43
Successful 169th Canfield Fair draws crowds to a close
Officials pleased with 169th exhibition
CANFIELD
Despite sweltering heat, crowds turned out in big numbers for the 169th Canfield Fair, which came to a close Monday.
The fair was on track to top, or at least match, last year’s attendance numbers. Total attendance, not including Monday, was 244,008 people – up from 233,937 at that time last year.
“The fair went very, very well. It was a little too warm for some people, but the dry weather made it easier to move in and move out,” said Craig Myers, fair board president.
“It’s been what we consider a successful fair,” he said.
The highlight of the week, Myers believes, was the MercyMe concert Sunday night. Fair officials say they received overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who attended the show – part of Faith and Family Day – that drew a crowd of 6,000-plus people.
The grandstand also drew crowds for the Happy Together Tour and The Band Perry concerts, the World’s Largest Demolition Derby, the Truck & Tractor Pull, pig iron derbies and harness racing.
Whatever their reason for being at the fairgrounds, many visitors shared a common theme: They come every year. It’s tradition.
Julie Phillis, 18, of Salem is one of them.
Phillis – whose family owns Phillisways Farms – was out at the fair each morning working with the dairy cows. On Monday, she helped out at a stand where visitors can milk a cow.
“[I’ve been] waking up at five in the morning, washing cows, being tired all day,” she said. “But it’s fun. It’s exhausting, but I’m glad I come every year.”
David Clouser, of Polk, who owns a sheep farm, has attended the Canfield Fair for years. He leads sheep-shearing demonstrations.
“It’s the best fair around. It’s the best fair in the state, honestly,” said Clouser, saying he goes to 10 or 12 fairs every year.
John Pridon, of Boardman, also is a yearly fairgoer. He eats the same thing every year: a sausage sandwich, french fries and an apple dumpling from Rutana’s.
He was out at the fairgrounds Monday with his girlfriend, Kellie Valentine; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Ross Morrone; and the Morrones’ toddler, Ava.
The family comes each year for “the good food and the animals,” said Stephanie, as she watched Ava reaching out from her dad’s arms to touch a pony.
Sandy Kunzer of Struthers also comes every year. She was at the fair all day Monday with her nieces, Amira and Melika West, 6 and 7.
The trio sat on a shady bench where they took a break to enjoy elephant ears and ice cream.
“We’ve been eating everything,” said Kunzer. Amira sat beside her, covered in powdered sugar, while Melika contentedly licked her ice cream.
It’s those kinds of moments that make the Canfield Fair special, Myers said.
“You see people in the midway hugging. ... You see children forming fair romances before school starts,” he said. “It just kind of renews your faith in mankind, that there are good people – and they come to the county fair.”