Field Days: His veins run deep with fair French Fries

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, Mastergeorge looks like the benevolent, all-seeing wizard-in-disguise you’re bound to find in a mysterious, Ferris wheel-based rom-com.Between even-handedly pushing potatoes through a contraption that slices them into fries at breakneck speed (they are indeed hand … (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)

NEW HAVEN — Masks, social distancing measures and vaccinations will not be required for attendees of Addison County Fair and Field Days, which is returning to New Haven Aug. 10-14 after the county’s biggest agricultural event took a year off due to the CO … (read more)

It’s almost time for Field Days!Are you an amateur maker, baker, artist, photographer, or gardener? Did you spend the last 18 months honing your knitting or your cookie making, and did you finally have time to plant the flowers or vegetables you’ve always … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — They will be lighting up the fairgrounds this August for the Addison County Fair and Field Days, which was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday evening fair organizers posted on their Facebook page: It’s happening pe … (read more)

It’s the first week of August — time to get ready for Field Days! Oh right, there is no Field Days this year, but the first week of August will always trigger that “get ready” attitude for me. In normal times it feels like most of Addison County is gettin … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — Addison County Fair and Field Days, which would have taken place this year on Aug. 11–15, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. All currently scheduled events at the county fairgrounds in New Haven have also been canceled … (read more)

NEW HAVEN — With a wink and a nod, anyone who’s lived around these parts for a while will acknowledge that our beloved Addison County Fair & Field Days is engaged in an epic annual struggle with the weather gods. On one hand — the positive one — heavy rai … (read more)