TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Jennifer Walruth of Cobleskil, NY poses with her horse Cody before the sitting and showmanship judging on August 15 at the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair. Walruth took second in the event. (Click for larger image)

Little World’s Fair provided a natural education and oodles of fun

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Long before life revolved around modern technology and a dependence on electricity, life on the farm centered around raising animals and growing food. The massive blackout that took place across the northeast on August 14 threatened the celebration of that simpler life. Had the power not been restored, the 124th annual Little World’s Fair might have been cancelled.

Crossing the wooden bridge over Chestnut Creek into the fairgrounds is akin to entering a world that was far more visible and commonplace many years ago. It is a world defined by the relationship between people and animals rife with the sage advice of gardeners, beekeepers and craftspeople who still have the skills that used to be much more commonplace. 

In the animal barn stood Ashley Luckey of Kenoza Lake. This fourteen-year old, a committed member of the 4-H club spends her time raising her ten cows all of which were on show at the fair. “We go to four fairs a year. Four-H is great. I’ve met a lot of people and it’s been a great learning experience.”

Mitchell Ellmauer came to the fair with his sisters Alex and Jackie and his mom, Patricia. He had about 40 chickens that were going to be judged. While that was going on, sister Alex was busy winning ribbons and a trophy for her rabbits Al and Flurry. In a nearby pen, pigs Jack and Jill slept away the morning oblivious to all of the activity.

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Daisy poses for the camera after her successful showing in the goat judging. (Click for larger image)

Ann Mack, fair superintendent, was using the moment of evaluating rabbits to teach kids about the animals at the same time. The winners for the open show were as follows:

Sheep: Valerie Gugalia of Hot Rod Ewe Farm with a yearling Suffolk Ewe.
Goat: Heidi Wiggs with a two-year old but under three-year old other breed doe.
Rabbit:  Vanessa Brey with a Junior Doe Dutch Blue Rabbit.
Dairy:  Ryan Bose with a Junior Heifer Calf born on or after 3/01/03 Holstein Breed.
Beef: Harold Smith with a Market Class steer in the heavy weight category (over 1000 pounds) division.

If you were hungry, you could partake of gyros, ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs, fajitas, cold drinks or delicious ripe watermelons that were red, yellow or seedless. Nate and Theodore Gilmore of Produce Centers Corporation of Monticello brought the melons from South Carolina for the fair.

Vendors such as Alessi Rosario hawked their wares and were thankful that the blackout hadn’t ruined their weekend. Rosario of Tye Dye Rose LLC, came from Gilbertsville, NY with racks of beautiful tie-die shirts worthy of the Woodstock Reunion Weekend.

A giant artic cat four-wheeler was being raffled off by the Sullivan County Federation of Sportsmen, a group of more than 100 member clubs including hunting, fishing and dog clubs. The proceeds helped to sponsor fish and game restocking, the fish and game contest for kids and adults from May to December and the Wild Game banquet.

Up the hill, goats, sheep and rabbits were brought by their owners to be judged. The livestock shows were run by Tara Berescik and Lori Smith. Berescik teachers agriculture at the Tri-Valley School and is the Future Farmers of America adviser.

At the large show ring, horses and riders were being assessed for their appearance and the rider’s degree of control. Ariel Cyr of Grahamsville displayed her pony, Champ and Jennifer Walruth of Circleville, NY, displayed her white horse named Cody.

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Sullivan County Beekeeper’s Association Secretary/Treasurer Chris Duncan, President Jim Kyle and Vice-President Henry King stand in front of some of their bees. The queen honeybee had a white dot on her back and was busy laying eggs into the empty cells. (Click for larger image)

In the craft barn, master gardener Bea Rexford spoke about the burgeoning deer population.

“They love our gardens. They’re gourmets now. There are so many more now and they are very aggressive.” Rexford  passed out brochures on fence construction and planting strategies for coping with deer

The Sullivan County Beekeeper Association was represented at the fair by Chris Duncan, secretary and treasurer, Jim Kyle- President and Henry King Vice-President. There are 80 members who have hives in Sullivan County. Jim Kyle said, “I was born a beekeeper. I’ve had bees for 67 years.”

Kyle said that the lifespan of bees is about 36 to37 days “because they work themselves to death.” Beekeeping is very much affected by changes in the weather. The beekeepers don’t worry about being stung. “It’s good therapy,” says Kyle.

Some people are actually helped by bee sting therapy which has been known to reduce the pain from arthritis or Multiple Sclerois. The New York State average yield for a hive is about 60 pounds but varies from hive to hive and yard to yard.

On the other side of the midway, members of the Neversink Antique and Machinery Association displayed their antique engines and tractors and talked to people about their upcoming show on September 21.

Throngs of people gathered in the shade near the stage as the Catskill Puppet Theatre presented a show about learning to overcome hatred and establishing peace and tolerance. Of course, there were the usual rides and amusements for the fairgoers but the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair proved to be immensely educational as well as fun.

See more pictures from the fair here.