Children were the focus of the Delaware County Fair on Wednesday, with special exhibits, prizes and activities geared toward younger fairgoers.
More than 150 bicycles were given away by raffle to children who attended the fair.
Travis Pierce, 7, of Oneonta, was one of the winners.
"He was sitting there intently watching his number," said Travis' father, Dave Pierce. "When they called it, we all just screamed.
He figured it was his time. Last year, his sisters won bicycles."
In addition to the bicycle raffle, fair directors orchestrated several games on the competition track in the middle of the fairgrounds.
"We had free games on the track all day," fair board member Ed Rossley said. "We had relays, hula hoops, peddle-tractor pulls, a jump-rope competition, and we had a little train give the kids a ride around the track."
On the midway many rides were discounted, and Chobani offered free yogurt treats for children of all ages. The Delaware County Wildlife Federation gave away door prizes to younger participants.
Wednesday was declared by the fair board as Girl Scouts Day.
The Girl Scouts of America celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. They were honored by the fair with a place in the parade Tuesday night.
More than 35 Girl Scouts and leaders donned their uniforms and marched in the parade, according to Girl Scout officials. In addition, there is a special exhibit of Girl Scouting history presented by the Walton Historical Society featuring early uniforms and pictures of past Scout troops.
"So many girls, women, grandmothers have come into this booth," Girl Scout leader Jane Contello said. "Some of these grandmothers, they looked at the uniforms and said they remembered wearing this one or that one. They would tell their granddaughters about the experience. It was so sweet."
Contello is a member of a Girl Scouting family; her mother was a leader, and her daughter is a service unit coordinator.
"I have a son, and still I am involved," said Mary Phraner, Contello's daughter. "It gets into your blood. I just love being a part of Girl Scouting. I love watching the girls grow up. The leadership opportunities are awesome."
Fair organizers created several opportunities for older Girl Scouts to earn service hours toward badges while enjoying the fair.
Angelica Helm of Walton sought out the Girl Scout booth to see the exhibit.
"I was a co-leader for years," Helms said. "Look, right here, I have my five-year pin."
According to the Girl Scouts' official website, founder Juliette Low gathered 18 girls together for the first troop March 12, 1912.
They were then called American Girl Guides. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts in 1913.
The organization "brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness." The Girl Scouts was one of the first organizations to encourage girls with disabilities to join and made accommodations for those girls.
The Delaware County Fair will continue all week. Today is Senior Citizens Day, with $3 fair admission for all senior citizens.
Local News
Girl Scouts highlighted at Delaware fair
- Local News
-
-
Three men arrested on felony drug charges
Oneonta police arrested three men Tuesday night and charged them with possession of illegal drugs worth an estimated $8,000.
-
Klugo: Ex-Bresee's work 'on pace'
The shriek of a saw and other construction noises echoed through the former Bresee's building on Main Street on Tuesday morning.
-
State council honors Oneonta teacher
The excellence of an Oneonta High School English teacher was apparent to his colleagues -- now a state professional organization has recognized it.
-
Deputies: Man, 21, drowned in river
A 21-year-old Delhi man apparently drowned Tuesday afternoon in the West Branch Delaware River, according to a news release from the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.
-
Common Council hires Kendall as city clerk
The Oneonta Common Council hired Douglas Kendall as the next city clerk during a meeting at City Hall on Tuesday.
-
Police: Man drowned in Goodyear Lake
A local man apparently drowned after a canoe capsized during a storm on Goodyear Lake on Monday, Otsego County deputies said.
-
Two charged with armed robbery
Two Binghamton area residents have been arrested in connection with a robbery at a store in Afton on Thursday, state police at Binghamton said.
-
Officials announce Otego road project
A culvert replacement project will begin Monday on Flax Island Road, about 2.5 miles north of state Route 7 in Otego, officials said.
-
Schoharie agencies move back to offices
Schoharie County announced Monday that the Treasurer's Office, County Clerk's Office, Department of Motor Vehicle and the Real Property Office will be moving back to their original locations on the first floor of the County Office Building starting Wednesday.
-
Senate bill drops cuts to disability funding
The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that will protect service providers for the developmentally disabled from state funding cuts, according to a media release from Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, a co-sponsor of the legislation.
-
Senate passes welfare-fraud bill
The state Senate passed legislation Tuesday that will cut down on welfare abuse, one of its sponsors said in a media release.
-
Council to weigh changes at parks
The Oneonta city parks master plan will be reviewed at 6 p.m. Tuesday before the regularly scheduled Common Council meeting.
-
Oneonta begins drainage project
The city of Oneonta will begin a drainage improvement project today, weather permitting, on Park and Herkimer streets, according to a media release.
-
Dispatchers: Storms closed multiple roads
No major road closures were reported Sunday night as a result of storms in recent days, dispatchers in Schoharie, Delaware, Otsego and Chenango counties said.
- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
-
21-year-old man drowns in West Branch Delaware River
A 21-year-old man was the victim of an apparent drowning this afternoon in the West Branch Delaware River, according to a news release from the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.
-
Most area schools beat N.Y. grad rate
-
SUNY chief honors 15 local educators
Fifteen faculty and staff at the area's three public colleges have gleaned 2012-13 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence.
-
Oneonta to name new superintendent
A new superintendent will be appointed at a special meeting of the Oneonta City School Board of Education.
-
Delaware deputies charge 7 in drug bust
Seven residents have been arrested on felony drug charges in a continuing fight against drug trafficking, Delaware County deputies said Monday.
-
Norwich gets $5M for water treatment
The city of Norwich will be receiving a $4,022,000 loan and $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program to go toward building a water treatment plant to replace a century-old facility.
-
Three men arrested on felony drug charges



