C2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 15, 1998 I * % % ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ « The Elizabethtown Fair 25 Years of Making Memories A child’s first taste of cotton candy . . . the wonderment of a newborn calf ... the pride of a blue-ribbon entry the Elizabethtown Fairgrounds has seen it all The roofs of the Elizabethtown Fair go back to 1950 when the Elizabethtown Kiwanis Club hosted the first community Farm Fair This event was first held in September 1950 along Poplar Street (with the midway behind the current Elizabethtown Community Center). Booths were located on a lot at the cor ner of Bainbridge and South Poplar streets. In 1954 the Kiwams club relocated the farm fair across from Lake Placida at Elizabethtown College. This property became known as Kiwanis Park. An office, public restrooms, and a large exhibit building were added to Kiwanis Park. Due to dwindling support and community interest, the Kiwanis Club replaced its farm fair with a carnival and pet SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 100 p m 700 p m Animal entries received MONDAY, AUGUST 24 900 a m 900 p m All domestic entries received at Church Fellowship Hall 9 00am tOO p m - Animal entries received 6 00 - 8 00 p m - Draft Horse Exhibit Sponsored by Duhl's Insurance (contest area) 600 p m Ride for One Price ($9 00 6-10 pm) 600 ■ 800 p m Sand Sculpture Sensations 6 30 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 7 00pm Talent Show (mam stage) 7 30 p m - Dan & Galla (variety show)(Stage 2) 800 p m Animals of Distinction (Midway) TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 900 a m 500 p m - Domestic exhibit area closed tor judging 12 00 p m - Dairy Goal Show 4 00 p m - Ride tor One Price ($6 00 4-6 p m ) 500 p m Rabbit Show 5 00 p m - Maytown Sport Parachute Club Drop Zone 530 830 p m Pony Rides 530 p m Dan & Galla (Patriotic Show)(Mam Stage) 6 00 p m - Swine Show 600 800 p m Sand Sculpture Sensations 600 800 p m Obie the Clown (strolling) 6 00 p m ■ Fair Queen Competition (main stage) 6 30 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 645 p m Opening Ceremony 700 p m Pie Eating Contest (children & adult) 700 p m Firemen's Tug of War Elimination (horse ring) 800 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 800 p m Annual Baked Goods Auction (stage 2) 8 30 p m - The Wilkinsons (country) ZlO7 Night 9 30 p m - Z Country Dancers SENIOR CITIZEN’S DAY WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 26 900 a m Beef Show 12 00 p m - Sheep Show 12 30 p m - Senior King & Queen Announced 400 p m Wheelbarrow Race (children) 400 p m Ride tor One Price ($6 00 4-6 pm ) 5 00pm - Bingo for Senior Citizens 5 30 - 8 30 p m - Pony Rides 6 30 p m ■ Calf Roping, Barrel Racing, Team Roping 6 00 - 8 00 p m - Obie the Clown (strolling) 6 30 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 7 00 p m - Country Spirit Dance Association (demo) 7 00 p m - Wheelbarrow Race (children i adults) 7 00 p m - Arcona Reel Band (Celtic music)(stage 2) 800 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 8 00 p m - Stu Huggens Susquehanna River Band (mam stage) 9 00 p m - Country Spirit Dance Association (instruction) THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 16 00 a m - Daily Show 400 p m Milk Chugging Contest (children) 4 00 p m - Ride (or One Price ($6 00 4-6 p m ) 500 p m Celebrity Milking Contest (contest area) 530 830 p m Pony Rides parade in 1961. The event van ished completely sometime in the 19605. In the 1970 s the fair was “reborn” as an added attraction to the Elizabethtown Jaycees Festival held in the Elizabethtown Community Park. As a result, the present fair was organized by the Jaycees in 1973 and operated under the name “Marketplace Fair” In 1978, the event officially became known as the Elizabethtown Fair, and moved to the old Kiwanis Park grounds, which had become part of the Elizabethtown College campus. Under the leadership of the Jaycees, the fair continued to grow and the club decided an area was needed for just the agricultural portion of the fair. Elizabethtown Area School District’s “land lab,” the current site of the Elizabethtown Fair, was selected for agricultural exhibits. In 1981 the fair activi ties were split between the Kiwanis Park grounds and the current fairgrounds. In 1981 Agricultural Hall was opened on the new site and the Jaycees ran the first livestock ELIZABETHTOWN FAIR EVENTS ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.) Farmers or homeowners look ing to test-drive a new vehicle can cancel trips to car lots and head toward Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 18-20. By visiting the expanded competition on the current fair grounds. In the same year the Elizabethtown Fair Association Ad Hoc Committee was formed and assumed the Jaycee duties. At this time, the fair was incor porated as Elizabethtown Community Fair, Inc. and a board of directors and officers was elected. Many changes have taken place at the fair since that time. The dairy-beef barn was erected on the fairgrounds in 1983, and Sara Myer Hall in 1985. The main stage was built in 1988 to showcase the live bands and entertainers. The fair office building was renovated in 1989. A large commercial building was constructed adjacent to Myer Hall in 1995. Under the current direction of the Elizabethtown Fair board of directors, the Elizabethtown Fair remains a permanent, pros perous community event which features many of the original events and contests held at the first fair in 1950. The Elizabethtown Fair now runs Monday through Saturday in late August each year. This year, the Fair is sched uled Aug. 24-29 10 a.m.-lO p.m. with livestock shows, a midway, and plenty of food and fun. 6 00 - 8 00 p m - Obie the Clown (strolling) 6 30 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 5 45 p m - Supreme Champion 6 30 p m - Sale of Champions 7 00 p m - Milk Chugging Contest (children & adults) 7 00 p m - Firemen's Competition (field) 7 00 p m - Oreamaker Illusions (illusion magic show) (Stage 2) Sponsored by Mellon Bank 800 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 8 00 p m, - Mud Flaps (oldies)(mam stage) Sponsored by Time Warner Cable FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 4 00 p m - Sack Race (children)(contest area) 4 00 p m - Ride for One Pnce ($6 00 4-6 p m ) 6 00 - 8 00 p m - Obie the Clown (strolling) 6 30 p m - Pedal Power Tractor Pull 630 p m • Animals of Distinction (Midway) 6 30 - 9 30 p m - Arcona Reel Band (strolling) 7 00 p m ■ Sack Race (children & adults)(contest area) 7 00 p m - Red Rose Country Dance Club 730 p m ■ Arts & Crafts Auction (stage 2) 800 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 8 00 p m - Buffalo Thunder (country)(mam stage) WIOV Night 9 00 p m - Red Rose Country Dance Club FAMILY DAY SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 10 00 a m - Big Wheel Bike Race 10 00 a m - Horseshoe Pitch 10 00 a m - Horse Show 10 30 p m - Pet & People Caricatures by Marti Hess 11 00 a m - Steven Courtney (stage 2) Sponsored by Kmart 11 30 a m - Pet Show (sheep show tent) 12 00 p m - Animal exhibits released 1 00 p m - Arm Wrestling (mam stage) 2 00 - 4 00 p m - Obie the Clown 1 00 p m - Steven Courtney (stage 2) Sponsored by Kmart 2 00 p m - Hay Bale Throwing Contest (contest area) 3 00 - 5 00 p m - Domestic exhibits released 4 00 p m - Garden Tractor Pull 5 00 p m - Dreamaker Illusions (illusion magic show) (stage 2) 6 00 p m - Maytown Sport Parachute Club Drop Zone 6 30 p m - Tribute to Elvis Presley (stage 2) 6 30 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 8 00 p m ■ Autumn & QSB (Variety Show)(mam stage) 800 p m - Animals of Distinction (Midway) 9 00 p m - Winners of Baby Photo and Pet Photo Contests announced 11 00 p m - Fireworks Animals of Distinction Sponsored by Penn Valley Showa Sand Sculpture Sensations Sponsored by Union National Community Bank OPEN DAILY 10 00 a m to 10 00 p m Children’s Petting Zoo Domestic Exhibits in Church RIDES OPEN at 400 p m (Noon on Saturday) Ag Progress Days Offers Machinery Demonstrations “ride and drive” area, you can test drive and compare the lat est full-size tractor models from a variety of manufacturers. Homeowners with large yards or farmers looking to handle small jobs also may be interested in a separate compact lawn and gar den tractor ride-and-drive, fea turing gasoline- or diesel-pow ered machines with no more than 35 horsepower engines. “We’ll have products from three manufacturers for com pact lawn and garden tractors and products from three manu facturers for full-size diesel trac tors,” said Bob Oberheim, man ager of Ag Progress Days. “Visitors can experience first hand the latest models and any changes that the tractor compa nies have made in the last year. The compact lawn and garden tractors are useful for part-time or hobby farmers and for small er farm jobs such as mowing, pulling a small spreader or haul ing bales of hay.” The product lines for compact lawn and garden tractors are John Deere, Cub Cadet, and Steiner. The product lines for full-size diesel tractors are New Holland, Case IH, and Agco. The nde-and-drive site, locat ed between Ist Street and Rt. 45, will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 18 and 20, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 19. All operators must be at least 18 years old and sign a waiver of liability. Company representa tives will screen operators for eligibility. In addition to the tractor ride-and-drive, more than 300 commercial exhibitors will dis play Roods and services at Ag Crops, Forage Information At Ag Progress ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.) The latest developments in forage and crop production will be featured in the Crop and Soil Science Tent at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 18-20. “We’re featuring plots with an alfalfa-corn rotation into rye grass stubble, new alfalfa seed ings with potato leafhopper resistant varieties, Roundup Ready soybeans versus normal soybeans, and a weed control demonstration,” said Marvin Hall, associate professor of for age management and coordina tor for the tent. The demonstra tion plots are located outside the Crop and Soil Science Tent on East sth Street. Inside the tent, visitors can see educational exhibits and demonstrations from Penn State, the Corn Growers Association, and the Forage Growers Association. “The dis play of common 'weeds of Pennsylvania is always a big attraction,” said Hall. “We have live weeds in pots, and special ists on hand to answer your questions on controlling specific weeds. If you have strange weeds on your property, dig them up, bring them in, and the specialists will identify them.” Exhibits also explore soil fer tility and testing, nutrient man agement, pest control, forage quality testing, and other topics. Farmers can visit the “Ask the Specialist” booth to find Progress Days. Besides tractors and other heavy machinery, their wares range from seed, feed and fertilizer to insurance, consulting services, small power equipment, and many other products. “Visitors can find information on state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge techniques, all in one convenient location,” Oberheim said. “Ag Progress Days is one-stop shopping for farmers.” Because machinery accidents are the leading cause of farm injuries and deaths, another demonstration will focus on farm safety. A new attraction is a skid-steer rodeo for tractor operators. In addition, an exhib it of lighting and marking mate rials for agricultural equipment will be on display. Also, remote controlled full-scale equipment will undergo mishaps while being operated under typical conditions. Other planned field demon strations will focus on com chop ping, silage bagging, sweet corn harvesting, high-moisture hay baling and combining with pre cision farm equipment. In addition, various exhibits and workshops will feature information on the latest research-based production tech niques, government programs and regulations, and various educational initiatives, ranging from health and safety to forest stewardship. For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free through August 20 or visit the Ag Progress Days site on the World Wide Web at http://apd.cas.psu.edu. solutions to problems with soil fertility, diseases, insects, corn, forages, small grains, and tillage practices. Specialists from the Pennsylvania Crop Management Association and Penn States agronomy, entomology and plant pathology departments will be on hand to share research results and answer questions Visitors to the Crop and Soil Science Tent also can test their knowledge using an agronomy quiz board, with questions about small grains, soybeans, corn, forage, and soil fertility. “If you get 16 out of 20 right, you should take our jobs,” Hall said smiling Also at this site will be the Hay Show, with displays of the state’s best hay samples Growers who would like to enter the show are invited to bring samples to the Hay "Show drop off point near the Ag Progress Days east entrance by 10 a.m Tuesday, Aug. 18. All growers will receive the results of their hay’s evaluation. Penn State’s Ag Progress Days features more than 500 acres of educational and com mercial exhibits, tours and machinery demonstrations. It is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rockspring, nine miles south west of State College on Rt. 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.®- Tuesday and Thursday, with extended hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Admission and parking are free.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers