Trump store, newlyweds featured at Windsor Fair
About this blog:
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Frank Barnako is a seasonal resident of Wiscasset at Clarks Point on the Sheepscot River. His career in journalism included on air and news director positions with CBS and NBC Radio and TV stations. He was a pioneer in the Internet, helping to create and co-found MarketWatch.com where he also developed a 200-station radio network and wrote daily columns focused on the stock market, business news, and technology. Barnako describes himself as “an aspiring photographer,” whose work can be seen at frankbarnako.com<http://frankbarnako.com>. He is a member of the town’s Investment Advisory Committee. Email him at wiscasset@barnako.com.
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The fair was back in town this week. The Windsor Fair, featuring chain saw sculptors, baby lambs, Tony, dozens of home-made blueberry pies, Tilt-a-Whirl and much more.
I’ve been to the fair several times, but not for three years. That Corona-19 thing, you know. But This year, no masks. Matter of fact of the thousands of people on the fairgrounds Saturday I recall seeing only one mask, worn by a woman in motorized chair.
The Fair this year was a mix of new and old, including nearly a week’s worth of harness racing. I like the racing because people get so excited if it looks like their horse is about to win. And while I was taking pictures, a man called out to me. “Hey, you missed us!.” I said, “What’s so special about you?” He said he and his wife had just been married this week at the track. So, I took his picture.
One of my favorites was Tony the Long Horn Steer. He is 18 and weighs 1,500 pounds. “You don’t tell him to do something,” said Tony’s owner. “It kind of needs to be his idea.”
Unlike other animals at the Fair, Tony was not likely to become somebody’s dinner, like the baby lambs. The routine is that the 4H club members get. their lambs during the winter, raise them, and then auction them off. That way they learn about butchering and capitalism.
It was fascinating, and even inspiring, to see the kids working with their lambs, preparing for the judges. The kids weren’t gentle but making sure their animal knew where to stand and how to behave (QUIET, please!”) They were judged just like at a dog show. However, when a dog show is over, the pups go home for a nice life.
The midway at the fair was busy. After all, it was Saturday night. Lights were flashing, horns blaring, lots of music, most of it Spanish. It seemed like there were fewer “games of chance” this year. But there was more retail. One tent was a “Trump Gear” store, another specialized in “Seen on TV” items, like copper socks, ipad cases, ice-cube-powered ‘air conditioners’, and solar powered lights.
All in all, a trip to the fair was a heck of a good time, and a bargain. $10.
Was the Fair fun for you? mailto:maine@barnako.com
