Delaware County event is time for family, friends, food and more

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August 18, 2012

Delaware County event is time for family, friends, food and more

By Cathy B. Koplen Contributing Writer The Daily Star Sat Aug 18, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

WALTON -- Friday at the Delaware County Fair was a fun event for many people in spite of a torrential afternoon downpour that closed rides along the midway and caused people to find shelter in crowded tents.

Before the rain began, large groups of people wandered the fair, stopping along the lanes to speak to friends and neighbors.

Frank Eggelton, of Walton, was surrounded by family and friends as the group discussed the fair.

"We come here every year," Eggelton said. "We show beef in the beef park. The grandkids are here and some of their friends.

"The fair shows what our area has to offer, what our country has to offer. It has a family atmosphere, a united environment," he said. "We all work together to accomplish something big."

The Delaware County Fair on Friday featured many competitions that have been annual events at the fair for years. The horse shows, including classes of Western showman and the New York State Horse Pullers Association horse pulls, were well-attended.

"We are getting further and further away from our rural roots," said state Assemblyman, Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford. "It is so important to have fairs such as this so that children can get hands-on experiences with livestock. It always makes me feel good to see children involved in 4-H. There is a lot of leadership training in 4-H."

Crowds of children waited their turn to participate in various hands-on activities, and the many of the rides on the midway had long lines as children and teens.

"I come out here every year to see my friends," said Marissa Seward of Walton. "My friends and the food -- that is why I come to the fair every year."

Chelsey Wheeler, also of Walton, agreed.

"You walk around with friends and see other people you know," Wheeler said. "It is great. You see people having fun. I am here the whole week showing beef. I never get bored."

There was lots of free food to sample and demonstrations of woodworking, glass blowing and leather branding were ongoing all day. A group of farmers and environmental agencies had a tent, called Pure Catskills, full of information and free food for sampling.

Ron Frisbee, a Cornell Cooperative Extension agent whose family has owned and operated Riverdale Farm and Forest for three generations, was at the Pure Catskills tent talking to people about buying local produce.

"The idea is to promote the local food for local people to consume," Frisbee said. "That way we keep the money in the area instead of sending it who knows where if you buy from one of those box stores.

"Also, a lot of people think that locally grown food tastes better than food that is kept in a box for awhile before it is put out," he said. "We have some excellent producers in this area."

The Delaware County Fair has a history of promoting local farmers and local farmers have been supporting the fair for generations.

When the fair began 126 years ago as the Walton Fair, it was a time for rural families to come together and share stories, swap recipes, discuss politics and introduce the younger members of the families.

"There was no television, no YouTube, no video games, no cell phones or computers," said Jason Thomson of Unadilla. "This was the entertainment for the people of the area. I think, to some extent, it still is."

The Delaware County Fair ends Saturday night.