Fairgoers go to great lengths for chance to see vice president

Staff report

CANFIELD

Two lifelong Democrats were ready and waiting for Vice President Joe Biden more than one hour before his arrival at the Canfield Fair.

Pins with “Joe My Man” proudly displayed on their outfits, Barbara Hallwood, 82, and Kathy D’Amico, 71, waited patiently Thursday for Biden to arrive at the Mahoning County Democratic Party booth at the fair.

“We believe in them,” D’Amico said of Democrats. “We want to see them in office. We want to see them bring forth their policies. We want to see them lead the country forward.”

Biden arrived at the fair about 2:15 p.m. after he spoke at the United Auto Workers Local 1714 hall in Lordstown. With a barricade of Secret Service and security personnel surrounding him, Biden walked around the crowd of fairgoers who were eagerly awaiting the chance to shake hands and take selfies with the vice president. He came to the Mahoning Valley in support of fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency.

Many had their Clinton signs in hand when Biden arrived.

“They stand for the middle-class people,” D’Amico said of Democrat leaders. “They always have. Our dad was a steelworker way back in the early 1930s.”

Some Donald Trump supporters came to show off their signage, too. Several waved “Make America Great Again” signs, and some fairgoers excitedly speculated that it was Republican presidential hopeful Trump who was arriving at the fair.

It was exciting for both D’Amico and Hallwood to see Biden come to enjoy the fair – an event they’ve enjoyed since they were young girls.

“We grew up at the fair,” Hallwood said.

When Beverly Miller, 65, heard Biden was coming to the fair, she left her husband, Frank, with their cattle and ran down to the Democratic Party booth.

“I am here because I care about America and I support Hillary Clinton,” Miller said.

Frank eventually joined Beverly, and both stood close to the booth to wait for a chance to see and maybe meet Biden.

“It’s important that he cares about our community,” Miller said. “He’s making an effort to come and see what we stand for. The fair’s part of the heritage [here].”

Also excited to meet Biden was a 4-H member from Youngstown. An adult chaperone called out to the vice president to say that the child was crying because he hadn’t gotten to him.

Luckily, Biden heard her and made sure to shake hands with the boy. As people in the crowd talked to him about 4-H, he expressed support for the organization, noting his involvement with 4-H members in his home state of Delaware.

The Canfield Fair has a long history of high-profile visitors, including at least one previous visit by Biden himself.

These visitors are always welcome, fair board president Andy Frost Jr. said.

“It’s cool. [Biden] was here a couple years ago, and we’re happy to have him,” Frost said. “We welcome him.”

Biden also took a taste of what the fair has to offer with an Antone’s meal.

Biden ordered meatball and spaghetti covered in cheese from the Antone’s stand. He spent about 10 minutes inside a tent eating with former Gov. Ted Strickland, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, and Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras.

“It was exciting,” said Kelsey Vincent of Warren, who helped Biden with his order at Antone’s. “I was not expecting that. It gave me a little rush in my chest. It was pretty amazing.”