The Ulster County Fair: It’s Not Just About Rides

By Journalist Ms. Jones

NEW PALTZ – The Ulster County Fair came to New Paltz from August 1st – August 6th. The purpose of the fair was to promote and enlighten the community about agriculture, horticulture, and animal farming.

The fair used shows and exhibits to promote their vision in a fun way. Shows and exhibits included The Moogician which taught kids about dairy and Agri-Puppets which taught kids about animals and agriculture. There was also a variety of horse shows and a carnival-type show called Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Paddling Porkers which has been seen on the Tonight Show.

“We send our pigs to school… they go through a two week training program. We start training our piggies when they are four weeks old. By the time they are six weeks old they are ready to race,” said Paul Robinson.

Josh Landry, Chain Saw Carver, carved a three-foot log into a work of art during a one hour show.

“I saw a guy doing it when I was fifteen and was just super into it ever since,” said Landry.
4-H had various fun youth activities and exhibits, including rabbit judging as well as dog judging and rally obedience. They also had Dairy Cattle, Goat, Sheep, Swine, and Poultry Showmanship and Judging.

“This is my fourth competition. I had to take care of my rabbits and groom them,” said Evan Reuter, third place winner in the Rabbit Showmanship Competition.

The fair began in 1869 in Ellenville, featuring horse racing and agricultural exhibits.

“The whole industry started back in the… 1800s… It was the social event of the year. The farmers would get together and they’d have bragging rights… who had the fastest horse, who had the best corn, who had the biggest pumpkin… and the farmers’ wives got involved with jams and things that they did and they’d have competitions…. They started adding entertainment and its progressed to where we are today,” said Gary Newkirk, Fair Manager and President of the New York State Association of Fairs.

The fair was not all about farming. There was plenty of musical entertainment daily! Saugerties own 90 Proof opened on Tuesday, August 1st followed by Country Music Hall of Famers the Oak Ridge Boys on Wednesday August 2nd. Restless Heart, who has been performing for over thirty years, played on Thursday, August 3rd and the Martin Family Circus, who is not really a circus, but a vocal-driven band consisting of two parents and four children, graced the stage twice on Friday, August 4th. Savannah Jack, who just finished their second studio album titled “Night of Your Life,” did two shows on Saturday, August 5th and five-time Grammy Award Winner BJ Thomas, known for his country, pop, and gospel music, closed the fair on Sunday, August 6th.

But what’s a fair without rides? The Ulster County Fair teamed up with Dreamland Amusements to provide over twenty rides for kids and adults for their riding enjoyment including Alien Invasion, Super Slide, a Ferris Wheel, a Carousel, the Sea Dragon, and Bumper Cars.

Admission to the fair included rides, shows, and exhibits.

Of course, there was plenty of mouth-watering food and drinks: hotdogs, fried dough, ice cream, milk shakes, island smoothies, fresh-squeezed lemonade, pizza, Jamaican food, gyros, French fries, and steak.