One Final Blog From Boonville

I make this final entry from the place of my birth, the beautiful backyard garden that my family has maintained for as long as I can remember. There’s a sign coming out of Rome, NY that reads, “Boonville, just 25 minutes to Heaven” This is a wonderful little village. Just on the borderline of the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The scenic ponds, lakes, and streams attract tourists from afar. Several years ago, a joint commission of county governments proposed creating a landfill up the road in Ava, NY. A local group of activist citizens and concerned residents kept the issue in the courts and the dump out of our beautiful, bucolic setting for many years. In the end, the “wisdom” of the original commission and the need to bury our garbage someplace, won out. I have not been by the dump or “landfill” as the “authorities” like to call, lately. So, I don’t know if the thousands of sea gulls have take up residence there or the smell of rotting garbage fills the countryside, or if the runoff of toxic waste that was so feared has come to fruition. I only know right now as I sit writing this, one tractor trailer after another rolls up the street just beyond this beautiful garden. All day, they come and go. Back and forth. So, children are at risk during the school year as the big rigs drive past the two major schools servicing the area, every day. And the way of life of this wonderful little village has been permanently interrupted.

At the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, I always say, “It would be totally inconsistent for us to be here to showcase agriculture and not be a good friend of the environment. Our Aug. 24^th through 29^th fair, will be a zero landfill event, in addition to all of our reclamation efforts. All of our garbage will be transported to nearby burn plants and regenerated into energy. Having my peace interrupted this morning by a parade of garbage trucks that despite the best efforts of the good people of this area were not able to stop, makes me more committed than ever to trying to be a good friend to the environment.

Making It Come Together

The portable nature of the traveling carnival industry has always intrigued me. I’m writing another blog from my front porch in Boonville, watching as the carnival continues its setup for my hometown fair across the street. Just 24 hours ago, they were totally set up, 25 miles away in another small upstate town. By 4:00 pm tomorrow afternoon, the wheels will again be turning on the rides. The pop corn will be popped and all of the other food stands will be operating. The game trailers will all be stocked and the “agents” ready for another week’s work. When I was a kid, some carnival food was unique. The only place you could get cotton candy was at the county fair and you looked forward to it every year. Today, it’s readily available at any number of outlets.

Another of the most interesting aspects of the carnival business is how “plush”, the stuffed animals people will pay good money to win at carnival games is still the prize of choice. Everything from bicycles to TV’s has been offered as prizes to attract players. Stuffed animals still provide the magnet that pulls people into a game. This despite the fact that nearly every attic in America is filled with the fury critters.

Looks like the setup here is progressing, nicely. The carnival that plays the Dutchess County Fair won’t have it so easy with such a short “jump”. They tear down on a Saturday night and while they won’t open again until 10 am the following Tuesday morning (Aug. 24^th), they have to travel nearly 400 miles from Gathersburg, MD to Rhinebeck, NY. All of this effort will make the near magical transformation of another vacant fairgrounds into the marvelous midway that will entertain our 350,000 plus visitors. I’m excited!!!

It All Began Here

I’m sitting on the front porch of the home where I grew up. Today is set up day for the Boonville-Oneida County Fair. A flood of memories and emotions visits me here. One of my very earliest recollections, when I was probably no more than 3 or 4, is looking out the big picture window onto the fairgrounds. I knew it was fair week again or at least realized that wonderful “happening” across the street with the exciting rides, bright lights and fun was back. I recall my first “job”, selling my mom’s homemade lemonade for $1.00 a gallon to the men setting up the tents.

I was introduced to the children of the carnival operator over on the big rock where travel trailers were parked. That was our meeting spot for many, many years. I started helping set up and tear down rides at such an early age that my parents came looking for me one Saturday night, long after bedtime. The fair was my summer job in college. I did everything from pick up garbage to writing press releases. I also did a little PA announcing and it was from this experience that the famed auto stunt driver, Joie Chitwood, invited me to join his traveling stunt show one summer’s morning at breakfast. I went on to be the “voice” of the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show for 14 seasons.

When my mom’s health declined several years ago, I returned to oversee her care and again became involved in the fair. I started a program to bring less advantaged children to the fair. “Ideal Country Holiday” moved to the Dutchess County Fair with me. We will entertain over 1,000 children and their chaperones for a free day at the fair again this year.

It all came from here. This place, the professional life I have loved. While I have moved on to management of the wonderful Dutchess County Fair, my heart remains in the little fair, in the little town of Boonville. On second thought, I like to think I have a big heart, certainly big enough to hold great affection for two wonderful county fairs.