ACTON — Appearance, freshness, size and uniformity are all qualities that make a blue ribbon tomato, that perfect ear of corn, or an award-winning green pepper.
That was the word from judges at Acton Fair, who were casting a keen eye on the displays Wednesday afternoon.
“Aesthetics count,” said one of the judges, who make their selections anonymously.
Across the concourse, Lindsay Hill, 10, of Redneck Ranch in Arundel was carrying Chiquita, a barred rock hen she has raised from a chick, in her arms.
Chiquita seemed perfectly content, and didn’t make a peep.
Cows were mooing, sheep were bahhing, and vendors were setting up their booths, getting ready to sell a variety of fair foods like sausages, chicken livers, lemonade or apple crisp ”“ baked on the premises.
And of course, there’s the carnival rides, silent on Wednesday afternoon, but ready to dispense thrills and chills beginning today.
The 146th annual Acton Fair opened this morning and winds down Sunday, drawing crowds from around York County and farther afield.
Fair treasurer Donna Goodrich is the third generation of her family to be involved in Acton Fair and her sons are the fourth ”“ one of her boys is in 4-H; he’ll be too old next year.
“I love the atmosphere of the fair,” she said.
Electrician Don Kearney is retired, but is in his fourth year as the fair electrician, making sure those who need electric power have it. On Wednesday, he was working on the apple crisp booth, operated by Darcy Lemieux, who will be baking apple crisp, from scratch, on site beginning today.
“I enjoy it,” said Kearney, who began this year’s Acton Fair stint two weeks ago.
Lemieux has been coming to Acton Fair for at least 15 years, first with her parents, who started the apple crisp booth 25 years ago. Her father died four years ago and her mother retired two years ago, and now she operates the business herself. After Acton Fair, she’ll be headed to another fair in Hopkinton, N.H.
“It’s the people,” she said of her love of Acton Fair. “We see a lot of the same people every year.”
Down in the cow barn, Beth Hill was sorting through a box of decorations, looking for just the right trimmings for her portion of the barn. The family has 45 cows at home and will bring 27 to the fair for judging. And while they’re spending lots of time at the fair, the cows at home still need milking ”“ twice a day ”“ at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The fair is a tradition with the Hill family. Sister-in-law Linda Bridges, who was raised on the farm, but now lives in Kennebunkport, came along to help.
“I love cows,” she said.
A sampling of dozens of events from now through Sunday include: Judging of oxen, steers, 4-H baby beef and rabbits; a llama obstacle course; and instruction on keeping rabbits and guinea pigs.
The Kid Farmer Olympics are set for at 7:30 p.m. tonight; steer and ox pulling contests will be held on Friday; and judging of dairy cows and a wild blueberry pie contest at 4 p.m. Friday. Miss Acton Fair Pageant is set for 8 p.m. that evening.
There’s a grand parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and Kowboys Karoake at 12:30 p.m. Nashville performer Jimmy Lehoux takes to the stage at 3 p.m. and again at 8 p.m.
An interdenominational church service will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, an antique tractor club pull at 9:30 a.m. and the ever-popular pig scramble set for noon in the pulling ring.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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