 12 years, with a variety of different members. Cloggers dancing at the fair will be Tammy Morgan of Saranac Lake, Donna Walsh of Saranac Lake, Jenni Knapp-McGrew of Lake Placid and Ann Hough of Keene.

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

Battle of the Bands - Fourth of July 1967-Ticonderoga

In searching for Essex County Fair Battle of the Bands, I found this clip from a news article by Plattsburgh Press Republican in archives.

"At 7.30 p.m. July 4 nine bands
will compete in a Battle of the
Bands event at Firemen's Field
Seeking a first prize of $100,
second prize of $50 and a third
prize of $25 will be
The Norsemen and Blessed
Events of Plafsburgh: the Galaxies
of Vergennes. Vt the
Ball and Chains of Whitehall i
the Penetrators of Crown Point;
the Shadows of Port Henry;
the Missing Links of Crown
Point, and the Changing Times
and X-Rays of Ticonderoga
Each band will play for 15
minutes in the competition to
be judged by Elmer Clark. Don
Bush and Bob Bartlett."

"Motor Sports" at Essex County Fair

Essex County Fair offers entertainment for motor enthusiasts on every night but Friday. ( To be updated with time and events) From the tiniest to the mightiest! There are pulls for lawn tractors, modified garden tractors, ATVs, street legal trucks, farm altered and pro stock tractors. An all time favorite, "The Egglefield Ford Sponsored Demolition Derby" closes the fair on Sunday. All events are held in the Grandstand area. Sponsors: G. Stone Auto ; Yandow's Sales and Service; and Airborne Speedway.

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.

Entertainment on the South Lawn

Essex County Fair has undergone a number of improvements over the past few years. Along with complete renovations to Historic Floral Hall, a new family stage was constructed on the south end near the CCE building that hosts our Music Series and Featured Shows. This area of the grounds has become a family friendly place to relax and listen to music while the youngsters play in the sandbox. There is a "Mom’s Relaxation Center" available near by. A great line up of Entertainment welcomes you as you walk by or just want to sit and relax. Hope you check out our line up as follows. Times will be added as schedule is finalized in the near future so keep checking in.

Buffalo Barfield and Unherd of Entertainment will be on stage several times each day. This is an entertaining variety show with music and lots of laughs. http://www.buffalobarfield.com/

The firefighter will also be holding a number of shows through out the day. http://www.thefirefighter.com/

Jason will be back with his new show, Sweet lips the cow which features, music, comedy and educational dialogue. Jason is well know from his past shows Froggy, and Frogs, Bugs and Animals. He made his debut on stage singing last year at the 159th fair.

Gary Phinney will entertain on Wednesday and Thursday during the horse races, but will come on the South Stage Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.

Join the Too Tall String Band on Thursday at 5p.m. and 7 p.m. They will be accompanied by the North Country Cloggers so be there for a stomp'in good time.

Gosphel Singer Howie Campbell will perform with his band on Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. http://www.howiecampbell.com/index.htm

The Norsemen will take stage Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. Serge Bouchard, Terry Infante, and Mark Facteau are The Norsemen. It seems that the band performed it's winning performance at the Battle of the Bands in the late 1960's at Essex County Fair. The band separated for 40 years and is now back together and the three men are excited about performing at the 160th Essex County Fair. We are looking for people who remember this contest. Write to tell us what you remember!

Sunday will be open mike day. This is your opportunity to show what you can do. Bring your friends and come join the fun!

Why our focus is on Agriculture?

With the demise of the small family farm, the opportunity for families to be exposed to the agricultural industry is harder to achieve. The Essex County Agricultural Society wishes to carry on the traditions that Essex County Fair was build on. State Fairs are of the largest sources of agricultural, educational exhibits to take your youngsters to or for you to take a stroll down memory lane. The number of exhibitors at livestock shows and horse shows is huge.

The Essex County Fair offers an alternative. It is a small fair with a personal touch., but it has most of the agricultural aspects of the bigger fair. The barns house livestock of many species, horses, dairy cattle, beef, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and rabbits, Historical and agricultural displays are set up in Floral Hall and the Cooperative Extension Building. Livestock shows are scheduled daily so check our website and flyers for times.

Harness Racing Continues

Harness racing is a rural past time that became popular at the end of the eighteen century. By the mid 1800’s it had become an institution at hundreds of country fairs across the nation. From these races came the development of the American Standardbred. The Standardbred is bred with endurance, temperament, and anatomy uniquely suited to racing under harness. The Essex County Fair continues to carry on the harness racing tradition.