43
165th Canfield Fair officially opens with honors, memorials
See also: Crafters come to the rescue
CANFIELD
As the Canfield Fair officially opened Thursday, the rain halted and the sun broke through the clouds – a stark contrast to the storms rolling through just a few hours earlier.
“It’s perfect,” said George Roman, fair board member and emcee of opening ceremonies.
The ribbon-cutting was Thursday, even though the fair opened to the public Wednesday. It’s a tradition that started when the fair was a five-day event that opened the Thursday before Labor Day. When it was extended to six days, the ceremony remained on Thursday.
Roman and the fair board honored several long-time fair supporters who died in the last year: Homer Miller, who worked the grounds; Bill Kish, who played an instrumental role in the Western Reserve Historic Village; and Mike Doran, who helped at the antique farm equipment exhibit.
Cardinal Joint Fire District Chief Robert J. Tieche was recognized before opening ceremonies. Tieche, 63, died in May, having served more than 20 years as fire chief. A plaque was installed in his honor near the fair’s fire department.
“Chief Tieche was a dedicated supporter of this event,” Roman said.
Also honored was Kim Bates, of Bates Amusements, which has provided the fair rides since 1984. John P. Brown III, representing the Veterans of Mahoning County, presented the United Veterans Council’s Citizen of the Year award to fair manager Bev Fisher.
Recording artist Sarah Turner of Boardman sang the national anthem before she returns to Nashville.
“It’s cool and exciting” to sing in local venues, she said. “And there’s something very special about the Canfield Fair.”
Fair board President Jim Brown spoke of the fair’s “special role” of teaching lessons.
“I think of my family and the great preparation the fair gave me for life,” Brown said.
Brown added that there’s nothing quite like experiencing the fair: the scent of corn dogs, the call of midway showman, and the sight of cotton candy stuck to a child’s face.
“Enjoy yourself,” he told fairgoers. “It’s Canfield Fair fever; let’s catch it.”