The Sandwich Fair keeps evolving, with livestock as its focal point

SANDWICH — The Sandwich Fair has been going in some capacity for nearly 140 years, evolving from a small, annual market day to a four-day event with games, rides and a variety of agricultural offerings.

One aspect has remained since its inception in 1886: much of the event is geared toward farmers displaying their crops and livestock.

“We have such a strong livestock following here,” said Bryan Peaslee, president of the Sandwich Fair Association Board of Directors. “It is part of what makes it special, that and the time of year with peak foliage, and the community being off the beaten path. There’s something about all that that draws people in.”

According to the Sandwich Fair website, it all started 139 years ago with the intention for farmers to hold an annual market day to sell and trade cattle. In August 1887, the date of Oct. 11 was locked down for the fair, which included a band and baby contest. Plans continued the following summer to enhance the scope of the fair, like displays of “fancy work, curiosities and antiques, flowers and plants.” A baby contest where judges decided the prettiest, heaviest, and best dressed was also organized. Unfortunately, there was terrible weather that year due to snow, and it was not well attended.

Fast forward nearly a century to Oct. 12, 1986 for the introduction of a new midway and stage area, which featured bluegrass and ‘50s and ‘60s music. Then in 1988, the first three-day event was held, with great weather. There was a parade, cow pie pitching contests, 32 categories of baked food on display, and a Women’s Skillet Toss and Gentlemen’s Keg Toss. A new single horse or mule twitching area had also been built.

Nearly four decades later, the fair has increased to four days, and much of the old-fashioned charm remains. Friday night, Oct. 10, is free admission, and what was once a chance to try the games and rides to beat the crowds has now turned into a highly-attended occasion with food vendors opening up shop early, as well. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with a skills competition from 5 to 9 p.m., which has moved from its Monday slot this year. Friday also has a discount for rides.

The fair officially opens at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Oct. 11, with a day full of activities scheduled until the closing of the exhibit halls at 5 p.m. Fair attendees can check out ox and steer log skidding, tractor pulls, a 4-H dog show, beef and goat shows, horse shows, juggling and comedy stunts by Steve Corning, an antique auto parade and live music, among other scheduled events.

On Sunday, Oct. 12, the fun continues, and theG rand Street parade steps off at 1 p.m. There will also be oxen and steer matched trained pairs, a team wagon competition and a sheep shearing demonstration.

The fair officially closes at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Monday, Oct. 13’s events also start at 8 a.m., and for the first time there will be freestyle motocross shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to close out the long weekend with a bang. Dialed Action Sports was hired to come with temporary ramps on the tractor pull tracks to perform flips and other stunts. The fair officially ends at 5 p.m. on Monday.

“It is a great way for us to carry this out to the finish line,” Peaslee said. “There is a pretty decent motocross community here, so we are hoping it will draw a lot of people.”

When asked how an event like this is pulled off each year, Peaslee joked, “by the grace of God.

“We are planning and working the whole year round,” Peaslee said. “We never really gear down. It takes a whole year for the board of directors, concessions, and manager to plan things out.”

He said the group meets the Tuesday after the fair is done, where board members talk about what went well and what needs work. They take feedback from the public and are proactive in creating the best possible experience for the thousands of people who make it to the fairgrounds each year.

A couple weeks before the festival, the actual preparation begins. He said much of that needs to be timed correctly, including the mowing, setting up, and laying out the grounds.

“Everything has its perfect order and window of time,” Peaslee said. “A whole lot needs to take place ahead of time to get things right.”

The fair has an all-volunteer board of directors which meets the second Tuesday of the month throughout the year. Some meetings are quick, but others run more than two hours.

“We have a great group,” Peaslee said. “We have fair promotion over self-promotion being all volunteer. It keeps everyone’s mentality in the right spot.”

Peaslee said one thing that always stands out to him is the helicopter rides. This year Pine Tree Helicopter will be giving hundreds of rides out throughout the weekend, which he said is always a huge hit.

“It is such a cool opportunity for people to be able to get up there and fly over their own house,” Peaslee said.

Gillette Shows is responsible for the midway, and Peaslee said the Sandwich Fair is fortunate to have them, as they are “the best of the best in the ride industry.”

In the end, much of the focus is on livestock. Last year they were “bursting at the seams,” with 55 teams in the ox barn, and have added seven more this year. The dairy and cattle barns hold 140 animals, but 192 are coming, so a last-minute tent rental was set up to keep them under a roof.

“It’s great, because the whole goal of the fair is livestock,” Peaslee said. “It is the lifeblood of the fair. To put in all this effort to support the livestock end and make this happen is a great feeling for everyone involved.

“The Sandwich Fair is just so unique. People clamor for us, and that is awesome.”

For a full schedule and information about admission, log onto thesandwichfair.com.