PISCATAQUIS VALLEY FAIR GUIDE
Piscataquis Valley Fair returns for the 129th year Aug. 25-28
DOVER-FOXCROFT — This year marks the 129th anniversary of the Piscataquis Valley Fair, which began in 1887. The 2016 fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 28 at the fairgrounds located at 77 Fairview Avenue. The four days will feature exhibitions, rides, concerts and fun for all ages.
The festivities begin on Thursday, Aug. 25 with the farm oxen weigh in at 9 a.m. and open flower judging at 10 a.m. At noon the fire department museum (located next to the police building), exhibition halls and Animal Land (a petting zoo) all open. The farm oxen twitch, scoot and pull also begins at noon and the Smokey’s Greater Shows midway rides open at 2 p.m.
Frisbee toss behind the ice cream parlor starts at 3 p.m. with the pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor at 4 p.m. The first bingo session begins at 4 p.m. as well. The Foxcroft Academy Band plays from 5-7 p.m. with face painting at the gazebo. At 5:30 p.m. a bicycle drawing will take place at the fair office.
Evening events for the first day of the fair will include milking parlor demonstrations at 6 p.m., figure eight mechanical truck competition at 6 p.m., The highly popular He Man contest begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by musician Tyler Healey taking to the stage from 8-10 p.m. The first Fair night will also feature fireworks at 9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26 events will kick off with farm horse weigh in at 9 a.m. and then the youth dairy show at 11 a.m. The fire department museum, exhibition halls and Animal Land all open at noon, as does bingo and the farmers’ horse events. Dan Grady performs his “Marvelous Marionette Medley” at 12:30 p.m. on the hill.
Friday midway rides open at 2 p.m. as well as the mad scientist show. At 3 p.m. relay race takes place behind the ice cream parlor. A pedal tractor pull takes place at the milking parlor at 4:30 p.m. followed by face painting on the gazebo at 5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. a bicycle drawing will be at the fair office.
At 6 p.m. will be a milking demonstration at the parlor and also at 6 p.m. will be the tuff truck competition at the track and another mad scientist show on the hill.. The day concludes with Journey tribute act Scarab performing on the stage from 8-10 p.m.
On Saturday, Aug. 27 the horse pulling weigh in begins at 6 a.m. and later in the morning the Piscataquis Valley Jumper Show starts at 8:30 a.m. Farm tractor pulls at the mechanical track kick off at 9 a.m. Opening at 10 a.m. is the antique auto display, exhibition halls, fire department museum, horse pulling, Animal Land, youth beef cattle show and cookie decorating on the hill.
The second annual Maine Maple Pageant for girls in kindergarten through high school starts at 10 a.m. on the stage. Also, from 10 a.m. to noon, there will be cookie decorating on the hill and a horseshoe tournament behind the dining hall.
The midway rides will open at 11 a.m. and the always entertaining skillet throw begins at 11:30 a.m. Also, face painting will begin at 11 a.m. on the gazebo. At noon will be bingo and the mad scientist show on the hill — with another demonstration at 3 p.m.. In the tradition of Mark Twain, a frog jumping competition is slated for 1 p.m. as is a pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor. Dan Grady performs his Marvelous Marionette Medley on the hill at 2 p.m. and then at 6 p.m.
An animal costume parade begins at 3 p.m. and at 4 p.m. a bicycle drawing will take place at the fair office. A cookie stacking contest will be on the hill at 4:30 p.m. with a milking demonstration at the parlor at 6 p.m. Also at 6 p.m. will be truck pulls at the mechanical track and wrist wrestling — sign-ups are 5:30 p.m. by the police building. Saturday concludes with the Sharon Hood Dixon Road Band performing on the stage from 7-10 p.m.
The final day of the 2015 fair, Sunday, Aug. 28, has a horse weigh in at 6 a.m. and the game horse show at 9 a.m. Also at 9 a.m. are the garden tractor pulls at the mechanical track, followed by horse pulling at 9:30 a.m. as well as Dan Grady performing his Marvelous Marionette Medley on the hill. Grady performs again at 3 p.m.
The doodlebug draw begins at 10 a.m. at the mechanical track. The exhibition hall, fire department museum and Animal Land all open at 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon entrants for the pig scramble can sign up at the fair office. The pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor begins at 10 a.m. as does the horseshoe tournament behind the dining hall. A youth dairy goat show and pie judging are held at 10:30 a.m..
The midway rides open at 11 a.m. as well as face painting on the gazebo. At 11:30 a.m. will be a bubblegum blowing contest and the delicious chicken barbecue is served at the dining hall at 11:30 a.m. The day’s bingo session starts at noon as well as the pro modified demolition derby. At 1 p.m., the pig scramble in the pulling arena is followed at 2 p.m. by the pedal tractor pull-off at the milking parlor. The popular demolition derby takes place at 3 p.m. in addition to the Power Wheels Demo Derby during intermission. The final bicycle drawing takes place at 4 p.m. at the fair office before this year’s fair formally closes at 6 p.m.
For more information on the 2016 Piscataquis Valley Fair. please go to www.piscataquisvalleyfair.com or see the fair page on Facebook.
Corinna dairy operation is Farm Family honoree
Simpson View Farm is located just down the road in Corinna and has been owned and operated by the Simpson Family since the early 1900’s. The farm is currently owned and operated by Ronald and his wife Julie along with his three children, Sarrah, Samantha and Rj.
When Ron took over the farm in 1982 there were only 39 milking cows on the farm and approximately 50 young stock. Over the years Ron, with the help of his herdsman Andrew Ricker, has taken major steps to expand the farm and become the large dairy that it is today.
Currently there are 825 cows milking and 700 young stock.
Over the past few years Simpson View Farm has started registering all of the calves to which now 75 percent of the herd is registered holsteins.
Simpson View Farm ships over 60,000 pounds of milk to Oakhurst Dairy every day which makes them one to the largest producers for the Maine dairy. For the past 15 years the farms crops have been custom grown and harvested by fellow farmer Roger Whitney. Ron still takes care of the dry hay along with his son Rj and help from friends.
Contributed photo
SIMPSON VIEW FARM — Located in Corinna and has been owned and operated by the Simpson Family since the early 1900’s. The farm is currently owned and operated by Ronald and his wife Julie along with his three children, Sarrah, Samantha and Rj.
2016 Fair dedicated to Ralph ‘Eddy’ Lewis
Ralph “Eddy” Lewis has been a member of the Piscataquis Valley Fair Association for over 20 years. He goes about his business doing painting, cleaning out the goat and sheep pens without being asked. When he sees things that need to be done, he takes it upon himself to do it. His efforts include but are not limited to weed whacking and mowing around all the animal buildings. He always maintains the fire extinguishers in all the fair buildings. He is always working to maintain the exhibition halls after the auction and fair.
Eddy is on the Fire Department and the Kiwanis which also shows that he is a true volunteer at heart. His generosity goes above and beyond. He has donated everything he can possibly do from his time and money.
This year our dedication goes out to one of the most caring and generous people on the Fair Association.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BARRELS OF FUN — Horse riding contests take place throughout the annual Piscataquis Valley Fair in Dover-Foxcroft.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BEEF IN COW FORM — The youth beef show enables young farmers to show off their cattle for the judges and specators.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
LAZY HORSE — A miniature horse rests while on display at Animal Land.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PEEK-A-MOO — Several cows look up while munching hay.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
AROUND THE RIDES — A carousel provides some fun for the younger fair goers.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TRACTOR PULL — At a distance of nearly 179 feet, Richie Potter won the 1,300-pound improved stock class during the 2013 Piscataquis Valley Fair.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THE PULL OF THE FAIR — Four teams of oxen are prepared for a pulling event at a past year’s fair.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
OLD-FASHIONED FIRE EQUIPMENT — The Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department’s museum at the fairgrounds provides a glimpse into the apparatus used for battling blazes of the past.