Boy it was hot in Brookfield this afternoon, but the 171st Madison County Fair opened and it looks bigger and better than ever.  The crowd was welcomed by town supervisor John Salka and Assemblyman Bill Magee.  This year a new and improved midway, along with the return of the beer tent are expected to help boost attendance at the event.  The fair costs  $2 to get in and runs through Sunday.  See the full schedule of events here.
 
 
It is an olde tyme country fair and it opens in Brookfield today.  After the success of last year's fair, this year's event promises to be even bigger and better than past versions.  New rides, lots of exhibits and fun family events are on the schedule all weekend long. 
Today's activities get underway at noon with the ribbon cutting.  The midway opens at 4pm but live entertainment will be featured all afternoon long.  Tonight is the 2nd Fair 5K run.  We will be updating on twitter this weekend and will be posting some photos later today.
 
 
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Focus on Fiber, a “Fair within the Fair”, made its debut at the Madison County Fair in 2009.  Llamas, alpacas, angora rabbits, and cashmere goats were on hand, spinners and felters demonstrated their crafts, and vendors offered fleece, yarn, and products made from natural fibers.  Educational exhibits were available and visitors could watch videos on fiber processing.
The 2010 fiber fair will offer even more educational opportunities for anyone interested in fiber arts.  All three days, there will be demonstrations of spinning, weaving, wet felting, carding, and needle felting.  For anyone interested in more focused learning, four workshops will be available. 
On Friday and Saturday afternoon, July 9th and 10th, Mindy Laymon from The Olde Homestead in Brookfield will lead workshops on needle felting.   Needle felting is a technique for fusing layers of fiber (yarn, roving, or felt) together, using a single barbed needle or a set of needles in a plastic sleeve.    By poking the needle into a ball of wool, one can “mold” the wool into the desired shape.   Needle felting can also be used to make designs on a background of cloth or felt.    Pre-registration is not required for these workshops.   Mindy will welcome beginners as well as experienced felters looking for ideas.  A $10 fee for materials is all that is required, and Mindy will be found with her Baby Doll sheep near the fiber pavilion.
 
 
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What’s your passion?  Is it cooking, baking, gardening, collecting, drawing, painting, sewing, knitting…etc  Madison County Fair is offering you the chance to win prizes and recognition for your outstanding creations.  Our Premium Booklet is now available online at www.madisoncounty-fair.com click on Welcome to Our Fair.  The departments and classes are listed in pdf files that maybe downloaded and printed, along with the entry form.  Entry forms should be submitted by July 1st (mail to: Entry Clerk, Madison County Fair, P.O. Box 114, Brookfield, NY  13314).   If you are unable to access the internet listings you may leave a message at 315-899-5867, forms will be sent to you via US Mail.  Please specify which departments you are interested in along with your mailing address.  
Be sure to exhibit at least three items to claim a free exhibitor pass, entitling you to free gate admission everyday of Fair.

 
 
Warm up for the Boiler Maker at the 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk on July 8th at 6pm at the Madison County Fair in Brookfield.  Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female finishers overall, along with ribbons for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers in each age group.  All runners who register by July 1st will receive a t-shirt (the entry fee is $15 on or before July 1st, after $20).  Anyone interested in competing can download an entry form at www.madisoncounty-fair.com, phone Craig 315-824-2839 or email southof20@wheelweb.com.
The Madison County Fair 5K Run/Walk is part of the 2010 Route 20 Road Challenge Run/Walk Series (http://www.nyroute20.com/RoadChallenge2010). 

 
 

We made the trip to the opening ceremonies in Brookfield yesterday and here is a sample of what you can expect to find when you head out to the great Madison County Fair this weekend.

 
 

Today marks the opening of the 170th Madison County Fair at the fairgrounds in Brookfield.  The fair runs through Sunday and this year's lineup of events is the best in years.  There will be live bands, amusement rides, a farmer's market, informational displays about the county and so much more the entire weekend.  A full schedule of events can be found right here.  Don't forget to take lots of pictures while there and enter them in our photo contest.

 
 

Janet Ambrose, Associate Professor of Textiles from Syracuse University, College of Art and Design, will be at the Madison County Fair on Friday and Saturday to lead us through the creation of her personal design work from the fiber animal to her final knitted and felted product.  Janet and her family raise Angora goats, Cashmere goats, and Alpacas on their farm in Jamesville, NY.   From their fiber she produces lace weight yarns and uses the computer and a computerized knitting machine to create her custom textile art.  

Janet’s presentations in the Focus on Fiber pavilion will begin with an introduction to the animals on the farm and to the spinning mill housed there, including its 2.5 ton industrial Stoll Knitting Machine.  Her recent work enables her to integrate her long-standing love of photography with more recently acquired skills in fiber animal husbandry and knitting machinery to create beautiful and functional textile art.  For a preview, see her new website at janbrose.com.

 
 

Would you like to win $100, $500? It’s easy. Come to the 170th Madison County Fair in July and follow the clues to find one of the four “170th Madison County Fair medallions” that will be hidden on the Madison County Fair Grounds in Brookfield.

The 170th Madison County Fair runs from Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12 in Brookfield, N.Y.  Several weeks before the fair, clues will appear in local papers, on WMCR Radio, and will also be put on the County Historian’s web site at htpp://www.madisoncountyhistorian.org. Fair goers will also receive a program when they enter the fairgrounds that will contain clues to the location of the medallions.

Each medallion will be inscribed with the appropriate date and the words “170th Madison County Fair.” The medallion for Thursday, July 9th, Friday, July 10 and Sunday, July 12 are worth $100 each. The medallion for Saturday, July 11 is worth $500. All medallions will remain on site during the FAIR until they are found.

County Historian Mary Messere noted that “this year’s fair has taken a page form the past, offering exhibits and entertainment that are more in line with days of old when people traveled by horse and wagon to enjoy a fun filled day with their friends and neighbors. There is a feeling of excitement in the air as fair organizers have come together each week to report on the progress that is being made and to put plans together for this historic anniversary.  The Madison County Fair is one of the oldest county fairs in the country!”

The fair will kick off with the Opening Day Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Fireman’s Pushball and a 5k run to benefit the Community Action mentoring program.

Friday, July 10th is Senior Citizen Day which promises to be an exciting one with the Madison County Ag Show in the Main Events Tent with a “Focus on Fiber Fair”, a farmer’s market, a small engine antique show, a youth horse show and at the Grandstand a “pony pull” also on tap at the fairgrounds.

Youth and History Day will be celebrated on Saturday, July 11 and the $500 medallion will be placed.  The Main Events Tent will be taken over by the youth groups of Madison County with hands on and interactive exhibits and shows on stage.  Saturday is also history Day and at 1 pm Fred Morsell portraying Frederick Douglass, orator and abolitionist, will be delivering the speech delivered by Dougass and unveiling a NYS Historic Marker.

In 1856, Frederick Douglass spoke at the Madison County Fair and drew a crowd of 12,000. “My goal for the 170th anniversary of the Madison County Fair is to match the 1856 attendance record!” said Messere. “With your help I know we can do it!”

  “The schedule for Saturday, July 11 offers something for everyone including the Focus on Fiber Fair, Small Antique Engine show, a Postal Cancellation, a Chicken Bar Barbecue, Demolition Derby and Fireworks!”
There will be entertainment every day – with  bands. Kids Bucks Show, Two by Two Zoo, Pickles the clown and more. So help Madison County make history! Mark your calendar for July 9 – 12 and “Come to the Fair!”

 
 

It is one of the oldest fairs in America still running.  The 170th edition of the Madison County Fair will really kick things up a notch with new exhibits, new entertainment and a treasure hunt for all to participate in.  Here is the tentative schedule released today:

170th Madison County Fair

(Tentative Schedule)
 
Thursday - July 9th
Opening Day Ceremony
In the Afternoon (Ribbon Cutting)
5 k run    6 – 6:30 pm
Run to benefit - Community Action mentoring program
Fireman’s Push Ball
Fiber Fair
One $100 treasure hunt medallion placed.

 

Friday -  July 10th
Ag Day – Senior Citizen Day
 Ag Show at the Events Tent
 Farmer’s market
Small Antique Engine show
Ag displays - Fiber Fair
Youth Horse Show - Ring..
Second $100 treasure hunt medallion placed

Saturday – July 11th
Youth and History Day
(Help recreate history day-get 12,000 people to the Fair to recreate the day of 1856)

$500 treasure hunt medallion placed
Small Antique Engine show
Fiber Fair
Events Tent –Youth Day
Historical Societies highlighted
Postal Cancellation
CHicken Bar B Q
Historic Marker for Frederick Douglas unveiled
Presentation by Frederick Douglas (Fred Morsell)
Delivering the speech he delivered to 12,000 people at the Madison County Fair in 1856
Demolition Derby 6:30 -&7:00pm
Fireworks

Sunday –July 12th
Events Tent – Antique Tractor Show
Tractor Pulls
Fiber Fair
Open Horse Show Sunday –Horse Ring Gate 3
One $100 treasure hunt Medallion placed

Special Madison County Exhibits all days!
Two by Two zoo all days - Bands all Days