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Temperatures make fairgoers hot for concessions
The Vindicator ( Youngstown)
Photo
Maureen Baker, 7, left, and her sister Mary, 5, of Canfield share some shade and ice cream in an effort to keep cool Friday during the third day of the 165th Canfield Fair. Temperatures were expected to rise above 90 degrees today with high humidity.
The Vindicator ( Youngstown)
Photo
Irene Hornyak shows off one of the popular items to help folks keep cool on a hot, late-summer day at the fair.
FAIR SCHEDULE
For today
Gates open at 8 a.m.
Draft Pony Pig Iron Derby: Grandstand, 8 a.m.
Harness Racing: Grandstand, noon.
Meet a Race Horse: South of the Grandstand, 10 a.m.
Canfield Fair Championship Truck & Tractor Pull: Grandstand, 7 p.m.
Judging Schedule
Junior Fair Rabbits: Coliseum 8, 8 a.m.
Saddle Horse, 4-H: North Ring, 8 a.m.
Guernsey and Jersey Cattle: South Cattle Complex, 9 a.m.
Registered Mini Horse: South Ring, 9 a.m.
Draft Horse, Hitch: East Ring, 10 a.m.
Fashion Revue 4-H: Building 25 Auditorium, 11 a.m.
Junior Fair Llama Costume Class: Coliseum 8, noon.
Sheep Shearing Demonstration: Sheep Barn 36, 12:30 p.m.
Supreme Champion Dairy: South Cattle Complex, 3 p.m.
Junior Fair Beef Breeding Projects: South Cattle Complex, 4 p.m.
Beef Shorthorn Cattle: South Cattle Complex, 5 p.m.
Pocket Pet Decorated Cage: Barn 10, 5 p.m.
Pony Hitches: South Ring, 5 p.m.
Dog Agility Demonstration: North Ring, 7:30 p.m.
By Elise Franco
Canfield
Business was steady at lemon shake and shaved ice stands throughout the Canfield Fairgrounds on Friday.
Friday’s high was 93 degrees, and today’s forecast is more of the same, according to the National Weather Service.
It may seem impossible to stay cool in such high temperatures, but fairgoers did their best.
Barb Brandon of Salem and her two granddaughters, Maureen, 7, and Mary Baker, 5, of Canfield, sat on a shaded park bench early Friday afternoon and shared a bowl of ice cream.
Brandon said the heat was too much for her, but the girls were staying with other family members and planned to go on some rides later in the day.
Amanda Fidram of Boardman stopped for some shaved ice with several members of her family.
“We’re staying cool with lemon shakes and shaved ice,” she said. “We plan to spend the whole day out here.”
Fidram said possible rain over the weekend prompted her to bring the family out today, and the heat won’t stop them from enjoying themselves.
“I’m excited to be out here,” she said. “The whole family is coming.”
Chris Owen and Susan Baker, of Shirlee Kaye Concessions, said their lemon shake stand’s business began picking up Thursday afternoon, when temperatures peaked at 89.
“A lot more of the larges are selling instead of the smalls,” she said. “I think part of that is definitely because of the heat. It’s more of a thirst-quencher than pop is.”
Andy Frost, fair board member and Austintown fire chief, said the most important thing fairgoers can do on a hot, sunny day is hydrate.
“People tend to dehydrate in this weather,” he said. “You’ve got to get good, clear liquid in you, not pop — that’s the key thing.”
Frost said the Red Cross station, next to the grandstand, usually sees an increase in heat-related cases on days like today. Because of the heat, Frost said four medical carts — instead of three — would be making rounds on the grounds.
People who don’t walk great distances or have medical conditions that can be hindered by hot weather might consider avoiding the afternoon heat, he said.
“It may just be better for them to wait until evening when it’s a bit cooler,” he said.
Frost said those who need medical assistance should stop by the Red Cross building or dial 911, the same as if they were having an emergency at home.
“Be ready to tell us what’s wrong and where you are,” he said. “We’ll have someone there within three minutes.”