Genesee County Fair

The Genesee County Fairgrounds are empty this morning, but come July 15, fair organizers say they expect to see more people than ever walking the midway and sitting in the grandstands.

At least members of the Genesee County Agriculture Society are working harder than ever to create more reasons for people to come to the fair. There will be more attractions, more vendors, more rides and more entertainment.

"There will be something to do every day," said ag society President Norm Primm. "Before, the first part of the week was just ag shows, but we're planning on having big events throughout the week this year."

For the first time in years, the raceway will host a monster truck show. The Fair Queen Contest is also being expanded. There are now four age groups for contestants, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16 and 17-19.

The children's rides will be open for a total 39 hours, compared to 20 to 24 hours in the past, with a special kids' day for groups or families with discounted ride tickets.

A new kids' zone is being created with a corn-filled sandbox, a mural for kids to paint and even a horse to paint.

The tractor pull is being expanded.

There are a number of new vendors setting up in the vendor hall, including Alpina and Quaker Muller.

All of the towns and villages have been invited to set up displays.

It's the 175th anniversary of the fair, so organizers are hoping for the biggest fair parade yet, though because of DOT regulations, the parade will be confined to the fairgrounds instead of starting on Route 5.

"The fair is the center the county," Primm said. "Genesee County is an agricultural county and what's better than having an agricultural fair in our own county. That's why we want to see people come out and enjoy the fair. I really think we can get back to having great attendance and putting on a great fair where poeple will want to come throughout the week."

Press release:

This year marks the 175^th anniversary of the Genesee County Fair! It takes place at the county fairgrounds July 15-19. There are many changes and exciting events planned.

We hope to make 2014 a memorable year and we would like to extend a personal invitation to become a volunteer and or a sponsor of the fair. Volunteers are needed not only during fair week, but also the week before and the week after the fair. Many hands make light work! Becoming a sponsor of the fair is a great way to promote your business to thousands of fairgoers who live and work in Genesee County and visit the fair every year.

If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a sponsor of the fair, go to the fair’s Web site gcfair.com to download all of the forms and to obtain contact information.

Among the changes will be a new midway. Midway Rides of Utica will provide fairgoers with quality rides, games and food to enhance your fair experience. The rides will be open Tuesday through Saturday.

Also note:

Tuesday

The Grand Parade is moving to Tuesday and the Monster Truck & Thrill Show is on Tuesday evening.

Greece Alley Paint Clowns will stroll the fairgrounds, bringing smiles to faces of all ages making balloon animals and creating works of art on your face.

The two-day Fair Queen Pageant begins on Tuesday with the talent portion.

Karaoke at night!

Wednesday

It's Children's Day and rides will be operating during the day.

There will be a draft horse show in the horse ring all day.

Again, the Greece Alley Paint Clowns will stroll the fairgrounds, bringing smiles to faces of all ages making balloon animals and creating works of art on your face.

The Fair Queen Pageant concludes with the crowning.

 "Genesee's Got Talent" Talent Show.

Thursday

Magic John will be ambling around on stilts -- juggling, making balloon animals and entertaining fairgoers all day long!

Thursday includes special Raceway 5 Stock Car Racing.

Step right up for the 4-H meat animal auction.

We are pleased to welcome back by popular demand Barnstorm on Thursday night.

Friday

Magic John will be ambling around on stilts -- juggling, making balloon animals and entertaining fairgoers all day long!

The Grand Demolition Derby will take place.

Paul Cummings & Friends will be performing at night.

Saturday

Magic John will be ambling around on stilts -- juggling, making balloon animals and entertaining fairgoers all day long!

There will be ESP Tractor Pulls.

Savage Cabbage will take the stage and keep you rockin’ all night long!

As always, there will be bands under our redesigned beer tent!

Don’t forget to check out the 4-H animal exhibits, the air sculpture experience and Kid’s Corner taking place all day every day of the fair!

*All Times/Dates/Events are Subject to Change*

Once again this year, admission to the fair is only $5 per carload. For a complete listing of events during fair week, visit gcfair.com

Photos and info submitted by John Milroy.

During the Genesee County Fair, Tim Adams, leader of the 4-H Swine Club, showed off the club pig "Zeus."

Kristi Milroy also had the Grand Champion market goat. Kristi also had Best in Show dairy goat with her Alpine goat, "Nellie."

Once the rain passed yesterday, the pullers came out in droves for the annual Genesee County Fair Tractor Pull.

To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

Friday night at the Genesee County Fair means Demolition Derby.

To purchase prints of photos from the Demolition Derby, click here.

Rain has delayed -- and reduced the number of contestants for -- the farm stock tractor pull this morning at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.

The WNY Pro Farm Tractor and Truck Pull is expected to take place as scheduled at 6 p.m.

The WNY Garden Tractor Pull is expected to take place at its scheduled time, 4 p.m.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: John Duyssen says the track looks great and the farm tractors are starting their pulls, so come on out.

After hamming it up with Tom Mazerbo during his performance Thursday at the Genesee County Fair, Elvis impersonator Patrick Johnson said, "I better not see that on the front page of the paper."

OK, it's not on the front page of the paper.

Mazerbo was quiet happy with the scarf he got from Elvis.

Auction night at the Genesee County Fair is a big night for 4H members. It's the night members find out whether a year of hard work raising lambs, hogs and steers is going to pay off, both in terms of ribbons and cash.

Bidders are a mix of local farmers, business leaders and vendors to farms who often pay higher than market prices to help reward the perhaps future farmers for their efforts.

The auction was conducted by William Kent, Inc.

Here is a collection of pictures from Thursday evening's auction.

Lauren Young prepares her steer for auction.

Taylor Ross with his prize-winning lamb.

Lukas Johnson

Moving cattle to and from the auction ring can get a little crowded.

Bidders are provided with a list of animals coming up for auction.

Winning bidders receive a blue ribbon and a photo of the animal they won with the 4H member who raised it. Winning bidders have the option of taking the animal or letting it go to commercial auction and paying only the difference between it's market value and what they actually bid.

A winning bidder.

Dylan Weber and his second-place hog.

Hudson Weber brings his hog to the auction ring.

A hog in line to enter the auction ring.

Two hogs resting after their turn in the auction ring.

Julian Duyssen waiting for his turn to enter the auction ring with his hog.

To purchase prints of these photos, click here. More photos from the auction in the slide show.

It was a sparsely attended parade today at the Genesee County Fairgrounds. It could have been the heat, or it could have been the fact that new state DOT regulations forced organizers to keep the parade entirely on fairgrounds property rather than the traditional route that starts on Route 5. There was also the fact that several fire companies that usually participate were tied up in Corfu for the fire at Ed Arnold's scrap yard.

Here are the highlights of tomorrow's events:

• 5 to 10 p.m. -- Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 6 p.m. -- Raceway 5 Stock Car Racing
• 7 p.m. -- 4-H Livestock Auction
• 8 p.m. -- Patrick Johnson - Elvis impersonator
• 8 p.m. -- Karaoke Finals

The slide show contains yesterday's fair photos as well.

Dalton King, of East Bethany, sings a country tune during the annual talent show on the first day of the Genesee County Fair.

The fair runs through Saturday.

Here's a list of tomorrow's featured events:

• 4 to 8 p.m. --  Mr. Scribbles and various children events
• 5 to 10 p.m. -- Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 5 p.m. -- Classic car show
• 6:30 p.m. -- Grand Parade in the fairgrounds
• 7 p.m. -- Karaoke
• 8 to 11 p.m. -- Barnstorm Band

The Masons have a booth set up to provide parents with child IDs. Here, Ellie gets her fingerprints with the help of her father, Noah Summers, of Attica.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Tuesday 7/16

• 9am - 4-H Swine Show
• 12 pm -  4-H Goat Show
• 2:30 pm - 4-H Sheep Show
• 6 pm - 4-H Beef Show
• 6:30 pm - "Genesee's Got Talent" -Talent Show

• 4 - 8pm -  Mr. Scribbles and various children events
• 5 - 10pm - Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 5 pm - Classic car show
• 6:30 pm - Grand Parade in the fairgrounds
• 7 pm - Karaoke
• 8 - 11pm - Barnstorm Band

• 5 - 10pm - Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 6 pm - Raceway 5 Stock Car Racing
• 7 pm - 4-H Livestock Auction
• 8 pm - Patrick Johnson - Elvis impersonator
• 8 pm - Karaoke Finals

• 5 - 10pm - Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 7 pm - Genesee County Fair Queen and Princess Pageant
• 7 pm - Demolition Derby
• 8 pm - Julie Dunlap Band

• 11 am - Farm Stock Tractor Pull - Bring your tractor
• 1 pm - 10pm Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 4 pm - WNY Garden Tractor Pull
• 6 pm - WNY Pro Farm Tractor and Truck Pull
• 8 pm - Monster Johnson Band

For more information, please visit us online at: http://gcfair.com

More than 1,000 people -- when organizers considered 700 fans a good turn out -- showed up at the tractor pull at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Saturday evening.

Competitors brought their machines -- small, medium and mighty -- to compete in various classes of competition, from stock, street-legal trucks and modified law tractors up to souped-up full-sized tractors.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these photos (or previous fair photos) click here.

Big crowd at the Genesee County Fair on Friday. It was demolition derby night and the stands were packed, but throughout the park were scores of people enjoying rides, visiting animals or getting a tasty snack.

Today is the tractor pull. Farm stock starts at 1 p.m. (Fair Schedule). The WNY Pro Farm Puller starts at 6:30 p.m. Savage Cabbage takes the stage at 9 p.m.

If you can't view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these photos (along with prints from the parade the other day) click here.

The Genesee County Fair hosted its annual parade Wednesday night.

The fair continues through Saturday.

Today's events include horse driving, small fry tractor pull, stock car races, meat animal auction and The Trolls perform from 8 to 11 p.m.

For complete schedule, click here.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here.  To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

Contestants are being sought for the 2012 Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant.

If you would like to compete for the title, please submit an application to the Pageant Coordinator at debrabaris@yahoo.com or by mail ro 7301 Griswold Road, Bergen, NY 14416.

The Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant would like to promote, confidence, community service, poise and talent for our young women.

Contestants must be:

• Female
• 15 to 18 years old
• In grades 10, 11 or 12 in the 2012 or 2013 school year.
• Genesee County resident

Completed applications are available at all Genesee County high school offices and are due by Friday, June 15.

Questions: call Debra Baris at 813-4149.

Sponsored by: The Genesee County Agricultural Society, Inc.

The Genesee County Fair runs July 17 – 21.

Saturday was the final day of the Genesee County Fair, but I finally made it out to the fairgrounds to see what was going on, enjoy some fair food, a tractor pull and some rock 'n' roll, plus take a few pictures.

There are 41 photos in the slide show below. Recommended, click on the button in lower right for full-screen mode. Pictures may be purchased by clicking here.

Saturday night at the County Fair was demolition derby night.  I was there for two races and took some pictures. It was a big, muddy mess, but a lot of fun.

More pictures after the jump:

The driver here is being disqualified for getting out of his car before the race was officially declared over. The disqualification cost him second place. Two pictures below, he protests the decision.