I recently visited the Wyoming County Fair in Pike, New York and spent a few minutes walking through the historical exhibits. I always find the farming equipment from days-gone-by of interest. Early household and commercial items are on display as well. I suppose that interest is why I’ve accumulated a number of everyday items from earlier eras. Homemade bootjacks to yarn winders, to a full-size loom are a few of the things that have found their way to our home.
There were scheduled antique tractor shows to come later in the week. I don’t have one of those, nor am I looking for one!
What strikes me about the “Pike Fair” is that, in many respects, while there has been technological improvement in farming, it continues to be a down-to-earth life, if you will pardon the pun. There’s pride in being a farmer. And many of the teens in attendance seem as if they plan on being the next generation to run “their” farm.
If there are bluejeans with rips and tears being worn, it’s probably from use, not a pre-torn fashion statement.
In and around the barns young people handle their livestock chores. Primping a calf for showing. An adult mentor near-by to assure that a young lady safely takes charge of a calf that is reluctant to make a trip around the ring.
What struck me is that I could easily imagine the same scene taking place 100 years ago. And the folks who organize the fair have been successful in keeping it a family event. There’s no admission charge. And families can choose to bring a “basket” lunch or dinner should they so desire. It IS a country fair.
A couple of notes I made to myself: Farmers have often been experts at “make-do” devices. The things that end up as “what is it?” discussions. I noticed some youngsters with umbrellas sitting along the parade route. Recognizable for rain, but why along the parade route on a sunny evening? Simply, open and upside down they worked well to capture candy being tossed from the floats.
And back to the intersection of then and now, I had admired the horse brasses on a team pulling a small wagon. Later that evening, after the parade, that rig came down a hill at a blind intersection in the field/parking lot. Fortunately my brakes date to 2020, not 1920 and no harm was done!
