The Altamont Fair finished up on Sunday, Aug. 17, following a week filled with educational exhibits, a calf-birthing demonstrations, and musical performances.
Operations Manager Marie McMillen said attendance was down a little from last year, citing bad weather, flooding and a slumping economy as possible reasons.
We know our numbers are down from last year, and our revenue is down a little bit, but not a lot, she said of the unofficial statistics for the fair.
She said not everyone had recreation on their minds, but those that did come out told her they enjoyed the attractions and had a lot of fun.
Pat Knapp, who attended the fair with her grandchildren, said her favorite attractions are the 4-H educational exhibits.
The 4-H Youth Development program sponsors many of the exhibits as well as the animal competitions.
The organization focuses on strengthening life skills and preparing children, `socially, morally, emotionally, physically and cognitively.`
Knapp said her grandchildren have shown an interest in a lot of exhibits, but they are now old enough to appreciate some of the features they did not before.
`This year, the kids are happy playing with the animals,` she said.
Animal-oriented events were major components of the fair this year.
One of the 4-H-sponsored events was a cow competition that gave children an opportunity to learn about the agricultural trade while having a good time.
Competitors brought their animals to the barn and were judged on how much they look like the `ideal animal.`
`The judge knows what an ideal animal looks like. They need to find which look the most like the ideal animal should,` said Cattle Supervisor Charles Preska, who competed in the competition five years ago.
He said his daughter, Jennifer, had nine cows in the competition.
Animals big and small, including rabbits, got the attention of patrons.
Jan Van Etten, a breeder with more than 60 rabbits of her own, ran the rabbit exhibit.
She raises Flemish giants, the largest breed of rabbit. She said it is not unusual for those animals to reach 17 or 18 pounds.
`Some of the rabbits are kids’ pets, and others have quite a few rabbits in here,` she said.
There was a new breed of rabbit on display this year, the Lionhead rabbit, and, Van Ettan said, it was a popular attraction with spectators.
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, there was an opportunity for owners to showcase how well they handle their rabbits. Owners were asked to show off their rabbits’ teeth, legs and belly.
They were also asked to turn their rabbit on their backs.
`If you can turn a rabbit over, it shows you know how to handle it,` Van Etten said. `They don’t like to go over.`
Animals were not the only attraction, though.
The circus museum was a popular spot for spectators, and it displayed old-style cameras, circus train replicas, and a reproduction of R.B. Everys `very special people.`
It also displayed mannequins, three cage wagons and mechanical musicians purchased from the P.T. Barnum Museum and Danbury Fair.
They were built in the 1950s, and the mechanical figures are the only ones of their type in the United States today.
Volunteers with the Shriners, founded in New York City in 1872, a wing of the Freemasons who run children’s hospitals, helped supervise the display.
Bud Abare, a volunteer, said the Shriners represent the more lighthearted side of the Freemasons, and run many children’s hospitals.
`Shriners are synonymous with circuses,` Abare said.
The hospitals help children with severe burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate and orthopedic problems.
`We help children and have fun,` said Abare.
Others were entertained by the Backyard Circus, which allowed children to participate in a comedic show.
There were many rides featured at the fair, including the Tornado, the Avalanche, the Starship and the Super Himalaya.
In addition to the rides there were a number of games and opportunities to win prizes, like the cork gun gallery.
`Everyone’s a winner here,` said Debbie Rutt, who has run the gallery for three years.
She said, though, she has not gotten as many participants because a lot of the kids are there primarily for the rides.
While patrons enjoyed the attractions at the fair, some of the vendors were slightly disappointed with the turnout.
Tom Kurish of Adirondack Sun Rooms has been vending at the Altamont fair for six years, and he said he has had success in the past, but this year he was hoping for more patrons.
He said he also wanted to see more vendors and more exciting attractions as well.
`It was successful [the first four years], up until last year, and this year,` Kurish said.
“