At fair’s scavenger hunt, I found more than just items on a list

September 2, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

CANFIELD

I’ll admit it.

Before I was assigned to cover the Canfield Fair as a reporter, I wasn’t an avid fairgoer.

I usually stopped by one night each year to grab some food, hop on a ride or two and visit the animals (and then maybe grab some more food).

Don’t get me wrong, I had fun at the fair – but by no means was I in the class of Mahoning Valley natives who pride themselves on the countless fairgoing hours they’ve racked up over the years.

That all changed last year when I was assigned to cover the fair for five days; I’m back this year doing the same thing, and my appreciation of this place has blossomed.

I decided to get to know the fairgrounds even better Thursday by participating in a fairgrounds scavenger hunt created by dedicated fair fans Jim Davis and Mike McAndrew.

“I worked at the fair from the mid-’80s to 2000 in the sound department. It’s been in my blood since, not missing a day [then],” said McAndrew. “I’ve made a lot of friends and have met so many through the years. [With] the selfie factor of this game and the social media aspect, anyone who plays will create a special moment, and at some point, a cherished memory of theirs.”

The idea came about after McAndrew developed a following of former Valley residents who enjoyed his annual posts about the fair. Davis urged him to turn it into a game.

“The idea of it was to encourage people not only to visit the Canfield Fair, but to maybe step outside of their comfort zone,” said Davis, who is an Austintown Township trustee. “This encourages you to see different parts of the fair.”

Here’s how it works: Davis and McAndrew post photos of items to find around the fairgrounds, and players must take pictures of themselves with the item and post it in the comments section. There’s one caveat: Don’t give away the locations!

So, with those rules in mind, I hit the pavement Thursday. I gave myself one hour, with the goal of finding 10 items.

To put my lack of ambition into perspective, the Facebook page had 80 items posted, as of this writing.

My first find was an ornate-looking clock, which was “sitting in plain sight.” Don’t worry, I won’t tell where it was sitting – you’ll have to do the scavenger hunt yourself to find out.

Next, I set out to find a cloverleaf emblem, armed with this clue: “Look high, look low, to find this one – it’s a 4-H thing.”

I eventually found it, but only with the help of not one, not two, but three very helpful people who clearly knew much more than me. Full disclosure: My hunt would have been an utter failure without the help of the fairgoers and workers who pointed me in the right direction. Thanks, guys!

Next up was a metal sculpture of a face. The clue was: “You are in great company when you’re feeling blue,” a reference to the face’s unusual hue.

I’m proud to say that I found the rest of my items on my own. I headed straight to where I thought I might find where “a tall glass of fresh milk hits the spot from these special cows.”

If you’re like me, you might be wondering, “But what about all the fair food?!”

Fear not. My next stop was a lemon-shake stand, where I chatted with Jenna Chance, the 19-year-old granddaughter of concession stand owner Judy Black.

Jenna had no idea that her hand-painted lemon sign was included in a scavenger hunt, but was more than happy to tell me about her love for the fair.

“It’s tiring, but it’s fun. I love it. I’ve actually been out here my entire life,” she said.

After that, I stumbled upon another scavenger hunt item: the Ohio historical marker for the fair. Here’s a fun fact that I learned: the fair and Mahoning County share a birthday, having both been created in 1846.

Then, yet another clue popped out at me.

“While reading the local newspaper, walk across the street and these Gingerbread friends are who’ll you meet.”

How could I not follow up on a clue that refers to The Vindicator?

So, I stopped by and asked if anyone working there knew the meaning of the cut-out figures posted above the stand.

To my surprise, concessions worker Emily Campbell of Boardman was able to give me a full history. The five gingerbread men represent each of the owner’s children.

By that time, I had logged an hour and a half and 2.5 miles. Walking around the fairgrounds all morning – under blue, sunny skies and in crisp air with the faintest hint of autumn – I often found myself smiling during a few “special moments” of my own, just like the scavenger hunt’s creators envisioned.

I walked through just about every part of the fairgrounds and saw things I’d never seen before – and wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

If you’re visiting the fair this week, I recommend you check out the scavenger hunt here: www.facebook.com/CFScavengerHunt/.

I tracked down only seven items on the list, but I found much more.