Category: Uncategorized

 

Bringing together the region’s farming community and the services necessary for daily operations is the goal of the 9^th Annual Western New York Farm Show, January 31- February 2, 2019 at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York. The exposition is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society.

 

 

The Western New York Farm Show strives to educate farmers from around the region about the latest cutting-edge agricultural products and technology. Vendors include feed, seed, and equipment dealers, farm service providers, and non-for-profits that specialize in agriculture education, promotion, and advancement. Industry professionals will lead seminars daily covering a variety of topics and show goers will have an opportunity to earn spray credits during pesticide recertification classes. New for 2019 will be a Farmer’s Bazaar showcasing local, homemade and regionally grown products. The show will also feature a number of spectator and participant driven competitions.

 

 

The inaugural WNY Farm Show Lumberjack Classic on Saturday, February 2^nd at 10am will pit some of the best timbersport competitors in the nation against each other for cash prizes. During this free event, spectators will be able to see competitors chop and saw their way through a series of events that include “Jack and Jill Crosscut,”  “Open Springboard,” and “Open Axe Throw.”

 

 

High School students and “real world” mechanics (18-21 years of age) will be able to show off their skills during the NAPA Auto Parts Mechanics Competition Friday, February 1^st. The 4^th Annual Farmer Elite Toss Hay Bale Throwing Competition sponsored by Cintas will take place each day of the show inside the Agriculture Discovery Center.  A “pee wee” toss featuring competitors 12 & under will take place daily before the adult competition. A children’s pedal tractor race will take place on Saturday, February 2^nd at 11am.  The ADMAR Skid Steer Rodeo, scheduled for Noon each day of the show, will time the fastest drivers as they navigate an obstacle course and compete against the clock.

 

 

Free and open to the public, the WNY Farm Show will be held inside two heated buildings on the Fairgrounds. Show times are: Thursday, January 31^st, 10:00am-4:00pm; Friday, February 1^st, 10:00am-4:00pm; Saturday, February 2^rd, 9:00am-3:00pm. For more information or to register for any of the open competitions, visit WNYFarmShow.com , email wnyfarmshow@ecfair.org or call 716-649-3900 ext. 6488.

 

 

The Erie County Fairgrounds is located in Hamburg, New York easily accessible by the New York State Thruway (I-90) off exit 56. The grounds are located just 20 minutes south of Buffalo. For GPS users, use the address 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg, New York 14075.

 

 

About the Erie County Agricultural Society

 

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 WNY Farm Show and Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. (www.ECFair.org)

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Jessica Underberg, CEO & Fair Manager of the Erie County Agricultural Society, was recently elected as the 2019 Chair of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE). The appointment took place during the IAFE Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX. During the course of the year Underberg will be the spokesperson for the fair industry visiting and speaking at fairs and events across North America. Underberg becomes only the second representative from Western New York to hold this international position following the election of former Erie County Fair Manager Paul Laing to Chair in 1990.

 

 

In 2017, Jessica was appointed as Chief Executive Officer & Fair Manager of the Erie County Fair. Her current responsibilities include all aspects of the 12-month operations of the 270-acre Erie County Fairgrounds. She leads activities related to the annual Erie County Fair, all non-fair events and oversees 50 full-time, 15 part-time and over 750 seasonal employees.

 

 

Her involvement in the Erie County Fair began in 1985 while participating in various exhibits in the Fair’s Youth Development Building. Underberg began working for the ECAS in 1996 when she began working part-time in the Fair’s Administrative Office. Following graduation from Canisius College in 1998, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Sciences, she joined the Society full-time. In 2000 she was named the Fair’s Agriculture and Competitive Exhibits Manager.

 

 

During Underberg’s tenure as Agricultural Manager, she drew deep into her own agriculture background having grown up on a family dairy farm in nearby Collins, New York. In 1999 she created the Fair’s AgSperience exhibit to bring fairgoers closer to farmers, their animals and crops. The success of this program resulted to the development and construction of the Agricultural Discovery Center in 2014. In 2010 she created the award winning Farm 2 Table educational program with the goal to teach students about the importance of agriculture in their lives, reinforce healthy nutrition and to engage their natural curiosity through a multimodal approach.

 

 

She actively participates in a network of professionals among national and international fair associations. In 2007, Jessica earned her Certified Fair Executive status from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). She has served on various IAFE committees and has been elected to numerous leadership posts including being the IAFE’s Board of Directors Zone 1 Representative from 2014 to 2016. In 2008 Underberg was on a team that helped develop the IAFE’s Young Professionals Initiative as a way to encourage a new generation of leadership among fairs across the world.

 

 

She is a member of the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs where she served as the organization’s President in 2010-2011 and was on the Board of Directors of the Cornell Cooperative Extension from 2009 to 2011. She represented the Erie County Fair at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s conferences in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2010 and Brisbane, Australia in 2014. She is a member of Buffalo’s Business First “40 under 40” class of 2014.

 

 

Underberg resides in Springville, New York with her husband Mark and her two daughters Lilly and Ella.

 

 

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 2019 Erie County Fair is scheduled for August 7^th -18^th. (www.ECFair.org).

 

 

About the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE)

 

Based in Springfield, Mo., the IAFE is a nonprofit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of fairs, shows, expositions, and allied fields. The IAFE was founded in 1885 with a half dozen fairs as members. Today, over 2,500 fairs, festivals, expositions and suppliers in the United States and internationally, are members of IAFE.

 

A ranking of top fairs and exhibitions has named the Erie County Fair the largest county fair east of the Rocky Mountains, the 4^th largest county fair in the United States and 13^th largest fair overall in North America in 2018. The ranking of fairs, based on attendance, is published annually by CarnivalWarehouse.com. The “Top 50 Fair” list includes all county and state fairs, exhibitions and rodeo shows in the United States and Canada.

 

#1 San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, CA                               1,561,236        31 days

#2 Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA                             1,470,636        31 days

#3 Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona, CA                         1,251,209        24 days

#4 ERIE COUNTY FAIR, HAMBURG, NY                           1,198,789        12 days

 

 

“This ranking is something that the entire Buffalo-Niagara region can take pride in accomplishing,” said Marty Biniasz, Erie County Fair Marketing Manager. “When looking at the ranking, you need to consider that the Erie County Fair out draws most state fairs in the United States. The west coast county fairs that rank above us benefit from a much longer operating run and are located in top 10 US population markets.”

 

 

In 2018, the “Best 12 Days of Summer” in Western New York State concluded with a final attendance of 1,198,789.  This is a .46% increase from 2017 and was the second highest attended Fair in the Erie County Fair’s history. The all-time record was achieved in 2014 with 1,220,101.

 

 

The following is CarnivalWarehouse.com’s 2018 Top 25 Fairs:

 

#1          Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Houston, TX – 2,408,550

#2          Texas State Fair, Dallas, TX – 2,049,118

#3          Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN – 2,046,533

#4          San Antonio Livestock Show, San Antonio, TX – 1,900,000

#5          San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, CA – 1,561,236

#6          Eastern State Exhibition, Springfield, MA – 1,543,470

#7          Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA – 1,470,636

#8          Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, ON – 1,400,000

#9          Great New York State, Syracuse, NY – 1,279,010

#10        Calgary Stampede, Calgary, ALB – 1,271,241

#11        Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona, CA –  1,251,209

#12        Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Fort Worth, TX – 1,214,000

#13        ERIE COUNTY FAIR, HAMBURG, NY – 1,198,789

#14        Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, IA – 1,130,260

#15        Arizona State Fair, Phoenix, AZ – 1,107,696

#16        Washington State Fair, Puyallup, WA – 1,100,000

#17        Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis, WI – 1,037,982

#18        Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa, OK  – 1,025,000

#19        North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh, NC – 977,256

#20        Ohio State Fair, Columbus, OH – 908,306

#21        Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, IN – 860,131

#22        Oklahoma State Fair, Oklahoma City, OK – 850,000

#23        K Days, Edmonton, ALB –  808,009

#24        National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO – 705,574

#25        Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, BC – 705,381

 

 

See complete list at: http://carnivalwarehouse.com/files/top50/2018list.pdf

 

The Erie County Fair was recognized internationally with seven first place awards in a recent competition sponsored by International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). A total of 25 awards were received. The Erie County Fair competed in a divisional class that consisted of fairs with attendance of over one million, which puts the Erie County Fair in the same class as many of the largest state fairs. The Erie County Fair won awards in the following categories:

 

 

AGRICULTURAL AWARDS

1^st Place – Innovative Ways To Use Technology (QR Codes in Urban Farming)

1^st Place – Agriculture Education Photo

2^nd Place – Non-fair related agriculture event (Adult Ag-Education programs)

2^nd Place – Livestock

2^nd Place – Agricultural program area beautification (Urban Farming Trail)

 

 

HALL OF HONOR COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS

1^st Place – Overall Marketing Campaign

1^st Place – Website

1^st Place – Marketing/Promotional Display Piece (Erie County Fair Beer)

1^st Place – Promotional Advertising Poster

2^nd Place – Newspaper Ad: Black & White

2^nd Place – Electronic Newsletter

2^nd Place – Web Advertisement

3^rd Place – Single Brochure/Flyer

3^rd Place – Use of Technology (Fair Day Live television show)

3^rd Place – Promotional Event (New Food Showdown Celebrity Judging)

 

 

COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS AWARDS

1^st Place – Off Season Non-Animal Contest (Hay Bale Throwing Competition)

2^nd Place – Display Method or Prop (Divider Wall Made of Pallets Used)

2^nd Place – Single Photo of a Display

2^nd Place – Display Photo Series

3^rd Place – Single Photo of a General Display, Non-Animals

3^rd Place – New Single Class of Non-Animal Competitive Exhibits

3^rd Place – General Display Photo Series

 

 

INNOVATION IN SPONSORSHIP AWARD

3^rd Place – Sponsorship Innovation (General Welding/WNY Snow Gauge)

3^rd Place – First Time Sponsorship (Lake Shore Savings Bank/Charging Stations)

3^rd Place – Sponsorship Continuity (Made In America/Daily Flag Retreat Ceremony)

 

 

The awards were presented at the IAFE Convention in San Antonio, Texas that was held November 25-28, 2018. Over 2,500 fairs, festivals, expositions and suppliers in the United States and internationally, are members of IAFE.

 

The Erie County Fair was recognized internationally with the “Best Overall Marketing Campaign” award at the 127th Annual Convention of International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) held in San Antonio, Texas. This is the first time in the Fair’s 179 year history that it has won the top marketing award in North America.

 

 

The Fair received the award for its 2018 advertising campaign titled, “Best 12 Days of Summer.” The judged campaign included all advertising elements including poster graphics, brochures, outdoor, television, radio, print display advertising, digital media, use of social media, website, merchandise and related promotional materials. The Erie County Fair competed in “Division 5” of the IAFE’s Hall of Honor Communication Awards which represents fairs with attendance of one million or more.

 

 

“The primary goal of the “Best 12 Days of Summer” campaign was to equate the Erie County Fair with all that’s good about summer in Western New York State,” said Jessica Underberg, Fair CEO. “ Not only is the Fair “The Best 12 Days of Summer,” but the strategy communicated that the “best” food, entertainment, animals, rides and family fun could be found at the Erie County Fair.”

 

 

In addition to the “Best Overall Marketing Campaign” recognition, the Erie County Fair’s marketing team received three “1^st place” awards for excellence in “Best Promotional/Advertising Poster,” “Best Website,” and “Best Marketing Promotional Display or Piece.” The “Best Marketing Promotional Display or Piece” was won for the Fair’s Erie County Fair Beer project that was brewed and bottled locally by Flying Bison Brewery and sold through Try-It Distributing.

 

 

The Erie County Fair partnered with Buffalo’s Wynne Creative Group, a nationally recognized marketing and branding firm, to develop the 2018 campaign. Wynne Creative Group has served the Erie County Fair since 2003. Wynne Creative Group specializes in design, brand development and advertising. Website design and support was provided by Saffire.

 

 

About the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE)

 

Based in Springfield, Mo., the IAFE is a nonprofit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of fairs, shows, expositions, and allied fields. The IAFE was founded in 1885 with a half dozen fairs as members. Today, over 2,500 fairs, festivals, expositions and suppliers in the United States and internationally, are members of IAFE.

 

About Wynne Creative Group

 

A nationally recognized firm headquartered in downtown Buffalo, NY. Founded in 2002, the group specializes in design, advertising, publications and brand development. The firm provides communication and marketing solutions to local, national and global businesses. Their industry experience includes hospitality, financial services, food and beverage, medical services and not-for-profits. (www.wynnecreative.com)

 

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 2019 Erie County Fair is scheduled for August 7^th -18^th. (www.ECFair.org).

 

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society has announced a revised gate admission structure. Under the plan that will go into effect during the 180^th Erie County Fair in 2019, full-price, adult gate admission will increase from $10 to $12.  The revised admission cost is the first gate increase for the Erie County Fair in a decade. The official announcement was made during the Society’s annual membership meeting held Wednesday at the Fairgrounds Event Center.

 

Changes to gate admission will also be reflected in the Fair’s senior admission price as well as “early bird” and “student” pricing. The Fair’s advance sale program, which takes place prior to opening day, will see prices remain the same in 2019 with adult admission $7 and a senior ticket priced at $5. All children 12 and under will continue to be admitted for free.

 

“Our board evaluates our gate prices annually and has not increased gate admission since 2009. Moving forward, these adjustments will greatly help the Erie County Fair better serve fairgoers due to increasing labor costs as well as the rising prices for public safety, emergency services, grounds infrastructure, fair production and entertainment,” said Fair CEO & Manager Jessica Underberg. “During the 10 years since our last restructuring, we found opportunities to provide incredible value to our loyal fairgoers through free grounds entertainment, education and safety and attractive grounds. The increase to our full price gate admission ticket will allow the Society to continue to provide fairgoers with an exceptional Fair experience which has come to symbolize the ‘Best 12 Days of Summer’ in Western New York.”

 

The following is a summary of 2019 gate admission restructuring:

 

 

 

Opening Day admission to the Fair on Wednesday, August 7^th will be free for those patrons who donate two cans of food to benefit the Food Bank of WNY. The Fair will also provide free admission to firefighters and auxiliary members on Firefighters Day (August 9^th) and for veterans, active military and auxiliary members on Veterans Day (August 11^th).  For a limited time, fairgoers can also purchase 12-day pass to the Fair (one admission each day of the Fair) for $35.

 

 

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 180^th Erie County Fair is scheduled for August 7^th -18^th, 2019. (www.ECFair.org).

 

Seven Western New York companies competed to build structures made entirely out of canned goods during the 2018 Fairgrounds Festival of Lights Canstruction® Competition. Employees from Praxair, Ferguson Electric, Hamburg Gaming, Wendel, Hale Expo Services, Trautman Associates and National Fuel took part with all food used benefiting the Food Bank of Western New York. Teams had a total of 12 hours to build displays. 2018 category winners are:

 

Structural Integrity – Wendel (Bring Home the Celery!)

Best Meal – Wendel (Bring Home the Celery!)

Best Use of Labels – Hamburg Gaming (Christmas Trees)

Most Original Design – Wendel (Bring Home the Celery!)

Most Cans Used – Ferguson Electric (Buffalo Skyline with a total of 14,113 cans, 250 boxes of cereal & 62 bags of rice

 

 

The Competition’s “People’s Choice” award will be determined at the close of the Festival on Sunday, December 23rd. Until then, patrons can vote for their favorite Canstruction® by making coin donations to the Food Bank.

 

 

Judges included Robert Brunner, Erie County Agricultural Society; Paula Mercurio, CFO Food Bank of Western New York; Martha Buyer, Member of Food Bank of Western New York, Advisory Council; Brian Burd, Buffalo Bills, Director of Training Center Operations; Ron Plant, WGRZ.

 

 

Wendel’s design, winner of three awards,  was based on the Buffalo Bisons’ iconic “Wing, Cheese & Carrot Race” at Coca-Cola Field. The sculpture featured fan favorite Celery Stalk comes out of retirement for one more showdown against his old foes the Atomic Wing and Bleu Cheese.

 

 

The Canstruction® Competition is part of this year’s Fairgrounds Festival of Lights currently taking place at the Erie County Fairgrounds. Now in its final days, the Festival runs daily through Sunday, December 23^rd. The Festival is open from 5:00pm-9:00pm, with the buildings and grounds staying open until 10:00pm. The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS). www.FairgroundsHoliday.com.

 

 

 

 

 

This Friday, November 23^rd, the switch will be flipped on to illuminate more than one million lights as the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights opens its 14^th season. This time-honored, Western New York holiday tradition takes place at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg.

 

 

This year, the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights will be open for nineteen days, with opening day coming on the Friday after Thanksgiving and running every weekend through December 16^th with an expanded schedule December 19^th through the 23^rd. The Festival is open from 5:00pm-9:00pm, with the buildings and grounds staying open until 10:00pm.

 

 

Admission to the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights includes a wide array of activities and holiday fun that includes six decorated buildings, live family entertainment, craft making and vendors. Highlights include:

 

 

Kandy Kane’s Holiday Magic Show – Buffalo-native John Kennedy Kane performs during the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights as the legendary elf, “Kandy Kane.” More than just a magic show, Kane’s dynamic sharp wit and self-deprecating humor will entertain both children and adults alike during each half-hour performance. Showtimes: Fridays 6:30p & 8:30p; Saturdays 6:30p, 8p & 9:15p;  Sundays 6:30p & 8p.

 

Canstruction® Competition & Display – Beginning the weekend of December 7^th, local companies will compete to build structures made entirely out of canned goods. Employees from Praxair, Wendel, Hale Expo Services, National Fuel, Trautman Associates, Ferguson Electric and Hamburg Gaming  will showcase their designs December 7^th-23^rd. All canned goods used will benefit the Food Bank of Western New York.

 

Rudolph’s Holiday Fun Zone  – This interactive children’s area features the “The Night You Save Christmas” digital game and the “Find Frosty” giant I-Spy.

 

The Polar Stop  – Located inside the NYS Police Building, this railroad themed display will include toy train layouts provided by local model railroad clubs. Other activities include the Tops Winterland Workshop where kids can make a one-of-a-kind craft to bring home. Families can design a holiday card for veterans and troops as well as visit the Drive Safe Forest sponsored by WNY United. On Sundays only, the Polar Stop will feature “Story Time with the Conductor” at 7:30p.

 

Frosty’s 3D Adventure – A 3,000 square feet walk through maze that takes people through a day with Frosty; best viewed with the complimentary, patented 3D chromadepth glasses for the ultimate 3D effect.

 

North Pole Experience featuring Santa Claus – Guests are transported to the North Pole as they make their way through displays including a toy shop, elf village, and the arctic. The height of the experience comes when guests stand face to face with Santa’s house, where the Big Guy himself will be meeting guests on the front porch. Families are encouraged to bring their own cameras to capture a lasting memory of the holidays. At 10,000 square feet, it ranks as the largest Santa display in the region.

 

Santa’s Magical Midway – Features an array of kiddie rides from the days of yesteryear. Each nostalgic ride has been fully reconditioned to bring back their original grandeur. $2 per ride or Santa’s Super Saver $20 for 12 rides. Kiddie rides will be located inside the Grange Building for the entire run of the Festival! Larger rides will be included inside the Event Center beginning December 8^th.

 

Upstate Farms Express – Climb aboard this fun sized train for a short ride up and down 42^nd Street.  The train will leave from the 42^nd Street Train Depot throughout the night.

 

NEW! Santa’s Reindeer – Live reindeer return to the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights. Antler Ridge Farms of Hamburg will be showcasing a number of their prized North American Reindeer  each Sunday of the Festival inside Rudolph’s Holiday Fun Zone (Sundays ONLY)

 

 

Admission to the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is $25 per carload at the gate. The carload admission includes all aspects of the Festival. Festival goers can save 40% on gate admission with the purchase of a $15 advance sale carload voucher at all Tops Friendly Markets until November 22^nd. The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS). For more information regarding the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights visit www.FairgroundsHoliday.com.

 

 

 

Visitors to the annual Fairgrounds Festival of Lights can save 40% on gate admission with the purchase of a $15 advance sale carload voucher at all Tops Friendly Markets. The discount voucher promotion begins November 1^st and ends on Thanksgiving Day, November 22^nd and can be purchased at any checkout register. After November 23^rd, standard gate admission to the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is $25 per carload. Carload admission to the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights includes a wide array of activities and holiday fun that includes six decorated buildings, live family entertainment, craft making and vendors.

 

 

This year marks the 14^th year for what has become a time-honored holiday tradition in Western New York. The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg will be open for seventeen nights, with opening night on the Friday after Thanksgiving and will run every weekend through December 16^th with an expanded schedule December 19th through the 23rd. The Festival is open from 5:00pm-9:00pm, with the buildings and grounds staying open until 10:00pm.

 

 

The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS). For more information regarding the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights visit www.FairgroundsHoliday.com.

 

 

Tuesday, September 18^th has officially been designated as “National Birth of the Burger Day” by the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York.  The day commemorates the legend of the invention of the hamburger sandwich that took place during the 1885 Erie County Fair by Frank and Charles Menches of Canton, Ohio.

 

 

Why September 18^th? Until the early 1920s, the Erie County Fair was held mid to late September or as late as early October to celebrate the agricultural harvest. The 1885 Erie County Fair, the event that saw the invention of the hamburger sandwich, was held September 16th-18th, 1885.

 

“Birth of the Hamburger in Hamburg” Canton, Ohio natives Frank and Charles Menches were food vendors at the 1885 Erie County Fair, also known as the Hamburg Fair. Legend has it that during the course of the Fair, the Menches ran out of their signature menu item of pork sausage sandwiches. Their local supplier, Hamburg butcher Andrew Klein, was reluctant to butcher more hogs during a period of unseasonable late summer heat and suggested to substitute the use of ground beef.  The brothers fired some up, but both found it dry and bland. They added coffee, brown sugar and other ingredients to create a unique taste. The original sandwiches were sold with just ketchup and sliced onions. With new found success with their beef sandwich, they christened it the “hamburger” sandwich after the Erie County Fair’s home town of Hamburg, New York.

 

Relishing in the Menches Success! There have been other claims made about the origin of the hamburger sandwich. As concessionaire traveled from one fair to another, it was common to emulate the success of other vendors and share “best practices.” As a result, they would make claims of their own as the “burger” made regional debuts:

 

 

• October 1885 – After learning about the Menches success, fair concessionaire Charlie Nagreen claimed to have sold a meatball between two slices of bread at the Outagamie County Fair in Seymour, Wisconsin.
• Late 1880s – Fletcher Davis of Athens, Texas claimed to have invented the hamburger. According to oral histories he opened a lunch counter and served a ‘burger’ of fried ground beef patties with mustard and Bermuda onion between two slices of bread, with a pickle on the side. Davis later went on to sell the burger at the 1904 World’s Fair.
• 1891 – Otto Kuase said he invented the hamburger in 1891 after he cooked a beef patty in butter and topped with a fried egg.
• 1900 – Louis Lassen of Louis’ Lunch, a small lunch wagon in New Haven, Connecticut, is said to have sold the first hamburger and steak sandwich in the U.S. in 1900, 15 years after the Menches Bros.

 

 

Why the Erie County Fair Menches Hamburger Story “Cuts the Mustard”

 

 

• The Menches Brothers 1885 claim is the oldest “birth of the burger” sandwich story in the United States.
• No other invention story can stake a claim to why their sandwich is called a “hamburger,” our story can!
• Descendants of the Menches Brothers have an original, handwritten burger recipe.
• The Menches family is still in the burger business today. No other claim still has an operating restaurant serving the original recipe.
• In the 1920s, carnival historian John C. Kunzog interviewed Frank Menches about his experience at the Erie County Fair. His detailed hamburger story was published in the 1970 book, “Tanbark & Tinsel.”
• Successful entrepreneurs, the Menches not only claim hamburger history, but are also credited for pioneering the production of ice cream cones and creating “Gee-Whiz,” a caramel coated peanut and popcorn snack now known as Cracker Jacks.
• The National Hamburger Festival is held annually in the Menches home town of Akron, Ohio. Restaurants from across the United States gather to pay homage to good ol’ Frank & Charles Menches.
• Founded in 1985 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Menches Brothers invention, The Village of Hamburg hosts the annual BurgerFest and is one of the biggest annual events in the region.
• The invention of the hamburger story is featured in an exhibit inside the Erie County Fair’s Heritage & History Center Museum. The display includes a child’s sized burger concession stand that allows kids to “serve up” play hamburgers.
• News outlets around the globe including the BBC to Japanese national television have told the Erie County Fair story over the decades. The 1885 Burger Store, a restaurant in Taipei City, Taiwan, China, honors the Erie County Fair legend.

 

 

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 Fair celebrated 150 years in Hamburg in 2018. (www.ECFair.org)

Hamburg chefs celebrate the “Birth of the Burger” on Monday, September 17, 2018 – Alex Manley, Master’s Barbecue Company; Damon Ayer, Mason’s  Grille 52; Tom Casey, Juicy Burger Bar, Brian Waters, Hamburg Gaming;  Jimmy Butera, Butera’s; Scott Donhauser, Craft & Cork Gastropub