Letter to the editor: Keep politics out of Field Days

I would like to remind organizers that quite a few people I have spoken with were so incensed by the “TRUMP 2024” message on the video screen at the top of the midway that they will no longer attend the fair.

Lucien Paquette died last week at the age of 105. An icon of the agricultural community, he was widely known as the Father of Addison County Fair and Field Days.

NEW HAVEN — Below are the result from the Open Dairy Competition at Addison County Fair And Field Days, which took place on Aug. 11 and Aug. 14 at the fairgrounds in New Haven.SPRING CALFAyrshire: 1. Four Hills R San Francisco, Sarah Hill; 2. Blue Spruce … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — After a one-year pandemic-induced hiatus, Addison County Fair and Field Days returned in full force last month.The Aug. 10-14 fair attracted 40,000 visitors despite concerns about the resurgent coronavirus, according to Field Days Business Man … (read more)

HOME AND GARDEN DEPARTMENT AWARDSFrom Addison County Fair and Field Days, 2021FOODS:King Arthur Award 1st – Cheryl Cesario of Cornwall; 2nd – Perry Lessing of Weybridge; 3rd – Barb James of Bristol.King Arthur Award – Youth – Grace Tolles of New Haven.Dai … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — “A lot of people just serve fried Oreos with powdered sugar or powdered cinnamon,” Charissa Swan said. “We actually offer an arrangement of specialty toppings. So, we can toss pretty much everything you want here.”Charissa co-owns, with her mo … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — Anthony Mastergeorge of Rockingham has been selling French fries for 65 years.Leaning out of his “AJ’s fresh cut French Fries” truck — which he built himself 26 years ago — at Addison County Fair and Field Days to talk to me last week, Masterg … (read more)

CHILDREN’S BARNYARDBelow are the winners from the Children’s Barnyard displays at Fair and Field Days.ATTENDED DISPLAYSYouth: 1. Natalie Layn (50); 2. Wyatt Kennett (40).Young Adult: 1. Hailey Roberts (60); 2. Cierra Fleming (50).Adult: 1. Pam Thomas (100 … (read more)

“I’m the only one in my class right now, but first place is always the goal,” said Mount Abraham Union High School student Abigail Reen, 17.Reen, with her Ayrshire spring calf named Oakley, bagged an unchallenged Blue Ribbon at the 4-H Youth Dairy Show Co … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — Quiet can be hard to find at Field Days, but around the back of the cornfields, the “hand mowing” contest draws those who appreciate a practice of listening and focus.“We’re just out here cuttin’ grass,” said Tim Williams, a competitor from Ly … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — Armwrestling once again proved to be popular at Addison County Fair and Field Days, as the sport drew about 200 competitors to the fair’s main show tent on this past Friday.Seventy-seven youths between the ages of 5 and 17 signed up for contes … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — How does a judge in Addison County Fair and Field Days Home and Garden Department competitions assess crafts, home-grown vegetables, art work?Quality of workmanship, flavor, distinctiveness …Bethany Barry, who was judging a fish tank filled wi … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — Lori Brown may run the Field Days event with the strangest name, but she said it’s also one of the more inclusive and family-oriented competitions on the program: the gymkhana.On Tuesday gymkhana celebrated its 10th anniversary at Addison Coun … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — “You always get told not to smash up a car all your life,” said New Haven resident Zachary Lavoie, 21. “(And then you) turn up and smash a car and do what you were meant not to do.”Lavoie competed in the four-cylinder qualifying competition of … (read more)

Dear Field Days Fairgoers,Regarding last week’s article in this paper, I want to dispel the negative slant portrayed towards our COVID-19 thinking and preparations. I personally work for the Vermont Department of Health and have been entrenched in COVID r … (read more)