(June 29, 2017) The 2017 Worcester County Fair, held last weekend in an attempt to beat the oppressive heat that dominated the affair last August, was well received according to event organizers.
Worcester County Fair Board member Cindy Morris said Mother Nature provided picture-perfect conditions.
“We were blessed with beautiful weather,” she said. “We had a variety of vendors and an array of activities for all our participants and visitors.”
Moving the fair up two months, however, provided some challenges, Morris said.
“The trouble with June is some of the vegetables and stuff aren’t ready,” she said.
Morris, who also helps coordinate the 4-H Program in Worcester County coordinator, said there were other agricultural-themed events taking place on the shore.
“Our livestock was down a little bit, because we had several of our 4-H’ers in Somerset County attending another 4-H event,” she said.
In terms of human participation, although hard data is not yet available, Morris estimated roughly 3,000 people attended.
“The park is so big and so spread out it’s really hard to guess,” she said. “We’ve had as many as 9,000 in certain years and as low as probably 1,000. It just depends on the year.”
Every year, organizers try to add a few new wrinkles to the traditional fair offerings, which this go-round included a visit from a mobile science lab trailer operated by the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation (MAEF).
“Our Maryland agricultural showcase trailer was a huge success,” she said.
Also new this year was Walk in the Bark, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which Morris hopes becomes an ongoing tradition.
“It wasn’t a huge amount of people, but it was the first year and hopefully it will continue to grow,” she said.
Morris also noted the talent show was a huge success, with 16 participants – some as young as 4-years-old.
“We had a good showing for out indoor exhibit tent,” she said. “Many of the participants that I talked to as they were picking up their exhibits were excited abut the June dates.”
Morris also singled out Barbie Grey, a 4-H participant who served as a junior member of the fair board, for particular praise.
“She went above and beyond,” she said. “If she could help she did.”
Local legislators on hand at the fair included Sen. Jim Mathias, Del. Mary Beth Carozza and Del. Charles Otto.
“They’ve been very supportive throughout the year,” she said.
Organizers were also pleased with the financial support from the community.
“Our cake auction was a great success,” she said. “We raised over $1,400 dollars and that is our fair fundraiser out there.”
Despite the substantial figure, Morris said the event wouldn’t survive without the innumerable sponsors who help finance the massive undertaking.
Looking forward, Morris said the fair board would reconvene in mid-July to mull over when to stage the event next year.
“We’ll make a determination on the date,” she said. “Are we going to stick with the June date or should we go back to our original?”
She also noted the June dates were not the only considered.
“When we looked at changing the fair we looked at so many dates and what was going on in the area,” she said. “Actually, we were kind of hoping to go with October.”
Next month’s fair board meeting will review all aspects of the event, Morris said.
“We’re going to sit down and reevaluate everything from vendors to livestock,” she said. “We try some new things. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.”
Worcester County Fair Board member Cindy Morris said Mother Nature provided picture-perfect conditions.
“We were blessed with beautiful weather,” she said. “We had a variety of vendors and an array of activities for all our participants and visitors.”
Moving the fair up two months, however, provided some challenges, Morris said.
“The trouble with June is some of the vegetables and stuff aren’t ready,” she said.
Morris, who also helps coordinate the 4-H Program in Worcester County coordinator, said there were other agricultural-themed events taking place on the shore.
“Our livestock was down a little bit, because we had several of our 4-H’ers in Somerset County attending another 4-H event,” she said.
In terms of human participation, although hard data is not yet available, Morris estimated roughly 3,000 people attended.
“The park is so big and so spread out it’s really hard to guess,” she said. “We’ve had as many as 9,000 in certain years and as low as probably 1,000. It just depends on the year.”
Every year, organizers try to add a few new wrinkles to the traditional fair offerings, which this go-round included a visit from a mobile science lab trailer operated by the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation (MAEF).
“Our Maryland agricultural showcase trailer was a huge success,” she said.
Also new this year was Walk in the Bark, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which Morris hopes becomes an ongoing tradition.
“It wasn’t a huge amount of people, but it was the first year and hopefully it will continue to grow,” she said.
Morris also noted the talent show was a huge success, with 16 participants – some as young as 4-years-old.
“We had a good showing for out indoor exhibit tent,” she said. “Many of the participants that I talked to as they were picking up their exhibits were excited abut the June dates.”
Morris also singled out Barbie Grey, a 4-H participant who served as a junior member of the fair board, for particular praise.
“She went above and beyond,” she said. “If she could help she did.”
Local legislators on hand at the fair included Sen. Jim Mathias, Del. Mary Beth Carozza and Del. Charles Otto.
“They’ve been very supportive throughout the year,” she said.
Organizers were also pleased with the financial support from the community.
“Our cake auction was a great success,” she said. “We raised over $1,400 dollars and that is our fair fundraiser out there.”
Despite the substantial figure, Morris said the event wouldn’t survive without the innumerable sponsors who help finance the massive undertaking.
Looking forward, Morris said the fair board would reconvene in mid-July to mull over when to stage the event next year.
“We’ll make a determination on the date,” she said. “Are we going to stick with the June date or should we go back to our original?”
She also noted the June dates were not the only considered.
“When we looked at changing the fair we looked at so many dates and what was going on in the area,” she said. “Actually, we were kind of hoping to go with October.”
Next month’s fair board meeting will review all aspects of the event, Morris said.
“We’re going to sit down and reevaluate everything from vendors to livestock,” she said. “We try some new things. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.”