Pumpkin breaks record

Pumpkin breaks record

The 170th Canfield Fair has a broken record.

During Wednesday’s fair board meeting, Craig Myers, head of farm products, granges and the pumpkin show, announced Jerry Snyder of Bessemer, Pa., broke the record for largest pumpkin with his 1,283-pound pumpkin. The record of a 1,277-pound pumpkin was made in 2010.

Alan Gibson of Salem took the reserve champion title with his 1,273.5-pound pumpkin.

A contestant from Michigan almost entered a 1,400-pound pumpkin, but a split in the bottom of the pumpkin sent him home with no prize.

Art projects on display

The Fine Arts building at the fairgrounds has new displays this year and, of course, more eye-catching art for fairgoers.

Last year, more than 2,000 people attending the Canfield Fair added their fingerprints to a picture for the Global Art Project for Peace.

The “Peace Soars” picture of two fingerprinted butterflies was sent to a school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In exchange, the school sent back an art project to promote peace.

Both projects are on display at the Fine Arts building on Austintown Drive.

The building also has a public art project to benefit Compass Family and Community Services. Fairgoers can add a piece of colorful duct tape to a chair that will later be auctioned off to benefit Compass.

A new category, Miniatures in Art, is also on display.

An apple a day, plus 25

George Houk, Canfield Fair photographer, has a fair memory to share.

Houk was a 13-year-old boy with a big appetite, and candy apples were what satisfied him.

Houk was in Junior Fair and always at the fairgrounds. He remembers eating not one or two candy apples, but 26 in one day.

“I had an appetite like a horse,” he said.

Houk has hundreds if not thousands of memories of the fair as the fair photographer for more than 20 years, but this one sticks out the most.

Rain sends ’em running

The fairgrounds were hit by a torrential downpour late Wednesday afternoon, sending visitors running into tents and under awnings.

The rain is expected to clear up in time for the opening of day two of the fair today. It’s supposed to be partly sunny, with a high near 76 today, according to the National Weather Service.

It’s her family’s tradition

When Pat Maiorca of Hubbard is asked how often she comes to the Canfield Fair, her answer is immediate.

“Every year,” she said.

Their visit includes the main attractions and, of course, “a lot of really good food.”

Maiorca has been coming here for 40 years, first with her kids, and now with her grandkids.

She doesn’t have a favorite memory, in particular, because they’re all special.

“This has just turned into a wonderful family tradition,” she said. “It’s just a wonderful experience for a family. I love it. I love being here.”

Weave in time for this

For the Youngstown Area Weavers’ Guild, this is its first year at the fair, but “certainly” not its last.

“We’re here demonstrating weaving techniques,” said Marty McCarthy of Struthers, standing behind an eight-harness table loom. The group hopes that fairgoers will stop by its spot in the arts and crafts building to check out their display, which features patterned Christmas cards.

Fairgoing friends

Longtime fairgoers – and friends – were spotted viewing the displays in the fine arts building.

Lynne Edwards of Liberty and Barbara Martin of Girard visited the fairgrounds together, bringing back memories of their many other visits together over the years.

“We’ve been friends since second grade,” said Edwards. “We used to come as teenagers and look for boys.”

“We never miss it,” said Martin. “It’s something we do every year.”