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Dutchess County Fair opens for days of delight
  
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By Andrew Amelinckx
One hundred and sixty-seven years after a $157 grant from New York State helped launch the Dutchess County Agricultural Society and its first fair, the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck opened Tuesday with a spotlight on agriculture, food, fun and history.
Agriculture brought the original founders of the fair together and it continues to play a vital roll there.
Walking through the fair it’s nearly impossible to miss the sounds of the barnyard and the smell of fresh hay.
William Carver from Clinton Corners sat brushing his Boer goat “Pumpernickel” prepping for his chance to show off the animal.
Boer goats are double-muscled animals originally raised in South Africa for meat.
This was the 13-year-old’s third year showing his goats.
“Pumpernickel” was heading into competition Wednesday. Carver said he felt he had a better chance of winning than in past years.
The hardest part about raising goats, said the 4H member, was getting them ready for the fair. The most enjoyable, he said, was getting to spend time with them.
Near the concession stands that lined the walkways, Frank Lawless from Saugerties stood waiting for his wife.
“We come every year,” he said, adding they had been for at least 20 years.
“We use to take the kids,” he said, “but they’re a little old now.”
He said they always view the various exhibits and animals as well as indulging in the fair fare.
“We always get something to eat,” he said.
Food was definitely on the minds of fairgoers Tuesday, this reporter included.
A wide range of treats were available, including steak sandwiches, French fries and strawberry ice cream. I know this because it’s what I had for lunch there. The decision was not an easy one.
A line, longer than the one to enter the fair, stretched 50 people deep, as people waited for the famed 4H shakes and ice cream treats. When asked if the shakes were indeed worth the wait, one man answered, “You know it.”
Another draw Tuesday was the rides and games of chance at the midway.
I was offered a job as the dunkee at the “Clownin’ Around” a dunking booth owned by Piers Weston-Burt. I declined, but did accept his invitation to throw a couple of balls for free at the actual clown. Both shots were just right of the target.
Weston-Burt, originally from Zimbabwe, hails from Wilmington, N.C., where the entire carnival, Powers Great American Midways, is from. The company had been providing the midway for the fair for four years and Weston-Burt has been here every one of those years.
“It seems like a nice bunch of people here,” he said.
He said he has been involved in the business for a decade and got into it through “family ties.”
Nearby there was a five-legged goat and other such animals as well as a game of chance involving a live rodent.
I plunked down 50 cents hoping that “Charlie Brown,” a small brown mouse would go into the hole with my designated color. He didn’t.
The fair also harks back to its early days with an exhibit that features antique farm equipment and related materials.
Sitting in a booth filled with antique “Modern Conveniences” from 1870 to 1923, as a nearby sign indicated, was Dick Valinski from Fishkill.
He said he had been involved with the Century Museum Village and Collectors Association for more than 20 years.
His interest in old machines, particularly those used in the household arts, began in grade school. He would often write about the various old-fashioned gadgets used by his grandmother.
“I have a love for old machinery,” he said. “It’s a disease.”
The former IBM engineer demonstrated a number of antique washing machines.
“All the engineering is the same as modern ones,” he said.
He would use these antiques when visiting schools, which he has done for more than 40 years, to help explain to students that one doesn’t necessarily have to be an inventor to be an engineer.
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said, adding that a good engineer uses a known principle and makes it better.
He also demonstrated an antique iron and explained how one would check to make sure the iron was hot enough.
“My grandmother always said that ‘a young girl had to be a good spitter,’” he said of the past.
Walking out of the fairgrounds, where the fair has been held since 1919, one could see the looks of anticipation and excitement on the faces of those entering and the sense of regret on the faces of the people making their way out.
“Don’t worry,” I felt like telling them. “There’s still five days left.”
***
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
To comment directly on this story, go to www.registerstar.com.
Agriculture brought the original founders of the fair together and it continues to play a vital roll there.
Walking through the fair it’s nearly impossible to miss the sounds of the barnyard and the smell of fresh hay.
William Carver from Clinton Corners sat brushing his Boer goat “Pumpernickel” prepping for his chance to show off the animal.
Boer goats are double-muscled animals originally raised in South Africa for meat.
This was the 13-year-old’s third year showing his goats.
“Pumpernickel” was heading into competition Wednesday. Carver said he felt he had a better chance of winning than in past years.
The hardest part about raising goats, said the 4H member, was getting them ready for the fair. The most enjoyable, he said, was getting to spend time with them.
Near the concession stands that lined the walkways, Frank Lawless from Saugerties stood waiting for his wife.
“We come every year,” he said, adding they had been for at least 20 years.
“We use to take the kids,” he said, “but they’re a little old now.”
He said they always view the various exhibits and animals as well as indulging in the fair fare.
“We always get something to eat,” he said.
Food was definitely on the minds of fairgoers Tuesday, this reporter included.
A wide range of treats were available, including steak sandwiches, French fries and strawberry ice cream. I know this because it’s what I had for lunch there. The decision was not an easy one.
A line, longer than the one to enter the fair, stretched 50 people deep, as people waited for the famed 4H shakes and ice cream treats. When asked if the shakes were indeed worth the wait, one man answered, “You know it.”
Another draw Tuesday was the rides and games of chance at the midway.
I was offered a job as the dunkee at the “Clownin’ Around” a dunking booth owned by Piers Weston-Burt. I declined, but did accept his invitation to throw a couple of balls for free at the actual clown. Both shots were just right of the target.
Weston-Burt, originally from Zimbabwe, hails from Wilmington, N.C., where the entire carnival, Powers Great American Midways, is from. The company had been providing the midway for the fair for four years and Weston-Burt has been here every one of those years.
“It seems like a nice bunch of people here,” he said.
He said he has been involved in the business for a decade and got into it through “family ties.”
Nearby there was a five-legged goat and other such animals as well as a game of chance involving a live rodent.
I plunked down 50 cents hoping that “Charlie Brown,” a small brown mouse would go into the hole with my designated color. He didn’t.
The fair also harks back to its early days with an exhibit that features antique farm equipment and related materials.
Sitting in a booth filled with antique “Modern Conveniences” from 1870 to 1923, as a nearby sign indicated, was Dick Valinski from Fishkill.
He said he had been involved with the Century Museum Village and Collectors Association for more than 20 years.
His interest in old machines, particularly those used in the household arts, began in grade school. He would often write about the various old-fashioned gadgets used by his grandmother.
“I have a love for old machinery,” he said. “It’s a disease.”
The former IBM engineer demonstrated a number of antique washing machines.
“All the engineering is the same as modern ones,” he said.
He would use these antiques when visiting schools, which he has done for more than 40 years, to help explain to students that one doesn’t necessarily have to be an inventor to be an engineer.
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said, adding that a good engineer uses a known principle and makes it better.
He also demonstrated an antique iron and explained how one would check to make sure the iron was hot enough.
“My grandmother always said that ‘a young girl had to be a good spitter,’” he said of the past.
Walking out of the fairgrounds, where the fair has been held since 1919, one could see the looks of anticipation and excitement on the faces of those entering and the sense of regret on the faces of the people making their way out.
“Don’t worry,” I felt like telling them. “There’s still five days left.”
***
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
To comment directly on this story, go to www.registerstar.com.
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