THE SEVEN-DAY CITY

Photo by: Robert K. Yosay

Photo

GETTING READY: Jason Mechling, of Canfield, power washes his concessions trailer in preparation for the Canfield Fair, which begins Wednesday. Mechling says he has been working at the fair for longer than he cares to remember.

Canfield Fair opens to the public Wednesday

CANFIELD — The Canfield Fairgrounds are 350 acres of green space and a handful of buildings for 51 weeks a year.

But for one week annually, for the past 162 years, that land hosts a population of about 500,000 and explodes into a thriving community.

“The thing that we kind of like to say is in a short period of time, in seven days, we set up a city; we run it for seven days and then we tear it down,” said Mark Makoski, fair board treasurer and director of concessions. “And we run that city with all the basic services that any city has, whether that’s safety, health, cleaning and street maintenance or whatever the case may be. When you think about a city administration, that’s really what we’re doing here.”

The event opens to the public Wednes-day morning.

According to a July 2008 figure from citydata.com, Canfield has a population of about 6,000. Makoski said the Canfield Fair brings in anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 people during the weeklong event. He said vendors can come in from across the country and set up camp at the fair, and as many as 600 do so.

Makoski said the open fields transform into “a bunch of streets with a bunch of different residents and business” for those seven days.

Some vendors, such as Shirley’s Steak Hoagie and Italian Sausage, have been staples of the concession crowd for years. Shirley Richardson, 78, of Middleton, has parked the stand at the fair for 60 years. One of her employees, Bob Marney, 57, of Atwood Lake, said the Canfield Fair provides a good venue for concessionaires.

“Business has been pretty good, and it keeps everyone happy,” he said. “It’s been good enough to keep coming back.”

Concession stands and trailers have been arriving at the fairgrounds since the weekend. Makoski said invitations are sent out to concessionaires in February and are usually responded to by June at the latest, though the fair board encourages the reservations be made as early as possible.

Dozens of rows of trailers line the fairgrounds, transforming the fields into a sort of a market. But how the transformation happens is what one employee called “a miracle.”

“Where do you even start?” said Frank Seidita, maintenance director, when asked about the setup process.

Seidita said a crew of seven, including himself, are responsible for putting out benches and maintaining the fairgrounds and grandstand area. His 25 years of experience help alleviate some of the stress that comes with a reduced staff, which had 25 in 1999.

Makoski said there are about 1,200 employees during the fair.

Seidita, who is retired, said many of the crew members take vacations from their jobs to work at the fair. He jokes that the work at the fairgrounds is often harder than day jobs.

“I wouldn’t work this hard at a regular job,” he said, laughing. “It’s a fun job, though, and it’s a family of people.”

The first order of business, Seidita said, is to ensure the grounds themselves are suitable for the vendors. The grass is cut and flattened prior to the vendors’ arrival.

To ensure safety, the fairgrounds even employs its own police department.

Bill Arnaut is the chief of the force and wouldn’t divulge how many officers are on hand for the fair.

“I recruit them from the entire tri-county area,” he said. “There’s more than ample in terms of plainclothes officers and uniformed officers ... We handle everything the city of Youngstown handles, from juvenile problems to domestic violence.”

Arnaut said officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and detectives from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s office also are employed to assist. And while there aren’t many major issues, Arnaut said there are cases of theft and counterfeit money and tickets.

Despite a hectic week and immense transformation, the fairgrounds have successfully handled the fair, Seidita said. There are 17 different departments for the fair, and each has a specific responsibility.

“There are people who know all different aspects of this fair,” he said. “It’s just kind of a coordinated effort by everybody.”

jmoffett@vindy.com

The 163rd Canfield Fair || Schedule of Events

Gates open at 8 a.m.

Guided senior citizen shuttles available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 2

WKBN TV27-FOX Youngstown Day.

Grandstand attractions:

High school cheerleading demonstrations:

k11 a.m.: West Branch, Poland, Chaney and Austintown.

k11:30 a.m.: Struthers, Canfield, Jackson-Milton and Western Reserve.

kNoon: Springfield, South Range, Lowellville and Sebring.

k12:30 p.m.: Campbell, Boardman and East.

Free daily happenings:

k5 a.m. and 5 p.m.: Milking parlor, South Cattle Complex.

k9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Spinning demo, Sheep Barn.

k9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Antique farm machinery display, Southeast Corner.

kNoon to 6 p.m.: American Red Cross Bloodmobile, Medical Building.

k1 to 4 p.m.: Western Reserve Wood Carvers, Fine Arts Building.

k2 and 7 p.m.: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday; 2, 4:40 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Robinson Family Singers, Gate Eight.

k6:30 p.m.: Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing contest, Arts & Crafts Building.

kAll day: Farm animals at Old MacDonald’s Barn; Holborn Herb Gardens in Western Reserve Village

Thursday, Sept. 3

21 WFMJ/WBCB Day.

Grandstand attractions:

High school band concert:

k11 a.m.: Canfield.

k11:15 a.m.: West Branch.

k11:30 a.m. Austintown.

k11:45 a.m.: South Range.

kNoon: Jackson-Milton.

k12:15 p.m.: Sebring.

k12:30 p.m.: Lowellville.

k12:45 p.m.: Struthers.

k1 p.m.: Springfield.

k1:15 p.m.: Western Reserve.

k1:30 p.m.: Campbell.

Free daily happenings:

k10 a.m.: Ribbon-cutting ceremony.

k2 p.m.: 4-H King and Queen crowning; Junior Fair Youth Day Program on the concourse.

k3 p.m.: Bike Night on the concourse.

k5:30 p.m.: Market poultry auction, Coliseum Eight.

k7 p.m.: Jr. Fair Market Lamb & Swine auction, Coliseum Eight.

Judging schedule:

k8 a.m.: Market Swine, Coliseum Eight.

k8:30 a.m.: 4-H Dairy showmanship, South Cattle Arena.

k9 a.m.: 4-H Saddle, North Ring; Pygmy/Angora Goats, sheep barn; and Poultry, poultry barn.

k9:30 a.m.: Draft ponies, South Ring.

k11 a.m.: Junior Fair Market Lamb, Coliseum Eight.

k1 p.m.: Ponies, South Ring.

k4 p.m.: Brown Swiss & Ayrshire, South Cattle Arena; and Milking Shorthorn, South Cattle Arena.

k5 p.m.: Draft Horse - youth classes, East Ring.

k6 p.m.: Pony Hitches, South Ring.

Friday, Sept. 4

WKBN TV27 Fox 17/62 Day.

Grandstand attractions:

k8 p.m.: World’s Largest Demolition Derby.

Free daily happenings:

k5:30 p.m.: Goat milk fudge auction and rabbit-meat pens, Coliseum Eight.

k7 p.m.: Market beef auction followed by market feeder, Coliseum Eight.

Judging Schedule:

k8 a.m.: Market beef fitting and showmanship, Coliseum Eight; Saddle Horse: 4-H, North Ring.

k8:30 a.m.: Draft horse, East Ring.

k9 a.m.: Sheep, Sheep Barn; Holstein, South Cattle Arena.

k9:30 a.m.: Ponies Registered Welsh, South Ring; Cattle: Market Beef, Coliseum Eight.

k11 a.m.: Junior Fair Feeder Calf Showmanship, Coliseum Eight; Junior Fair market dairy beef, Coliseum Eight; Ponies: Grade 46” and under, South Ring.

k1:30 p.m.: Ponies: Registered Hackney, South Ring.

k5 p.m.: Cattle: Limousin, South Cattle Arena.

k5:30 p.m.: Cattle: Aberdeen Angus, South Cattle Arena.

k6 p.m.: Cattle: Simmental, South Cattle Arena; Pony Hitches, South Ring.

k7 p.m.: Cattle: Hereford, South Cattle Arena; Pocket Pet Costume Class, Barn 10; Sheep Canfield Lead Line, Sheep Barn.

k8 p.m.: Cattle: Maine Anjou, South Cattle Arena.

Saturday, Sept. 5

WYTV News Channel 33 Day.

Grandstand attractions:

k8 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Draft pony pig iron derby.

kNoon: Harness racing.

k7 p.m.: Truck and tractor pull plus semi pull. Admission $12 for track seats and 10 for grandstand. Youth ages 7 to 12 is $5.

Judging schedule:

k8 a.m.: 4-H rabbits, Coliseum Eight; 4-H Saddle Horse, North Ring.

k9 a.m.: Cattle: Jersey, Guernsey, South Cattle Arena.

k9:30 a.m.: Horses: Registered Mini, South Ring.

k10 a.m.: Draft horses: Hitch, East Ring.

k11 a.m.: 4-H Fashion Revue, Auditorium.

kNoon: 4-H Llama costume class, Coliseum Eight.

k12:30 p.m.: Sheep shearing demonstration, Sheep Barn.

k1:30 p.m.: Ponies: Haflinger, South Ring.

k3 p.m.: Supreme Champion Dairy, South Cattle Arena.

k4 p.m.: Junior Fair: Beef breeding projects, South Cattle Arena.

k5 p.m.: Cattle: Beef shorthorn, South Cattle Arena; 4-H Pocket Pet decorated cage, Barn No. 10.

k6 p.m.: Pony hitches , South Ring.

k7:30 p.m.: Dog agility demonstration, North Ring.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

Y-103 Day.

Grandstand attractions:

k8 p.m.: Hank Williams Jr. and George Jones.

Free daily happenings:

k8 a.m.: Catholic worship service, Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse.

k9:30 a.m.: Ecumenical worship service, Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse.

k11 a.m.: Worship service, International Stage.

k11 a.m.: Praise and worship service, Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse.

k1 p.m.: Dress-A-Cow contest, South Cattle Arena.

k1:45 p.m.: 4-H dairy cheese auction, South Cattle Arena.

Judging schedule:

k10 a.m.: Saddle Horse championships, North Ring.

kNoon: Dog demonstration, Coliseum Eight.

k12:30 p.m.: Sheep shearing demonstration, Sheep Barn.

k1 p.m.: Poultry: 4-H showmanship, Coliseum Eight; Ponies: Leadline, costume and hitch classes, South Ring; Junior Fair goat show, Coliseum Eight.

k3 p.m.: Pocket Pet breed, Coliseum Eight.

k3:30 p.m.: Wee Ones: Showmanship, South Cattle Arena.

k4 p.m.: Junior Fair/Farm Bureau “Ag in the Bag,” Pavilion near Junior Fair.

k6 p.m.: Junior Fair rabbit costume class, Coliseum Eight.

Monday, Sept. 7

K105 Day.

Grandstand attractions:

k8 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Draft horse pig iron derby.

kNoon: Harness racing.

Free daily happenings:

k9 a.m.: 4-H saddle horse show, north ring.

k9:30 a.m.: Rooster crowing contest, south ring.

Judging schedule:

k9 a.m.: Invitational dairy judging: 4-H, South Cattle Arena.

k10 a.m.: Junior Fair goat costume class, Coliseum Eight; Pocket Pets: 4-H showmanship, Coliseum Eight.

k10:30 a.m.: Junior Fair llama exhibition, Coliseum Eight.

k11 a.m.: Adult dairy showmanship, South Cattle arena.

k1 p.m.: Pony exhibitors show, South Ring; Market livestock Showman of Showmen, Coliseum Eight.

k5 p.m.: Dog demonstrations, Coliseum Eight.

Source: The Canfield Fair