Month: July 2018

Showcasing the region’s best amateur talent on the stage. From singing to dancing or playing an instrument… we’re looking to see who’s got talent!

 

The Erie County Talent Show returns to the Tops Friendly Markets Avenue of Flag Stage. This is a free contest with all contestants receiving free admission into the Fair.

 

Both mini & maxi divisions will take place on Thursday, August 9th. Registration for both mini/maxi divisions begins at 10:30am with the mini division beginning at 11am. The Maxi division will begin following the conclusion of the mini program.

 

All applications must be received by Monday, August 6^th. For rules, regulations and a downloadable application visit: https://bit.ly/2mhOQsa

Are you or someone you know deserving of the title of the greatest “Fair Fan” in Western New York? The Erie County Fair is now accepting nominations for someone to be named the 2018 Ultimate Fairgoer.

 

Established in 2005, the Erie County Fair’s Ultimate Fairgoer honor is bestowed each year on an individual who lives and breathes the Erie County Fair all year long. The chosen candidate is not only passionate and enthusiastic about the Fair but actively promotes and shares their love with family, friends and the community.

 

Nomination forms are currently available on the Fair’s website, https://bit.ly/2KFqHKE,  must be submitted by Friday, July 27^th. Nominations must include a short essay as to why the candidate, above everyone else, deserves the title of “Ultimate Fairgoer.” Past winning nominations have included photos, references, news clippings or collateral materials that provide further background. Management and staff of the Erie County Agricultural Society and/or the Erie County Fair are not eligible.

 

The 2018 Erie County Fair Ultimate Fairgoer will be officially announced during a ceremony outside of the Fair’s McKinley Gate on Opening Day, Wednesday August 8^th at 11:30am.

 

 

The 2018 Erie County Fair Sire Stakes County Fair Races will be dedicated to the memory of longtime Erie County Agricultural Society Board Member Frank A. Newton who passed away just day before the opening of last year’s Erie County Fair. The race will take place at the historic “Hamburg Oval” on Friday, July 20^th at 1pm and is free and open to the public. The New York Sire Stakes promote the breeding, buying, and racing of Standard bred horses in New York State, and are administered by the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

 

The Erie County Fair Race is part of a series of non-pari-mutuel betting harness races hosted at county fairs across New York State. The races are open to eligible two and three-year-old New York Standard breds and are separated into eight divisions based on age and gait. The start of the race is the first official event of the 179^th Erie County Fair that opens its gates on Wednesday, August 8^th.

 

Harness racing at the Erie County Fair is a tradition that dates back to the 1850s when the Fair was held at various racetracks across the County. Racing at the “Hamburg  Oval” predates the Erie County Fair’s move to its current location at the Hamburg Fairgrounds as the site was originally home to the Hamburg Driving Grounds.

 

Mr. Frank E. Newton of Orchard Park passed away on August 2^nd, 2017. Newton served the Erie County Agricultural Society for over 55 years. Following in the footsteps of his father J. C. Newton, Frank joined the Erie County Agricultural Society in 1962. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1965 and served as Society President during the 1974-1975 season. He took Director Emeritus status in 2012 and continued to serve the Society. Newton took great pride in his affiliation with the Fair and attended the 2017 pre-Fair meeting just days before his death. Newton was 93 at the time of his death.

 

 

Time is running out to submit your Competitive Exhibit entries for the 179^th Erie County Fair. All online submissions, via the Fair’s website, must be received by Friday, July 20^th.

 

Annually the Erie County Fair offers a chance to show off our region’s creativity in a variety of exhibits from wine making, fine arts, conservation, woodworking and agriculture just to name a few. More than 12,500 entries in 8,985 classes are processed each year for a chance to win cash prizes, but more importantly, the bragging rights that’s associated with taking home a championship ribbon.

 

The Erie County Fair welcomes public participation as most competitions have no residency requirement. Only the Fair’s “Home Wine,”  “Home Brew” and “Conservation” categories are restricted to residents of New York State.  Children as young as 5 years of age are encouraged to take part in Junior Creative Arts submissions that include Lego building block sculptures, handmade jewelry and doll making.

 

Entry information that includes terms/conditions and class listings are available exclusively online at the Erie County Fair’s website (www.ECFair.org). Questions regarding the Fair’s Competitive Exhibits may be directed to Entries@ECFair.org or at (716) 649-3900 x6407.

 

The deadline to submit livestock entries for the 179th Erie County Fair is quickly approaching. All online submission, via the Fair’s website (www.ecfair.org), must be received by July 20^th. Early entries are available for the following: ABGA meat goats, ADGA dairy goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine. All Departments, except for poultry and rabbits, accept late entries for a higher fee and pending space.

 

The Agriculture Department at the Erie County Fair is excited to welcome exhibitors and spectators from all over the state of New York and surrounding states. Open Class Livestock Shows are open to exhibitors of all ages from the US and Canada. The official judges for the 2018 Erie County Fair are as follows:

 

 

ABGA Meat Goat Show #1 – Mr. Phil Myers of South Viena, OH

ABGA Meat Goat Show #2- Mr. Cooper Bounds of Thorntown, IN

ADGA Dairy Goats – Mr. Edward Cavanagh of Toledo, ON

Beef Cattle – Mr. Marcus Arnold of Ankeny, IA

Holsteins & Red & White Dairy Cattle – Mr. Brian Carscadden of Guelph, ON

Rotation #1 Dairy Cattle Showmanship – Mr. Joe Nash of Lyndonville, NY

Colorbreed Dairy Cattle Ring #1 – Ms. Molly Sloan of Columbus, WI

Colorbreed Dairy Cattle Ring #2 – Mr. Steve Wagner of Richford, VT

Rotation #2 Dairy Cattle Showmanship – Mr. Tyler Reynolds of Corfu, NY

Llamas – Mr. Harvey Pool of Abbeville, GA

Poultry – Mr. Clell Agler of Grove City, OH

Rabbits – Mr. David Cardinal of Waupaca, WI

Sheep – Ms. Kenzie Kretzmeier of El Dorado, KS

Swine – Ms. McKenna Cech of Brookings, SD

 

 

Entry information that includes terms/conditions and class listings are available exclusively online at the Erie County Fair’s website (www.ECFair.org). Questions regarding the Fair’s livestock entries may be directed to Entries@ECFair.org or at (716) 649-3900 x6407.

 

Introducing “Cyrk LIVE!” Included With Your Paid Admission To The Fair!  

 

Audiences at the 179th Erie County Fair this August will be amazed and dazzled by a collection of international circus performers in the all new “Cyrk LIVE!” show to debut at the Fair on August 8th. “Cyrk LIVE!,” a  custom produced show created especially for the Erie County Fair,  will feature cycling stars, amazing aerial artists, eccentric jugglers, comedy and more. The family-friendly, single ring spectacular will take place under a colorful European-style big top tent that will host three shows on weekdays and four shows on weekend dates.

 

John Kennedy Kane has been selected and named “Ringmaster” for “Cyrk LIVE!” following his recent, four-year run as the ringmaster of the world famous Big Apple Circus in New York City.   A Western New York native, raised in South Buffalo, Kane has traveled North America as a professional circus host for more than 35 years. In 1995, he earned Gold Medal honors at the Sarasota International Circus Festival for his ringmaster talents.  With his congenial style and charm, he will host a glittering galaxy of circus stars including:

 

The McIntyre Family – Hailing from Chile, and representing 5 generations of circus excellence, this multi-talented group of acrobats present spine-tingling performances on the treacherous high wire, amazing unicycling artistry and hula hoop manipulation.

 

The Anastasini Family – 9th generation artists from Italy will offer their comedy canine revue.  These four-footed friends, many of which are rescue dogs, will delight and captivate “children of all ages”.  The trio will also present their signature unique diablo juggling and bounding rope acrobatics.

 

From the Czech Republic, the world renowned Bertini Family is represented by Vlastek and Kim Sue Bertini. She performs high in the dome of the big top on the spinning aerial lyra. Vlastek will amaze and amuse by leaps and bounds as “Roger” on the trampoline…always a family favorite with his comedy acrobatics.

 

Also featured, as a separate show, will be the return of the Extreme Chinese Acrobats! Performing under the “big top” will allow for even higher stunts not seen at the Fair in past years. Voted one of the all-time favorites of the Erie County Fair, this talented troupe of artists will present a celebration of color and excitement featuring dancing, balancing, and incredible acrobatics. The Extreme Chinese Acrobats, who start training at an early age, perform amazing feats of skill unlike any other traveling show. Audiences will have the opportunity to experience this all new performance during three shows daily and four shows on weekend days.

 

“Cyrk LIVE!” and the NEW Extreme Chinese Acrobat performances are free of charge with admission to the fair and will take place in a state of the art, circular tented coliseum manufactured in Italy. The structure will be 40 feet high and can accommodate up to 800 people per performance. The tent will be located near Fairgrounds Entry Gate 5.

 

“Cyrk LIVE!” is supported by Mattress Firm and Nick Charlap’s Ice Cream,

 

About the Erie County Fair

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York.  The 179th Erie County Fair will be held August 8th – 19th, 2018 (www.ECFair.org)