For Immediate Release
June 28, 2016
Contact: Melissa
Ricker (207) 592-2126
Maine Fair
Season is underway!
A
new series of farm-to-fair videos highlight Maine fairs
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AUGUSTA
– Maine Agricultural Fair Season is officially underway, beginning last week
with the Maple Meadow Fair Festival in Mapleton and extending into October when
Maine holds its largest Fair, the Fryeburg Fair. Maine has twenty-six
licensed fairs that take place over the summer and fall, offering visitors opportunities
to learn more about agriculture and the communities they take place in.
This year, fairs will
be celebrated in a new series of farm-to-fair videos featuring behind the
scenes stories of fair participants. They are part of a collaborative effort
between the Department and several fair exhibitors to highlight the work and
care that goes into traditional activities offered at Maine fairs.
“Through the summer and into fall, Maine’s agricultural fairs showcase our state’s agricultural
interests and the communities they are located in,” said Governor Paul
R. LePage. “Maine fairs highlight the continued growth of Maine agriculture and
its contributions to our natural resource economy.”
Maine
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt
Whitcomb highlighted the new series of farm-to-fair videos. “For over 175
years, Maine agricultural fairs have been a part of who we are as a state,”
said Whitcomb. “They help connect the public to timeless traditions of rural
Maine life. The farm-to-fair videos showcase six important elements of the
Maine fair experience: 4-H Show Cattle, Ox Pulling, Horse Pulling, Harness
Racing and Barrel Racing. Participants and those who contributed to the creation
of this series, have done a great job of capturing the essence of what helps
make agricultural fairs unique.”
The new series of
farm-to-fair videos:
4-H Show Cattle - https://youtu.be/V1mEqgZY_Pc
Ox Pulling - https://youtu.be/cbACUKIzoNE
Horse Pulling - https://youtu.be/9UhalPxu6wE
Harness Racing - https://youtu.be/OPuOZSGf_AI
Barrel Racing - https://youtu.be/MfwMn9tddW8
Quick Facts about Maine’s 2016 Fair Season:
Maine
has 26 licensed fairs
- 760,000
people visited Maine fairs in 2015
- $1.65
Million in premiums were paid to exhibitors, directly impacting local economies
- Most
northern fair: Northern Maine Fair – Presque Isle, ME
- Most
southern fair: Acton Fair – Acton, ME
- Largest
fair: Fryeburg Fair (205,000+ visitors)
- 2,500+
pairs of professional cattle and horses pulled
-
23,000+
crafts projects were displayed in exhibit halls
The full schedule is available at: http://www.mainefairs.org/fairs.html
Additional information on Maine’s
agricultural fairs can be found at: http://www.getrealmaine.com/
For
more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/
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