Addison County Fair and Field Days Official Program

PROGRAM

ci pe AS

pe nd en t

OFFICIAL al Pu de n I bli on cat ion of the Addis

ADDISON COUNTY FAIR & FIELD DAYS Tuesday, August 8 - Saturday, August 12, 2017

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

We’ve Got You We’ve Got You Covered…

Covered…

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY EVERY STEP STEP OF OF THE THE WAY WAY EVERY

Decks Decks Brick & Masonry Brick & Masonry Wood Siding Wood Siding

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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Welcome The Addison County Fair & Field Days Board extends a cordial invitation to you and your friends and family to attend this year’s Addison County Fair & Field Days on August 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12, 2017.

It is our pleasure to present the opportunity for area citizens to showcase the quality products they have made so that their friends and neighbors can see what they’ve been up to. You’ll find livestock, handcrafts, history, commerce, good foods of all sorts and, if you like that sort of thing, the midway. And don’t forget to catch a live show and a competition.

Addison County Fair & Field Days, Inc.

PO Box 745, Middlebury, Vermont 05753 802-545-2557 (Phone) 802-329-2113 (Fax) Visit us on the web @ www.addisoncountyfielddays.com

Inside: Admission Board of Directors Dedication to Diane Norris Demo Derby roars into action Fair food is a family affair Frying dough for decades Handmowing captivates audiences Hypnotist will probe your psyche Lemonade with a history Live music & more entertainment Map of the grounds Meet the midway guys Schedule of events Snapshots from 2016 Sponsors and supporters UVM Extension teaches us about ag Watch the parade

6 6 7 26 33 34 22 24 20 28-31 8 19 11-17 18 40-42 23 37

802-388-0669

Route 7 • New Haven, VT (just North of Middlebury)

www.cyclewisevt.com Tuesday - Friday 9am-6pm • Saturday 9am-4pm

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

About this Field Days Program A county fair may seem like a quaint anachronism in some parts of this country where milking a cow or shearing a sheep is something one might only see on the Internet, but a fair is serious business in this part of the world. Well … with agriculture being such an integral part of Addison County life and economy it is important, but it is also a whole lot of fun.

Tens of thousands of people from the Champlain Valley and beyond come to the fair every year to celebrate their agricultural roots — or to get back to those roots.

The best farmers, sugarmakers, cooks, bakers and all kinds of craftmakers compete for bragging rights — as do those brave men and women who get behind the wheel in the demolition derby and the tractor pull (not to mention the folks who work with the powerful draft horses). And don’t forget Wednesday’s skillet toss. More often than not, the winners turn out to be our neighbors, or the folks down the road who we see at the grocery store and at our kids’ school concerts.

Children with livestock of all kinds — cows, calves, sheep, lambs, rabbits and many sorts of fowl — work for weeks and months leading up to the fair, grooming their animals for show-ring competition. Adults compete for the coveted Leona Thompson Bowl. Younger crafters try to earn the Frances Monroe Youth Award.

Contestants young and old — and every age between — gather fruits and vegetables from the garden and sugar and spices from the pantry; then cook them up into a smorgasbord of jams, pickles, cakes and cookies for competitions in the Food Department.

There are exhibits, pulls (tractor, truck, horse, oxen and pedal-tractor), animal judging, horse shows, carnival food by the ton and plenty of midway rides.

Oh, and don’t miss the armwrestling if you can help it.

This booklet is designed to serve as a guide to Field Days.

A complete schedule of events can be found as well as profiles of this year’s entertainers.

There is plenty to see and do over the five days of the fair — Aug. 8-12. Don’t miss a second of it!

A Message to Event Superintendents The Addison Independent will publish the results of as many Field Days competitions as we can get our hands on. Event superintendents should take their results to the Field Days office immediately after the events. Field Days staff will make copies and the Independent will publish the information as quickly as possible.

Thank you!

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

2017 Bracelet Policy

2017 Admissions Your ticket price includes parking, gate admission, re-admission, grandstands, all field days shows & exhibits.

ADULTS (ages 12 and over) Tuesday Only Daily Admission $10.00 Wednesday – Saturday Daily Admission $12.00 SEASON PASS $45.00 SENIOR DISCOUNT Free on Tuesday

with Green Mountain Passport (Green Mtn Passports can be purchased at your local Town Clerk’s office)

CHILDREN (ages 6-11) Daily Admission SEASON PASS

$5.00 $15.00

CHILDREN (5 years and under) FREE all days.

RIDE BRACELET TIMES – Pay one price TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. — $15/bracelet 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. — $20/bracelet 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. — $17/bracelet 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. — $12/bracelet 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. — $17/bracelet 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m — $17/bracelet

Addison County Fair and Field Days is quickly approaching with all the traditional agricultural exhibits and competitions. A change instituted in 2014 will continue this year: Everyone will get a wristband (bracelet) upon entrance to the fairgrounds, and must wear a wristband while on the grounds.

The New Haven firemen will continue to manage the gates and administer the bracelets. Everyone will have a bracelet put on their wrist after paying the gate admission or surrendering their complimentary or purchased pass.

If you are a volunteer or participant, you must have a pass to receive a bracelet at no charge. If you are participating in the fair and have questions, please see your superintendent.

Seniors may purchase a Green Mountain Passport at their local town clerk’s office; it will allow free admission on Tuesday only.

Fairgoers should note that the main admission gate is off the middle of the main parking lot across from the Lucien D. Paquette Exhibit Building, and the upper gate by the midway rides is closed.

Many other new attractions are at Field Days this year. We hope you have a good time.

— Field Days Board of Directors

2017-2018 Board of Directors PRESIDENT: James Foster Jr., 388-9764 VICE PRESIDENT: Diane Norris, 897-7014 SECRETARY: Kathy Nisun, 352-6630 TREASURER: Brenda Deering, 545-2279 MEMBER AT LARGE: William Roleau, 453-3713 MEMBER AT LARGE: Kenneth Button, 989-7055 Mike Reed, 759-2054 Gilbert Goodyear, 343-2243 Neil Allen, 989-5167 James Weening, 349-0932 Benj Deppman, 462-3614 Megan Sutton 545-2475 BUSINESS MANAGER: Cara Mullin, 545-2557 GROUNDS MANAGER: Leonard Barrett, 349-4179 ELECTRICIAN: Herb Fisher, 247-6390 or 247-6596

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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Dedication The Addison County Fair and Field Days board of directors is honored to dedicate our fair this year to Diane Norris.

Diane is currently a fair director, serving as our vice president, and has been a Field Days director for over 30 years.

As one of the long-term directors, Diane’s historical knowledge and experience is invaluable to the rest of us. Diane lives in Shoreham with her husband Terry and son Wyatt, a student at UVM. Field Days has been part of Diane’s life since her 4-H days with the Mt. Independence 4-H Club as a member showing Holsteins and she will proudly tell you that Wyatt has never missed a day of Field Days. The dairy end of the fairgrounds has always been her passion and she continues to be the director in charge of the cattle shows and barns and the announcer for the 4-H dairy shows.

Diane has expanded her responsibilities for the board by taking on the tractor pad area along with all activities held there, including the tractor pulls and demolition derby. This is a huge undertaking, one that has seen much growth and many changes over the years. Diane’s outgoing personality, networking skills and long term involvement with the dairy community means she knows almost everyone, has earned their respect, and can get them to help out Field Days when we need equipment, time or expertise.

Being a Field Days director means more than responsibilities during the fair. Diane is a very active director when it comes to grounds improvement activities, was a huge proponent of the recent safety improvements in the tractor pad area, and is our top Gala ticket sales person. Whatever is needed during the year, we can be sure that Diane will be there to help and often brings Terry and Wyatt along to help, too.

Thank you, Diane, for all you do for Addison County Fair and Field Days, and we look forward to sharing responsibility for this awesome fair with you for many years to come.

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Field Days Map Butterfield ArenaHorse, Pony & Ox Pulling

13

15

Barn

County Hosre Barn

4-H Horse Barn

23 23

Roleau Family & Friends Horse Barn

Donald C. Hunt, DVM Horse Ring Livestock Barn

1. “Kelly James” Natural Resources Pavilion 2. Public Safety Building 3. Dusty Chuck 4-H Food Booth 4. 4-H Exhibit Building 5. Youth Food Booth 6. Field Days Main Office 7. Milking Parlor & Dairy Bar 8. Dairy Palace Arena 9. Bandstand 10. Twist-O-Wool Guild Tent 11. Solar Barn 12. Show Tent 13. Handmowing Area 14. Lucien D. Paquette Exhibit Bldg.

15. Horse Area Manager’s Booth 16. 4-H Dairy Barn 17. Open Dairy Show Barn 18. Beef Cattle Tent 19. Antique Equipment Buildings 20. Show Area 21. Frances Monroe Home & Garden Ctr. 22. Sara McCarty Children’s Barn 23. Sheep Tents 24. Pony Rides & Free Youth Activities 25. Infant Comfort Station 26. Field Days’ Little General Store 27. Addison County Toy Barn 28. Poultry Tent

Warm-up Ring

3

10 19 1

Tractor Pad/Demo Derby

2

Lions Club

Scales

Sugar House

Outdoor Exhibits

Dining Hall Arcade

21

Main Restrooms

20

25

14

11

9

22

24 28

Wash Rack

5

4 12

27

7

8 26 6

18 Route 17

Games and Rides

16

17

Field Days Road

Restrooms Restrooms Ticket Ticket Booths Booths Phones Phones Designated Smoking Areas Areas Designated Smoking

Proudly Serving Addison County Farmers for over 5 Decades!

“Family owned and operated”

Weekly Mon. - Thurs. Livestock Auctions Trucking rates available Specializing in dairy replacement & herd dispersals Addison County Commission Sales Sales Manager/Owner: T. G. Wisnowski & Son 802-388-2661, VT Toll Free 800-339-COWS or 802-989-1507 RT. 125, East Middlebury, VT 05740 www.accscattle.com

Serving the Addison County Business Community Telecommunications Sales & Service Data Cabling & Fiber Optics 802-388-8999 John and Jim Fitzgerald

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

On the Cover

On the front page of this program is a scene, captured

by Addison Independent photographer Trent Campbell, of visitors wandering through the Antique Equipment Building on the New Haven fairgrounds during the 2016 Addison County Fair and Field Days.

“The Taste of Vermont”

Served

ball Tea

at Addison County Fair & Field Days

Pratt’s Stor e

Dining Hall • Tuesday, August 8th Sittings at 4:45, 5:30, 6:15 and 7:00 Adults: $10 Children 10 & under: $5

Maple C

andy

ed Beans

Clark Fam

ily

Sweet Cor

n

Host Ven

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Chicken C

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e

Bridport, VT

Roast Por

k

Gospel Singers 7:00PM

Vegetable s

Supplies Carrot Cak

Vermont Heritage Grazers llc

Opening Day Parade 8:00PM

m

Deb’s Bak

Tickets available now at: Middlebury Inn in Middlebury, Pratt’s Store in Bridport, the Field Days office or at fielddays@gmavt.net.

Beginning Aug. 4th, tickets will only be available at the Field Days office.

Call 545-2557

Green Mountain Passport Day

Tickets Sell Out!

by par ticipat ing & the vendors MUH S Fo ot

Cheddar C

heese

Apple Cris

p

Supplies

Bracelet times – T & Th 6-11, W 12-11, F 12-6 & 6-11, Sat 6-11

Rides and Midway by Dreamland Amusements

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

The helpful staff from Paris Farmers Union invites you to

Visit us at Field Days

Stop in, visit our booth and say hello.

We’ll be located, as always, between the 4-H Food Booth and the Animal Show Arena.

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Addison County Field Days Special!

With this Coupon

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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Schedule of Events Daily Activities

You can find these activities happening everyday at the specified times.

ALL-STAR STUNT Dog Show trainer Abby Cline balances Cricket, a Boston terrier/pug mix, in the palm of her hand during a show at the 2016 Field Days. Look for the stunt dogs in a return performance on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Show Area.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

10:00-10:00 Children’s Barnyard Open 10:00-10:00 4-H & Youth Building Open 10:00-10:00 Antique Equipment Building Open 9:00 – 9:00 Maple Sugar House Open 10:00-6:00 Twist O’ Wool Guild Demos (Twist O’ Wool Guild tent) 10:00-Forest Festival Exhibits & Demonstrations (forestry building) 10:00-10:00 Antique Equipment Demos (antique equipment area) 10:00-10:00 Home & Garden Building Open

with continuous craft demos 10:00-10:00 Lucien Paquette Exhibit Building Open 10:00-5:00 Wood Carving (antique equipment area) 10:00-5:00 Daily Maple Products Demonstrations

(maple sugar house) 12:00-12:00 Midway Open (approximately) 1:00-4:00 Milking Parlor Demonstrations 1:00-6:00 Cairo Northern Clowns (walk around entertainment) Please Note: Most exhibits will be removed on Saturday night at 10:00.

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Schedule of Events TUESDAY, August 8, 2017 Addison County Day MORNING 8:30

9:00-5:00

10:00 Open 10:00-10:00

11:00 11:00-7:00

Western Only 4-H and Open Youth Junior Horse Show (horse area) 4-H Dairy Conformation Classes (animal show arena) Miniature Donkey Show (Butterfeld Arena) Antique Equipment Demos (antique equipment area) Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) Silly Kindness Monsters in the Kindness Bakery (Connor Home Stage in Paquette Bldg)

AFTERNOON & EVENING 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:30

Midway Opens (approximately) Dig For Treasure! (youth activity area) Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) (Continued on, Page 13)

See you at Field Days!

Bonnie, Kris, Audrey, Phil and the Re/Max North Team invite you to join them for tethered rides on Friday and Saturday evenings.

All proceeds are donated to Field Days

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YOUNG 4-H MEMBERS parade their cows passed the awards table in the animal show arena during the 4-H Youth Dairy Show conformation class competition in 2016.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Schedule of Events

1:00

1:00

1:30 2:00

2:00-4:00 3:00 3:30 3:30

4:00 4:45 5:00 5:00 5:30

6:00-11:00 6:00

6:00

6:15

7:00 7:00

7:00

7:00

8:00

VTPA-Garden Tractor & ATV Pulls & Antique (tractor pad) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Sheep Shearing/Handling Demonstration (sheep tent) Children’s Activities (children’s barnyard area) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) Vermont Products Dinner-1st Sitting (dining hall) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) Gymkhana (horse area) Vermont Products Dinner-2nd Sitting (dining hall) BRACELET NIGHT for rides ($15 – rides unlimited) Seth Warner Mount Independence Fife & Drum Corp (bandstand) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Vermont Products Dinner-3rd Sitting (dining hall) Addison County Gospel Choir (show tent) Addison County Line Dancers – Line Dancing Demo & Lessons (bandstand) Miniature Horse Team Hitching Demonstration (children’s Barnyard area) Vermont Products Dinner-4th Sitting (dining hall) Field Days Opening Parade – “ACCFD, building memories one week at a time”

WEDNESDAY, August 9, 2017 #1 Auto Parts Day

MORNING

8:30 English Only 4-H and Open Youth Jr. & Sr. Horse

Show (horse area) 9:00 Open Dairy Show-Holsteins, Brown Swiss

& Guernseys (animal show arena) 10:00-2:00 Children’s Activities (children’s barnyard area) 10:30 Ox Pulling (Butterfeld arena) 11:00 – 7:00 Silly Kindness Monsters in the Kindness Bakery

(Connor Home Stage in Paquette Bldg)

11:00

Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand)

AFTERNOON & EVENING

12:00

Midway Opens (approximately, (Continued on, Page 14)

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Schedule of Events

12:00 12:00 12:30 1:00

1:00 1:30 1:30 2:00

2:30 3:00 3:30 3:30 4:30 5:00 5:30

6:00 7:00

7:00 7:00

All day/night bracelet-$20) Dig For Treasure! (youth activity area) Peterson Quality Malt Men’s Caber Toss (tractor pad) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) Peterson Quality Malt Ladies Iron Skillet Toss (tractor pad) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) Sheep Shearing/Handling Demonstration (sheep show tent) Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) Miniature Horse Team Hitching Demonstration (children’s barnyard area) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Karaoke Talent Night with DJ Amanda Rock (signup at 6:30) (show tent) Unfortunate Son Band (Bandstand) #1 Auto Parts Demolition Derby (tractor pad)

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A YOUNG FARM hand showing a calf at the PeeWee Dairy Show at Field Days last summer gets backup from an older 4-H member.

Independent file photo/Andrea Warren

THURSDAY, August 10, 2017 Vermont Agricultural Day MORNING 8:00

Annual ACFFD Open Horse Show (horse area) (Continued on, Page 15)

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 15

Schedule of Events 9:00

9:00

10:00

10:30 11:00

4-H Dairy Fitting & Showmanship Classes (animal show arena) 4-H & Other Youth Sheep Show (sheep show tent) Hand Mowing Contest (antique equipment demo area) Pony Pulling (Butterfeld arena) Pedal Tractor Pull (show tent) (sign-ups at 10:00)

11:30 Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) 11:00-7:00 Silly Kindness Monsters in the Kindness Bakery

(Connor Home Stage in Paquette Bldg)

AFTERNOON & EVENING 12:00 12:00 12:00-4:00 12:30 1:00

1:30 1:30 2:30 3:00 3:30 3:30

Midway Opens (approximately) Dig For Treasure! (youth activity area) Children’s Activities (children’s barnyard area) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent)” 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (children’s barnyard area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows

4:30 5:00 5:30

6:00-11:00 6:00

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:30 8:00

(show area) Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (children’s barnyard area) Miniature Horse Team Hitching Demonstration (children’s barnyard area) BRACELET NIGHT for rides ($17 – rides unlimited) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Twist of Fate band (show tent) Toast Band (Bandstand) #1 Auto Parts Demolition Derby (tractor pad) Animal Costume Class (animal show arena) Home and Garden Awards & Leona Thompson Bowl Presentation (home & garden bldg)

FRIDAY, August 11, 2017 Youth Day

MORNING 8:30 9:00 9:00

Exhibitors’ Breakfast (dining hall) Draft Horse Show (horse area) Open Sheep Show (sheep show tent) (Continued on, Page 16)

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Page 16

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

67 Years of of Service 74 Years Service 67 Years of Service 67 Years of Service 1943-2010 1943-2017 1943-2010 1943-2010 Serving Addison County Serving Addison County Serving Addison CountyCounty Serving Addison

Seymour Street, 1943

Seymour Street, Seymour Street, Seymour Street,

Schedule of Events 10:00-2:00 Children’s Activities (children’s barnyard area) 10:00 Youth & Open Working Steer and Ox Show

(beef/working steer show tent) 10:00 Horse Pulling (Butterfeld arena) 11:00 Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) 11:00 – 7:00 Silly Kindness Monsters in the Kindness Bakery

(Connor Home Stage in Paquette Bldg)

19431943 1943

AFTERNOON & EVENING “Making Friends Warm isBusiness!”

Business!”

“Making Friends Warm is our our “Making Friends Warm is our Business!”

“Making Friends Warm is “Making Friends Warm isisBusiness!” our Business!”

“Making Friends Warm is our our Business!”

“Making Warm our Business!”

“Making Friends Warm is Friends our Business!”

“Making Friends Warm is our Business!”

12:00 Dig For Treasure! (youth activity area) “Making Friends Warm is our Business!”

Gasoline Gasoline 12:00-6:00 BRACELET TIME “Making Friends Warm is our Business!”

“Making Friends Warm is our Business!”

Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline

Exchange Street, Exchange Street, Exchange Street,

Exchange 2010 2010Street, 2010

for rides ($12 – rides unlimited) Gasoline Gasoline C ard aaGasoline CCess Ca ard a CCess 12:00 VTPA-Farmstock, NYPTA Super Farm Gasoline C ard a CCess C ard a CCess C ard CCess C ard CCess Gasoline 24 H oura CCess 24 H our C ard 24 H our 24 H our 24 our C (tractor pad) 24 H our CGasoline ard a CCess ard a CCess CH ard a CCess C ard a CCess C ard a CCess 24 H our 24 HMichael our • Heating Oil • Heating Oil 12:00 Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) 24Oil H our 24our H our 24 H • Heating Oil 24 H our • Heating Oil • Heating • Heating Oil

Racing Pigs” (dairy area) • Heating Oil Oil Dairy Showmanship • Heating Oil • Heating Sales, Service and Installation Service Installation Service and Installation •and Petroleum Equipment • Petroleum Equipment •Sales, Petroleum Petroleum Equipment • Petroleum Equipment Petroleum Equipment •Sales, (animal show arena) Sales, Service and Installation Sales, Service and Installation ••Equipment Plumbing and Heating and Installation Sales, Service and Installation Sales, Service and Installation •Sales, Plumbing and Heating Sales, Service and Installation • Plumbing and Heating •Service Petroleum Equipment • Petroleum Equipment • Petroleum Equipment Sales, Service and Installation Sales, Service and Installation 1:00 4and Abreast, Show Division (horse area) Sales, Service and Installation Sales, Service Installation Sales, Service and Installation Sales, Service and Installation Owned and Operated

by MacIntyre the MacIntyre Family since 1943 Owned and Operated byand thebyOperated MacIntyre since 1943 Owned and Operated the Family since 1943 Owned byFamily thesince MacIntyre Family since Owned and Operated byand the MacIntyre 1943 1:00 Owned Operated byFamily the MacIntyre Family since 19431943 Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows Owned and Operated by the MacIntyre Family since 1943 Owned and Operated by the Family since 1943Family Owned andMacIntyre Operated by the MacIntyre since 1943 • Petroleum Equipment • Petroleum Equipment • Petroleum Equipment • 388-3014 (show area) Exchange Street, Middlebury • 388-9260 • 388-3014 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury • 388-9260 • •388-3014 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury 388-9260 • 388-3014 213213 Exchange Street, Middlebury • •388-9260 •• 388-3014 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury • •388-9260 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury 388-9260 388-3014 213 Exchange Middlebury 388-9260 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury 388-9260 • 388-3014 213Street, Exchange Street, Middlebury •388-3014 388-9260 • 388-3014 Sales, Service and Installation Sales, Service and and Installation Sales, Service Installation 1:30 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Plumbing & Heating • Petroleum equiPment • Heating Plumbing & •Heating • Petroleum equiPment • Heating oil Plumbing & Heating Petroleum equiPment •oil Heating oil 2:00 Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) “Making Friends Warm Is Our Business” “Making Friends Warm IsBusiness” Our Business” “Making Friends Warm Is Our Owned and Operated byOperated the MacIntyre FamilyFamily since 1943 Owned and byMacIntyre the MacIntyre Family since 1943 4:00 Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) Owned and Operated by the since 1943 213 Exchange St.,213 Middlebury • 388-9260 • 800-735-3530 Exchange St., Middlebury • 388-9260 • 800-735-3530 213 Exchange St., Middlebury • 388-9260 • 800-735-3530 3:00 Open and Youth Beef Show (animal show arena) Owned & Operated by the&MacIntyre Family 1943 Operated by the Since MacIntyre Family1943 Since 1943 Owned & Owned Operated by the MacIntyre Family Since Exchange Street, Middlebury • 388-9260 • 388-3014 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury • 3:00 388-9260 • 388-3014 213 Exchange Street, Middlebury • 388-9260 •“Rosie’s 388-3014 Racing Pigs” (dairy area) 3:30 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) 3:30 Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows

(show area) 5:00 Armwrestling-Kids 16 & under (sign up at 4:00)

(show tent) 5:00 “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) 5:30 Miniature Horse Team Hitching Demonstration

(children’s barnyard area) 6:00-11:00 BRACELET NIGHT: for rides ($17-rides unlimited) 6:00 RE/MAX Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides

(parking Lot, weather permitting) 6:00 Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows

(show area) 7:00 VTPA-Farmstock, NYPTA Super Farm, VT V8 Minis,

Pure Stock, 2WD Minis (tractor pad) 7:00 Armwrestling-Adults (weigh-ins 5:00)(show tent) 7:00 Vorsteveld Family Band (bandstand)

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Heating Oil • Plumbing Heating • •Oil Plumbing andand Heating 12:00 “Rosie’s Heating •Plumbing Heating Oil • Plumbing and •Heating Plumbing Heating • •Plumbing and Heating • andand Heating

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MORNING 9:00

Open Dairy Show-Ayrshires, Jerseys & Milking Shorthorns (animal show arena)

9:00

Draft Horse Show (horse area) (Continued on, Page 17)

Page 17

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Schedule of Events 10:00 Poultry Breeders Show (poultry tent) 10:00-2:00 Children’s Activities (children’s barnyard area) 10:00 Baked Bean Bonanza Contest & Samples

(solar barn) 10:30 Youth Sheep Blocking and Fitting Contest

(sheep tent) 11:00 VTPA-Altered Farm, Modifed, Diesel 2.5 Diesel

Stock Street Legal, 2.6 Diesel Pro, S.S. 4×4 Pickup,

Street Legal Semis (tractor pad) 11:30 Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) 11:00 – 7:00 Silly Kindness Monsters in the Kindness Bakery

(Connor Home Stage in Paquette Bldg)

AFTERNOON & EVENING 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:30 1:00

1:00

1:30 2:00 2:30

3:00

3:00

3:00 3:30 3:30

4:00 5:00 5:30

6:00 6:00-11:00 6:00

6:00 7:00

7:00

7:00

Midway Opens (approximately) Dig For Treasure! (youth activity area) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) Six Horse Hitch, North American Classic Six Qualifer (horse area) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Michael Blaine-Hypnotist (show tent) Square Dancing w/Cast Of Eights & Lake Champlain Squares Sheep & Wool Garment Lead Line Class (sheep show tent) Sheep Shearing/Handling Demonstration (sheep tent) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) 4-H Hands on Workshop (4-H exhibit building) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) Tom Joyce, The Magic Man (bandstand) “Rosie’s Racing Pigs” (dairy area) Miniature Horse Team Hitching Demonstration (children’s barnyard area) Stunt Dog Productions Show (show area) BRACELET NIGHT for rides ($17 – rides unlimited) RE/MAX Tethered Hot Air Balloon Ride (parking Lot, weather permitting) Wildlife Encounters® – Live Animal Shows (show area) VTPA-VT V8 Minis, 2WD Mini Truck, Altered Farm, Diesel, 2.5 Diesel Work Street Legal, 2.6 Pro, Street Legal Semis, S.S. 4×4 Pickups (tractor pad) Addison County Line Dancers – Line Dancing Demo and Lessons (bandstand) THE VOICE’s JAKE WORTHINGTON (show tent)

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Snapshots From6 Field 201

Days

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 19

PHILLIP MARQUIS

JOSHUA GREEN

MIKE ROCHE

Meet the midway workers

By SAM HARTLEY NEW HAVEN — Most people go to the Addison County Fair and Field Days to relax and to enjoy the livestock, the fried fair food and — last, but certainly not least — the carnival rides. Amidst all the sounds, smells and sights that come with the fair, it’s easy to overlook the workers along the midway who keep these enormous machines running for our entertainment.

These men and women come from all parts of the country, and get to see a large part of this country while working the summer season.

They come from humble backgrounds, more often than not. Speaking with them is a reminder of how rough the job market can be in the United States.

That’s certainly true for Phillip Marquis of Newmarket, N.H. For him, the fair circuit is an important source of income.

“I was homeless for a while,” Marquis told a visitor during a break from operating the Tilt-a-Whirl at last year’s fair. “I heard about one show that I had a relative on. I worked there for a while.

Then I went home for a while and ended up on this show.”

Larry Joe Plants, who operated a mini

basketball prize gallery at Field Days, is hearing impaired and cannot speak. This didn’t stop him from doing an interview — he immediately whipped out a little notepad and wrote down his answers with a big smile on his face.

“This is my first time in Vermont,” Plants wrote. “I seen a very nice farm countryside. I really love to work.”

He opened his wallet and excitedly pointed to his ID, which read, “CALIFORNIA.” Like Plants, Joshua Green of Englewood, Fla., also enjoys the nomadic aspect of the fair circuit. “(My favorite part of the job is) traveling, for sure,” Green said. “You meet all walks of life out here and experience all sorts of things and places. That’s part of the adventure of it. That’s the part I love.

The unknown. Anything could happen.”

Mike Roche, who comes from the Bronx, a borough of New York City, was working at Field Days for the third time in 2016.

“Field Days is not bad. I’m comfortable with it,” Roche said.

Like most of his fellow ride operators, Roche works at the fair through a combination of happenstance and the need to find a job.

“They happened to come to the town

LARRY JOE PLANTS where I stay and they needed a bunch of help,” he said. “I signed on and met them at the next spot and they kept me.”

Phillip Sola of the New York borough of Staten Island started working at fairs when he was 17 years old. He’s been on this circuit since 2006.

While Sola was soft-spoken and a bit shy with a reporter, it was clear that he enjoyed this line of work because of how happy the “Zipper” makes the kids who ride it.

Page 20

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

STEVEN PETERS OF Joan and Steve’s Lemonade has traveled the country fair circuit for three decades slaking thirsty fairgoers with his ice cold drinks.

Independent file photo/Trent Campbell

When it’s hot, lemonade hits the spot!

By EMMA COTTON It’s easy to spot Joan and Steve’s Lemonade while perusing the Addison County Fair and Field Days: Their yellow pop-up is decorated with flowers and baskets of lemons, and the attendants are most likely making some noise while shaking up one of their freshly-squeezed concoctions.

Spotting the stand was certainly a relief during the 2016 fair — especially those traversing the grounds under the week’s beating hot sun.

“We get a lot of compliments on our lemonade,” owner Steven Peters told a parched inquisitor.

Peters has two best-sellers: a classic lemonade shaken with ice and a few fresh wedges, and the lesser-known maple lemonade, added to the menu just two years ago, in which they use maple syrup instead of sugar. While the classic lemon-

ade’s sugar level is subtler, the maple lemonade is great for those with a sweet tooth.

Peters and his wife, Joan, have owned the stand since 1995.

Before that, Peters worked as an attendant for nine years when his aunt and uncle owned it. When Peters took over, he remodeled the stand and added small perks, like reusable 32-ounce cups.

In the future, the he hope to pass the stand down to their daughter, Autumn Degree, who serves lemonade now.

“She’s our right hand,” Joan said. “She doesn’t get paid, but she knows the lemonade is going to be hers one day.”

Though many customers may be tempted to replicate the recipe themselves, the Peters aren’t about to share the recipe.

“So many people say they’ve tried this at home and can’t get it to taste this way,” Joan said.

The recipe for Joan and Steve’s Lemonade is a secret, but for those who crave a splash of something refreshing, here’s a recipe for maple strawberry lemonade that’s almost as good. Make it and compare!

Maple Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients: 6 lemons, squeezed ¾ cups of maple syrup 6 cups cold water 1 pint strawberries 1. Purée the strawberries in a blender until smooth.

2. Warm the maple syrup until runny.

3. Combine the lemon juice and cold water and stir until combined. Add the maple sugar (a little at a time, if you want to test the sweetness) and strawberry purée, and mix.

4. Pour the mixture over ice, add lemon and strawberry slices if you’re feeling fancy, and enjoy!

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 21

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Page 22

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Hand mowing will captivate its audiance

By CHARMAINE LAM NEW HAVEN — At the busy Addison County fairgrounds one morning at last year’s Field Days, the eyes were drawn everywhere: the towering rides, the colorful banners and excited, shouting children. But in one corner of the festivities, the crowd focused on a more somber event.

More somber, at least, at first glance.

It was the Addison County Fair and Field Days’ 38th annual hand mowing contest, and Lucien Paquette, the nearly 100-year-old founder of Field Days and founder of the competition, was set to compete.

In hand mowing, contestants use their own scythes, sharpened to perfection for the event, to clear an area of overgrown grass. Onlookers shout and cheer for the participants, who are judged on the speed with which they clear the area, the width of the area and the height of the stubble that is left.

What is not judged is the aesthetics of hand mowing, which last year captivated the audience especially when Paquette took his turn.

“When you’ve got a sharp blade and a good rhythm going, strength isn’t important. It’s all in the technique,” the commentator blared through speakers at the event. “(Paquette)’s technique is gorgeous, it’s beautiful.”

While onlookers marveled at the beauty of Paquette’s work, the significance of the event lies elsewhere for the Craftsbury, Vt., native.

For Paquette, the event is a nostalgic nod to his childhood and to rural traditions that have become replaced by technology and machinery. “(Hand mowing) was a very common matter, and then it started diminishing,” he said. “And really, I think (that’s) what prompted me more than anything else. I was afraid that this matter of hand mowing was going to disappear, so I started this hand-mowing contest. And lo and behold, it worked!”

“People are bringing their kids,” said Kathy Duclos, one of the organizers of the event. “And there are young people coming and there are young men in their 30s who weren’t mowing before who are just terrific.”

The publicity hand mowing has enjoyed due to such competitions at Field Days and at fairs across the state has also revived the practice. According to Duclos, the event brings awareness to a practice that many don’t know about anymore and highlights its usefulness in the yard or the neighborhood.

The inaugural contest in 1978 saw 35 contestants, a number which came as a welcome surprise to Paquette. Since then, the event has grown steadily, hosting the largest number of contestants in its history this year in six age categories that range from the 16-and-younger youth category to the 80-plus division, which featured Paquette himself.

For many contestants, the nostalgia of a childhood practice adds to its fun. Mike Canty, 67, used to help his father clear the sidewalk with a hand-mowing scythe. Even though that hasn’t been a part of his life for a while, Canty has competed in the hand-mowing contest for the past 25 years.

Page 23

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

UVM Extension plays a key role in ag education

By EMMA COTTON NEW HAVEN — In 1948, Lucien Paquette spearheaded a new event to educate the public about new farming technology and techniques. Organizers called it Addison County Fair and Field Days.

Though Paquette has long-since retired from his position as the Addison County agricultural agent for the University of Vermont Extension, the program he worked for, continues its educational mission at Field Days 68 years later.

Jeff Carter, who took Paquette’s place several years after he retired, was talking to visitors at last year’s fair. He was at UVM Extension agriculture display that was appropriately placed in the Lucien Paquette Exhibition Building on the New Haven fairgrounds.

Harking back to the roots of the fair, Carter’s main mission is to engage the public in conversations about farming.

“We talk to the general public, farmers and youth about what’s happening in agriculture currently,” he said. “Now, after 68 years, Extension still has the same role of engaging the public in education and showing farmers new things.”

The exhibit features crops that have been grown and submitted by farmers in Addison County, some of which have won blue ribbons for excellence. This year, they received over 150 entries.

The display helps get the farmers publicity, and in turn supplies the six-person Extension crew with actual local crops to educate passers-by about new things that are growing in the area, like soybeans.

Carter says farmers started growing soybeans in the area recently, and many non-famers don’t recognize the crop. To him, this represents a disconnect between the farming culture and the public.

“People don’t understand agriculture very well,” he said.

“Here, we can talk to the general public about different types of agricultural land use, crops that are grown, no-till, cover crops, soil conservation, different types of machinery to help with protecting water quality and being more profitable on the farm.”

Extension’s exhibit also features a TV that has moving slides and video demonstrations by farmers who explain different techniques and equipment.

Out back, the Extension team simulates rainfall infiltration and runoff on several different sample patches of soil. The activity exemplifies Extension’s commitment to lessening the impact of agriculture on water quality and the environment.

Carter also showcases two no-till drills: hulking machines that look like transformed tractors. His team has performed research on the equipment, and can provide statistical data to farmers looking to try it out.

With 30 years of work at Extension under his belt, he’s hopeful about what can be accomplished.

“It’s kind of interesting to be part of a game that’s been around for that long, and has a consistent mission of education and outreach,” he said. “Agriculture’s changing all the time, and we like to think we’re positively influencing it.”

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Page 24

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Michael Blaine will bring out your inner rock star

By EMMA COTTON and ELLIE REINHARDT “You cannot escape my trance.” Hypnotist Michael Blaine’s slogan hung ominously above him on a banner as he attempted (and succeeded in some cases) to hypnotize audience members in the show tent at Field Days during a run at the 2016 fair.

Albeit unnerving, the mantra fits the performer, who recently retired from a 26-year run as a lieutenant watch commander in a New York prison (he stressed that he never hypnotized prisoners).

Standing on stage, Blaine plucked willing volunteers from the audience and placed them in eight white seats. Every hypnotist uses different methods to engage the trance, and Blaine used both auditory and visual tricks to guide volunteers into relaxation.

“Every technique is different,” he said told a reporter. “Mine is longer than it has to be, but it’s very,

HYPNOTIST MICHAEL BLAINE encourages an audience member to “play” a guitar during his performance Thursday in the show tent.

Independent file photo/Trent Campbell

very effective. It’s slower, gentler and eases them into it.”

Once on stage, Blaine searches for signs that volunteers are distracted or faking hypnosis. When discovered, he kindly requests that they return to their seat in the audience. At a Thursday show, Blaine pulled four volunteers to the stage, but only one was successfully hypnotized.

“Two from the start I knew would not be worth anything,” he said. “The third I thought would do very well, but I ended up having to dismiss her so I ended up with just the one.”

Blaine said a one-person show is hard to pull off.

“The more people I have, the more personalities I have on stage, the (more) responses I get to different things,” he said.

But he said the one guy he kept on stage Thursday turned out to be a good choice.

“He was gold,” Blaine said.

The volunteer responded obediently to Blaine’s suggestions.

Each time Blaine said “hypnosis,” the subject jumped up, thinking he was Rocky Balboa. When “Gonna Fly Now,” the “Rocky” theme song, came on, the young man danced around, pretending to be part of a fight.

“He was a very good subject,” Blaine said. “I hate to abuse him, for a better term but I have to utilize what I have.”

Blaine has had his eye on a career in hypnosis since he was a child, when he watched his uncle work as a hypnotherapist. Blaine is trained in hypnotherapy, but he prefers performing.

“I just don’t enjoy it,” he said of a clinical setting. “Helping people is positive, but this is fun.”

His career has taken him from Maine to Alaska to Hawaii. Everywhere he goes, Blaine said, he encounters people who don’t believe in what he does, but he will never stop trying to convince them. He claims that hypnosis activates the subconscious, and the subject’s mind becomes “more focused than a laser beam.”

“Give me a fair shake,” he said. “You’ll be amazed at how receptive you are.”

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 25

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Page 26

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

DEMOLITION DERBY COMPETITORS gather around for a briefing before the start of the derby in 2016.

Independent file photo/Trent Campbell

Roar of the Demo Derby draws the crowds

By EVAN JOHNSON NEW HAVEN — Over the course of two evenings at Addison County Fair and Field Days, it is not unusual to find twisted metal, shredded rubber and a few puddles of flaming gasoline covering the dirt track on the tractor pad.

What else could create such sights besides the annual No. 1 Auto Parts Demolition Derby?

The longstanding attraction on the tractor pad at the fair brings its share of thrills, dust and noise to the east end of the fairgrounds. At last year’s demo derby there was also confusion and outrage when two-time state champion Justin Bolster walked away with the grand prize at the end of Thursday night’s big feature.

The Wednesday evening card at last year’s Field Days saw seven bouts, with many veteran drivers smashing their way to

qualify for the next night’s contest.

In the first four-cylinder round, boyfriend and girlfriend Brian Blake and Jessica Morse of Cornwall, found themselves facing off for first and second place. Morse had to weave her way through the smoking wrecks of competitors around her to get in on the action. After making contact with Blake’s ride, both cars exhausted and the winners climbed out of their respective rigs to hug.

“I just looked behind me and there she was,” Blake said afterwards as the two walked off the track, hands linked and trophies under their arms.

In the second V4 round, Gary Grant of Addison succeeded in reducing the overall length of his car by about a third while smashing his way to first place. Shoreham’s Gabe LaVerge (See Demo Derby, Page 27)

See YOU at Field Days!

99 Wilson Road • Middlebury, VT • 388-3143

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 27

Demo Derby (Continued from Page 26) did some impressive battle with RJ Germain to claim the second qualifying spot.

Grant had barely finished getting what was left of his vehicle off the track when he had to run back out to fight his way to second behind his brother Geoffrey Grant in the opening V6 battle, which saw three fires that were quickly extinguished by Vergennes firefighters, who were outfitted in heavy gear on a hot night.

First-round winner Brian Blake returned for the second 6-cylinder bout to again stand at the top of the pile ahead of Skip Foster. Ben Heustiss of Vergennes also advanced.

The motorized chaos continued with a bout of 15 vans.

Gary English’s Nop Brothers Sons van brought a world of pain until his Dodge was knocked out by winners Tim Whitney and Garrett Given, both of Cornwall.

While the earlier heats saw crowded action, the one V8 bout of the night had just five cars squaring off in the arena, allowing dramatic spins and swerves at higher speeds. In a frantic effort to escape pressure, Boomer LaFountain, slightly overzealous with the accelerator, found himself stuck between two of the concrete blocks that enclosed the ring, rendering his front end vulnerable to Wade Steel, who quickly dispatched him. Carl Foster’s smaller and more maneuverable Volvo amazingly retained all four tires on the way to qualify alongside Gary English.

A fleet of seven trucks rounded out the first evening. Wallingford’s Tommy Woodbury lost a wheel in the opening seconds thanks to an accurate hit from Garrett Given, but still managed to fight his way to one of the qualifying spots. It was Chris Bapp of Bristol who delivered the final blows of the night with smoke pouring from the hood. And the crowd roared approval as the night concluded.

THURSDAY DEMOLITION Action resumed the next evening with more qualifying heats and the final feature, which had a $1,000 grand prize.

In the two four-cylinder heats, Garrett Givens, Dan O’Shaughnessy, Brent Warren (aka “Kid Dynomite”), and Isaac Paquette smashed their way to top positions.

Greg Whitney of Brandon and Bridgette Sheppard of Starksboro came out on top of the pile in the V6 qualifier.

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BRIAN BLAKE OF Cornwall raises his fist in celebration after winning the first round of last year’s demolition derby at Field Days.

Independent file photo/Trent Campbell

More van action featured four vans and a smaller pickup driven by RJ Toll. The two-door Toyota was too small for the truck division, but with some modifications, was able to run with the minivans. Ethan Farrell’s “special delivery” van reduced the Toyota to a wreck of scrap metal by sandwiching it against the concrete blocks. Farrell, who came from Narragansett, R.I., qualified for the feature along with pig farmer Ethan Gevry’s “Hog-wild” machine.

The V8 qualifier of the evening saw the debut of the Justin (See The battles, Page 36)

Page 28

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Field Days Entertainment

JAKE WORTHINGTON

There’s live music galore & more at the fair

By JOHN S. McCRIGHT may have seen Lucia when he played with The Gunslingers, In the good old days Ed Sullivan (among many others) and Bagdy has played with a number of three-piece bands that broadcast a variety show on television. Summer is right cut- have played around Addison County over the years. ting down on the screen time and getting out to see a real live Vaughn said it took three years to get the five members of variety show. The perfect venue for that is the 69th annual Ad- the band together, and now that they’ve played as a quintet for dison County Fair and Field Days. This year’s a full year they’ve become pretty tight. fair will offer a wide variety entertainment — Thursday evening’s entertainment will feaThis year Field Days ture TWO local bands. very wide.

This year Field Days is hosting a broad range is hosting a broad At 7 p.m. on the Bandstand is “Toast.” of entertainers that will delight both young and range of entertainToast has been a band in different incarnaold throughout the week. There will be plenty ers that will delight tions for 20 years or so. Original member Eric for fairgoers to laugh at and hum along to as (lead guitar and vocals) is joined by both young and old Bresnick they stroll around the grounds. Plus there are Amanda Rock on lead vocals, Billy Dorsey several acts performing in the evenings that you throughout the week. playing bass and Corey Many on drums. After There will be plenty won’t want to miss. the lead singer moved away, Bresnick said he The local bands at Field Days this year will for fairgoers to laugh noticed how well Amanda Rock sang and loved be worth a stop by the Bandstand and the Show at and hum along to Toast’s repertoire so they asked her to join.

Tent. as they stroll around Since then, she’s opened up the band’s options.

Give a listen to “Unfortunate Son” at the Toast is a cover band predominantly, and the grounds.

Bandstand on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. its rock-oriented and ranges from a bit of ’70s This Bristol-based band plays Classic Rock funk to ’80s hard rock to ’90 s alt-rock to curwith a heavy emphasis on the rock-blues tradition (think Led rent rock and pop-rock. At Field Days, he said, Toast will try Zepplin) with some ’90s Grunge Rock thrown in for good to match the taste of the crowd. measure. Singer Rijad Kapetanovic fronts Unfortunate Son; “We are equally at home playing for all ages of people, as and the lineup also includes drummer Ross Vaughn of Bris- evidenced a few weeks back at a wedding gig where the adults tol, Essex residents Bill Bagdy and 24-year-old Alex Lucia were off schmoozing and we ended up playing to 20 dancing on guitar, and bassist Steve True of Ticonderoga, N.Y. People (Continued on, Page 29)

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 29

Field Days Entertainment (Continued from Page 28) children, so we hosted an impromptu dance contest!” Bresnick said. “We’ve been doing this so long that now, not only do some of our original fans/friends come see us, but their grown kids do as well.

Another Addison County band also plays at 7 p.m. on Thursday — “Twist of Fate” at the Show Tent.

Established in 2012, this band rocks. Band members are Mike Brinkman on lead guitar, Alex Russett on rhythm guitar, Chuck Cushman on bass, Kevin Bradford on drums and Mark Delorme on keyboard. They pretty much all sing (Bradford not so much into the mic).

Listen for a combination of original music and a wide variety of cover songs, ranging from ’80s and ’90s pop to alternative to metal and so much more.

Twist of Fate plays around quite a bit, and you may have heard them at City Limits Night Club in Vergennes, Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury or even at the Vergennes Junior Fishing Derby earlier this summer.

Other local acts that will be performing at this year’s Field Days include the Addison County Gospel Choir on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Show Tent, and Panton’s Vorsteveld Family Band on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Bandstand.

Field Day organizers always bring at least one bigger name act to the fair each year, and this year’s recognizable name is country singer Jake Worthington, who will perform in the Show Tent at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

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The 21-year-old from La Porte, Texas, was the runner-up in “The Voice” television talent show on NBC-TV in 2014. In 2015 he released his debut EP, which premiered at No. 44 on Billboard Country chart. The first single from the EP reached Top 50 and the music video was featured on many music television outlets Worthington’s most recent single, “A Lot of Room to Talk,” reached No. 1 on The Texas Music Chart; the song is the lead single on his new EP that debuted Top 10 on iTunes Country Albums.

Jake’s performance precedes the Champlain Valley Equip(Continued on, Page 30)

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Page 30

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Field Days Entertainment

(Continued from Page 29) ment fireworks display. The fireworks will be launched from a spot east of the horse area, but they will be visible from throughout the fairgrounds.

MUCH MORE ENTERTAINMENT On Tuesday evening the traditional Opening Parade will weave its way through the fairgrounds beginning at 8 p.m.

The theme of the parade this year is “ACCFD, building memories one week at a time.” All entrants are asked to assemble at 7:15 p.m. on the east side of the tractor pad on the road to the north of the parking area. Contact Benj Deppman at 4623614, Diane Norris at 897-7014 or any Field Days director if you plan to participate.

Local DJ Amanda Rock (Yes, the same Amanda Rock who is in the band Toast) takes to the show tent Wednesday at 7 p.m. with his ever-popular Karaoke Talent Night. Rock is a well-known local music maven with favorites from classic to contemporary. Sign up for a spot in the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. You will probably find a few diamonds in the rough among your Addison County neighbors when it comes to singing.

If you think animals are entertaining, there are a couple shows this week that really amp up the animal fun. On Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. is the Open Miniature Donkey Show in Butterfield Arena. Something else that combines entertainment with Field Days’ agricultural roots the Animal

“TWIST OF FATE”

Costume Class at Animal Show Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. It is open to all species except horses (for safety reasons).

Young handlers will lead their four-footed (and four-hoofed) entertainers, which will be dressed in a costume that depicts a scene or theme, including historical, culture, beauty or gag.

This can be great fun!

The All Star Stunt Dog Challenge was a big hit last year, and a dog stunt show returns with its amazing trained dogs on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Show Area. You’ll see these smart (Continued on, Page 31)

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Page 31

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Field Days Entertainment (Continued from Page 30) pooches flying through the air and catching anything that comes their way several times each afternoon in the show area.

For those looking to get up and move (or just watch others move), there are a couple options. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. the Addison County Line Dancers will present a Line Dancing Demonstration and provide lessons to those who really get into it. This is at the Bandstand. There’s more square dancing on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the bandstand when there will be Square Dancing with Cast Of Eights and Lake Champlain Squares. The Addison County Line Dancers will be back at the Bandstand at 7 p.m. on Saturday with more demonstrations of line dancing and, of course, a chance to join in and get some free line dancing lessons.

RETURNING FAVORITES There is plenty of entertainment at Field Days that you may have seen before, but you’ll definitely want to see them again.

Look for feats of strength and skill with the Men’s Caber Toss at the tractor pad on Wednesday at noon. Men will toss a telephone pole (our stand-in for a Scottish caber) end over end for distance. Following them at 1 p.m. will be the Ladies’ Cast Iron Skillet Toss, in which athletes of the fairer sex throw skillets for distance and accuracy.

Four-legged athletes and their highly skilled riders will put on quite a show on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the horse area with the presents the

Gymkhana barrel racing competition.

If you like to see competitions including large vehicles, take in the tractor pulls at the tractor pad on Tuesday afternoon, Friday afternoon and Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

REGULARLY OCCURRING ENTERTAINMENT In addition to the single-time entertainment acts on the fair schedule this year are performances and entertainment that recur several times throughout the week’s activities.

This year there will be several special acts that you can see at various times during the week. Hypnotist Michael Blaine performs comedy hypnosis shows throughout the country.

Look for him at various times — twice a day — in the Show Tent.

Here are a few other performances to seek out: • Our favorite: The Magic Man (Tom Joyce) can be found twice each day in the bandstand with a kid-friendly show that will wow both his young audience and perhaps their chaperones as well. He’s a fantastic performer and true entertainer.

• Cairo Northern Clowns may find you walking the grounds and surprise you with a smile or a laugh when you least expect it.

• Rosie’s Racing Pigs will again woo Field Days crowds with their hilarious racing competition that takes place several times each day in the Dairy area of the fair. They’re not just cute, these pigs can really run, squeal, and amuse their audience.

2017 Garden Game

GOT A GREEN THUMB? THEN PLAY

THE GARDEN GAME!

The Garden Game is a competition for local gardeners to see who can grow the largest produce in several different categories.

Step 1. Pick the biggest veggie in your garden Step 2. Bring it in to our office in the Marble Works in Middlebury Step 3. Get your veg measured and its picture taken Step 4. Check the paper every week to make sure you’re still in the frontrunner spot!

We love to see fresh faces and new participants, as well as gardeners who have been playing for years.

GARDEN GAME RULES

Entries must be home grown in the greater Addison County area • Only produce brought to the Addison Independent office between Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm will be eligible • Weekly front runners will be listed in the “Garden Game” column until another contestant provides a larger sample of that produce category (The largest entries as of Thursday noon deadline will be the front runners listed in that Monday’s edition) • One winner per category • Judge has final word • First place winners will be announced at sign of first frost.

CATEGORIES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Beets (circumference) Broccoli (diameter) Cabbage (circumference) Cantaloupe (circumference) Carrot (length x circumference) Cauliflower (diameter) Cucumber (length x circumference) Eggplant (circumference x circumference) Green Bean (length) Onion (circumference) Potato (length x circumference) Pepper (circumference x circumference) Pumpkin (circumference x circumference) Radish (circumference) Rutabaga (circumference) Summer Squash (length x circumference) Sunflower (diameter) Tomato (circumference) Turnip (circumference) Zucchini (length x circumference)

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Page 33

FOR ST. ALBANS native John Meigs, selling cotton candy and candy apples at Field Days is a family affair, as his concession business includes his wife, his in-laws and nine grandchildren.

Independent file photo/Ellie Reinhardt

Vt. man makes fair food a family affair

By ELLIE REINHARDT There’s no lack of cotton candy or caramel apples at Field Days — just turn a corner and there’s another spot ready to delight any sweet tooth. However, for John Meigs and his concession stand, the competition isn’t a threat.

“You have tried the rest, now try the best!” reads the large white letters on his pink, purple and green stand adorned with hanging bags of pink and blue cotton candy, jugs of soda, candy apples and the promise of sweet satisfaction.

Meigs, 59, is one of many at Field Days who spend the year traveling from fair to fair. A St. Albans native, Meigs now lives in Homosassa, Fla., where he sets up shop at fairs throughout the winter.

As the heat sets in on Florida, Meigs packs up and travels north, stopping in the Carolinas, then on to New Hampshire, New York and Vermont for a summer-long string of fairs and carnivals.

It’s a line of work Meigs was born into, and now shares

with his family. He’s joined in his stand by his wife, in-laws and any of nine grandchildren.

They’ve been coming to the Addison County Fair and Field Days for years.

“My parents did it,” Meigs said. “My father asked to come to Field Days when they first moved here, and we’ve been here ever since. Now, my grandkids always love to come up here.”

A short ways away on the fairgrounds sits a smaller version of Meigs’ stand selling the same sweet treats and manned by Meigs’ father-in-law, a retired truck driver.

For 25 years, Howard Knight, 82, travelled with Meigs.

“It’s definitely a lot different than being a truck driver,” he chuckled during a conversation at last year’s fair.

While five days at Field Days is enough for most, Meigs has come to love the fair life.

“You get to go around and see the same people every year, and watch them grow up,” he said. “It’s fun to see that. We’re here just enjoying ourselves.”

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Thelma Miner has been making her ‘dough’ since 1979

By ELLIE REINHARDT There’s fried dough and then there’s Thelma Miner’s fried bread dough, an Addison County Fair and Field Days staple since 1979.

Miner walked into Field Days nearly four decades ago with her husband and a small cart, decorated red and white, with blue letters and a happy dough-man on the sign. Its replica, a food-truck owned and operated by Miner’s granddaughter, Emily Miner, still stands among the rides and lemonade stands, serving up fried delights.

Bustling with bread dough addicts at the fair one day last year, it was no surprise that it only took one morning for the spot to become a favorite of fairgoers.

“I made one batch of bread dough that first time. I sat there all morning and only sold a tiny bit,” Thelma Miner recalled.

“But then my husband took a piece up to the guys at the radio station. They tried it, began to broadcast it and by 1:30 p.m., I was mobbed.

“It took off like wildfire!”

Miner called for backup.

She was encouraged to start selling her bread dough by friends and was welcomed into Field Days by fair founder

THELMA MINER, RIGHT, started selling fried dough across from the tractor pad at Field Days in 1979. Today, granddaughter Emily Miner, left, continues the tradition.

Independent file photo/Ellie Reinhardt

Lucien Paquette, a close family friend.

She set up her cart across from the tractor pad and sat there for 26 years, making and pushing dough in preparation for the hungry masses.

“I was so darn busy down there that I never wandered far,” she recalled.

(Continued on, Page 35)

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Bread dough (Continued from Page 34) But from her spot on the corner, Miner was still able to watch Field Days pass year after year.

“It’s changed,” she said. “And I don’t know if it’s for the better or not. It was more oriented around agriculture back when I first came. There were a lot more members and farmers.”

Now Miner comes back each “I made one batch of bread dough that year to watch the hand-mowing contest, where she cheers for Pafirst time. I sat there all morning and only quette. Last year, she watched as the 100-year-old legend (well, sold a tiny bit. But three-days short of his 100th then my husband birthday) stood in the hot sun at took a piece up to the guys at the radio the hand mowing competition.

“Lucien’s down there hand station. They tried it, mowing,” Miner said. “He was began to broadcast it and by 1:30 p.m., I out in the hot sun demonstratwas mobbed. It took ing and talking to people. He’s a fantastic person.” off like wildfire!”

And Lucien, who Miner — Thelma Miner has known for 60 years, also knows about her bread dough.

“He hasn’t come up to get his bread dough yet, but he will eventually,” chimed in Emily Miner as she sat beaming proudly at her grandma’s side.

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

The battles (Continued from Page 27) Bolster of New Haven, who brought one of the longest and most powerful vehicles of the contest. The red, late-model station wagon sported twin mufflers protruding from the hood like the horns of an angry bull as he rampaged through a field of competitors, smoking Boomer and parking Underhill’s AJ Sumner in the early moments.

Ryan Sweeney won his $500 entry fee back after battling to the top of the pickup truck qualifier. The Ford, which was painted hunter orange and included a wide Confederate flag across the hood on Thursday night, had been his vehicle for driving to work just two weeks earlier. Josh Kennett survived an illegal driver’s door hit to qualify as well, albeit with next to no steering, one surviving tire and a truck bed that dragged and flapped in the dirt.

Competitors in the final feature of the night were given 10 minutes to make any preparations. The feature included all the winners of the night’s qualifiers as well as those of Wednesday night. Twenty cars of varying sizes crowded into the dirt arena as the crowd counted them down for the final round of the 2016 fair.

The feature contest was chaos as four-, six- and eight-cylinder cars; minivans; and trucks went head-to-head. Clouds of dust and exhaust erupted from the track and the roar of straining engines was louder than any previous contest.

Justin Bolster’s red whale of a station wagon seemed to shrug off blows from competitors as Bolster swung the vehicle in wide, devastating arcs and used the extended steel frame as a battering ram. Shortly after the start, Bolster made contact with a driver’s side door, which earned him a warning from one of the referees.

Groans and shouts of protest issued from the crowd as Bolster committed the same penalty three more times against different cars. With each penalty, the crowd grew more outraged, waving to the announcer’s box to issue a warning or disqualify him. Announcer Steve Bucknam said following the feature that he had signaled to monitors ringing the pit to disqualify him 10 times via walkie-talkie, but due to the noise, they hadn’t heard him and hadn’t made the call. By the time they were able to stop the drivers, most of the cars had been smashed beyond recognition and Bolster, Brian Blake and Chris Murray were

awarded the top three spots, in that order.

“At that point, we’re stuck in the bed we made,” Bucknam said.

A more senior member of the Woodbooger team, which organized the derby, made the final decision to award first place to Bolster. Four people stormed into the press box to angrily demand Bolster be disqualified and fair officials summoned Sheriff’s deputies.

With much grumbling, the crowd left while Bolster’s car was towed from the track, the trophy shining in the backseat.

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

Field Days Parade

By ELLIE REINHARDT NEW HAVEN — As the sun set on the first day of last August’s Addison County Fair and Field Days came to a triumphant close with the annual opening parade, a tradition as old as the fair itself.

The parade featured more than 25 groups, each eager to share their “Favorite Thing about Field Days,” the (See Parade, Page 39) A LONG LINE of tractors old and new were a key part of the Field Days opening day parade that snaked past the midway and vendors at the county fairgrounds in New Haven on the opening day of last year’s fair.

Independent file photo/Ellie Reinhardt

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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Page 39

Parade (Continued from Page 37) theme for the 2016 parade.

“My favorite thing about Field Days is all of it.” said Rustan Swenson, drum major for the Seth Warner Mt. Independence Fife and Drum Corps. “I’m serious, everything, I love it all.”

Swenson stood ready to march in full revolutionary garb at the head of a group of 10 drummers and fifers, the youngest 11 and the oldest — Swenson himself, who was 74 at last year’s fair.

Swenson and the rhythmic reenactment participate in the parade each year, marching and playing traditional music from the American Revolution. They’re also well known across Vermont.

“We play in parades all the way from Montpelier to Bristol and Brandon,” Swenson explained.

Also familiar with Vermont’s parade routes are Rylee Field, Miss Vermont 2016, and Alexandra Diehl, Miss Vermont’s Outstanding Teen 2016. While the two are staples in parades throughout the state this summer, this was their first time waving to the crowds at Addison County’s Field Days.

“This was new, and so fun for us,” exclaimed Field, a Montpelier resident, as she sat perched on the back of a pickup truck, adorned in crown and sash.

Although new to Field Days, the two had already discovered their favorite things.

“I love to see all these kids out with the horses,” said Diehl, a St. Albans resident. “I’m all about fitness for Vermont’s children and this is fantastic.”

“I’m much better with the children than I am with the horses,” chimed in Field. “And of course, we’re both all about the food. There’s nothing better than fair food.”

A FATHER AND son pilot an old Farmall tractor in the Field Days Parade on the first day of the fair last year. They are followed by another antique piece of farm machinery.

Independent file photo/Ellie Reinhardt

A PACK OF Democratic candidates for the Legislature follow a truck carrying Miss Vermont 2016 Rylee Field and Miss Vermont Outstanding Teen 2016 Alexandra Diehl in last year’s parade.

Independent file photo/Ellie Reinhardt

Taborri Bruhl, walking with the Addison County Democrats, would agree.

“I like a lot about Field Days,” the New Haven resident said. “Definitely the tractor pulls and the demolition derby, but also the ribs and the beer tent. I’ll be here every evening for those.”

Bruhl, who successfully staged a write-in campaign earlier in the day to get his name on the ballot for state representative in the Addison-5 House district, was joined by supporters and Sens. Claire Ayre and Christopher Bray.

The trio and fellow Democrats passed out stickers and held signs calling for support.

The Addison County Republicans did the same a few feet in front of Bruhl and his crew, a display of political spirit on what was coincidentally Primary Election Day in Vermont.

The parade line-up also included, among others, the Vergennes City Band; the Cairo Clowns, a duo squeezed onto a golf cart; Jim Amblos’ Miniature Horses; Lucien Paquette celebrating his 100th birthday and the Salisbury Swamp Riders, a local 4-H club driving five sheep along.

A long line of tractors old and new followed as the parade meandered from the tractor pad, through the center of the food and exhibit tents, in front of games and rides and finished back where it started.

As the groups in the parade filed back onto the tractor pad, the sun was down and the parade crowds dispersed.

But it was still up to the team of directors, led by Benj Deppman, to choose the top three participants.

Deppman’s voice rang out over the fair grounds as he congratulated the Vergennes City Band for third place, the Jim Amblos Miniature Horses for second and the Salisbury Swamp Riders for first.

But it seemed that parade participants were already back to the fair, too busy enjoying the high-flying rides and sizzling fried dough to give much notice.

In 2017, the theme for the Field Days parade is: ACFFD, building memories one week at a time.

Page 40

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

ADDISON COUNTY FAIR and Field Days Home and Garden Superintendent Judy Larson, second from left, stands with youth art winners Jack Frizzel, left, Casey Calzini, Romey Munkres, Leah Tierney, Andrew Rockwell and Ben Munkres during a ceremony at the 2016 fair.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

Sponsorship Program In 2000, we instituted a sponsorship program with different dollar levels and rewards at each level for becoming a sponsor.

The following businesses are this year’s sponsors; a HUGE thank you goes out to them for their continued support of the fair.

(This listing is as of July 13, 2017.)

GOLD Sponsors-$2,500 & Up #1 Auto Parts Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. The Addison Independent Champlain Valley Equipment Hall Communications (KOOL 105, WJOY AM 1230 & 98.9 WOKO) Radio Vermont Group (WDEV FM 96.1, FM 96.5 & AM 550) Eagle Country 97.5 Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom Woody Jackson Middlebury Lions Club Vincrest Landcare & VT Bale Creations

Griffith Energy SILVER Sponsors-$1,000-$2,499 Co-operative Insurance Companies VT Natural Ag Products Addison County Solid Waste Management Redline Drainage, LLC Vermont Gas Systems BRONZE Sponsors-$500-$999 Blondin Bros. Auto Body Greene’s Towing Loewer & Associates TJ’s BBQ

Lake Home Business Services Inc. Yankee Farm Credit Friends of Field Days-$250-$499 Bourdon Insurance Agency Briggs Trucking J.P. Carrera & Sons Isham Brook Farm-Roleau Family Boivin Farm Supply Nationwide Agribusiness Twist of Wool Guild Neat Repeats Bristol Electronics National Bank of Middlebury

Addison County Veterinaries Valleywide Veterinary Service practice limited to food animal medicine

Comprehensive veterinary medical care at your home for your small animal pets.

Good Luck to All Participants Kent Anderson, DVM • Glen Cousineau, DVM David Rockwell, DVM • Drexel Wheeler, DVM

Randall N. Ross, VMD Celebrating 16 Years Serving Addison County

802-777-8486 VermontMobileVet.com

Like us on

Office: Kim Miner & Heidi Lanpher

429 Route 30 • Cornwall, VT 802-462-2233

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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nty Fair & Field Day u o C n o s i s Add

“Gala”

The Addison County Field Days Gala is held each year in March. The Gala is a $125 raffle, dinner and dance to help raise money for capital improvements to the fairgrounds where Field Days is held each August. The Field Days directors are determined to continually upgrade the Field Days grounds to make Addison County Fair and Field Days something that all the residents here can be proud of. We certainly appreciate all the support we have received from individuals and businesses that help make the gala such a success. A very special Thank You! to all who have supported us in our efforts.

2017 Gala Supporters BUSINESSES

3 Squares Cafe 31 Handbags 4-H Foundation 4-Hills Farm ACA Inc. - Watson Scott Addison County Commison Sales Addison Eagle Addison Independent Agri-Mark Agway American Legion Post #27 Aubuchon Hardware Bar Antidote Blue Spruce Farm Bourdeau & Bushey Inc. Bourdon Insurance Briggs Enterprises Briggs Trucking Broughton Farm Supply Casella Waste Champlain Valley Motorsports Clark’s Sled Service Clark-Wright Septic Service Classic Stitching Cole’s Flowers Co-op Insurance County Tire Center, Inc. Countryside Paints Courtyard by Marriott Danforth Pewters Deppman & Foley Dinstictive Paints Dorchester Lodge #1 Dubois Farm Earthworks, Inc. Eastern Electrical Field of Painted Dreams Fire & Ice Restaurant

First National Bank of Orwell Foster Motors G. Stone Motors Goodro Lumber Co. Inc. Grant Haven Farm Green Peppers Restaurant Holden Financial Homestead Candle & Wreath Shop HoneyLights Huestis Farm Supply Isham Brook Farm Jackman Fuels (Bristol) Jiffy Mart Joy’s Lakeview Hair Just Fix It-Justin & Jasmine Almeida KEPM Trucking K. Pope & Sons Kittell, Branagan, & Sargent Laberge Insurance Laduc Homecare & Repair Lawes Agricultural Ledgehaven Farm MacIntyres Services Maple Landmark Woodcraft Martin’s Hardware Middlebury Discount Beverage Middlebury Fence Middlebury Fitness Middlebury Inn Mike’s Fuels Misty Knoll Farm Monument Farms Moores Plumbing & Heating Moose Rubbish & Recycling National Bank of Middlebury Nino’s Sicilian Pizza Pepsi Port Henry Service Center Pratt’s Store

r.k. Miles R&L Rubbish Rosie’s Restaurant Rouse Tire Sanel Auto Parts Shear Cuts Soul Soothing Massage Spencer’s Ox Pulling Subway Sweet Cecily Tarry Ho Minature Horses The Diner The Shoreham Inn The Storm Café VTPA Valleywide Veterinary Services Vincrest Landcare Wag On Inn West Addison General Store Weybridge Garage Woodnotch Farm Woodware Woody Jackson Yankee Farm Credit INDIVIDUALS Allen, Neil & Baker, Jenn Altman, Amy Ash, Glenn & Debbie Audet, Cheryl Audet, Leo & Sara Audet, Melissa Audy, Paul & Suzanne Barnes, Bruce Barrett, Linda & Leonard Barrett, Michael Bessette, Alan & Deb Bessette, Earl & Raymonde Bessette, Edward & Melanie

Bigelow, Helen & Cleon Boutin, Greg & Dorothy Briggs, Zak Parks & Sarah Broughton, Matt Broughton, Tom & Charlene Burrows, Peter Bushey, Kerry & Karen Button, Ken & Sandy Carl, Matt & Lindsay Chittenden, Kylie & Jeremy Clark, Alan & Jean Clark, Mary Clark, Ray & Bonnie Cole, Effie Connor, Cheryl & Jerry Cray, Skip Curler, Alan Cyr, Robert & Jeanette Daly, Andrew D’Avignon, TJ & Patty Davis, Robin DeBisschop, Matt & Courtney Deblois, Matthew & Melissa Deering, Andre Deering, Paul & Brenda Degray, Joe Denis, Irene Deppman, Lesley and Benj Desforges, Brian & Elaine Destefano, Bob & Kathy Eastman, Alyson Eastwood, Harold Eastwood, Pat Fisher, Lionel & Ardys Foley, Jim and Stephanie Forbes, Brian & Linda Forgues, Jack & BillieJo Foster, Jim & Tricia Foster, Robert & Nancy

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

2017 Gala Sponsors Galgano, Frank & Margaret Giard, Steve & Missy Gingras, Paul & Susan Gorton, Whitney Greenwalt, Lee Haldeman, Gordon Hallock, Bruce & Hillary Harrison, Pat & Melanie Heffernan, Bill Howlett, Tim & Julie Huestis, Art & Joan Hunt, Rob & Suzy James, Sue Karpak, Deb and Peter Karpak, Devon Keeler, Don & Kathleen Laduc, Tim Lamoureux, Tony Lathrop, Tom Livingston, Mark & Dana Livingston, Phil & Diane

Livingston, Stan Markowski, David Markowski, Greg Markowski, Peter Markowski, Sam McLaughlin, Michael Mullin, Cara Nichols, Alexis Nisun, Satch and Kathy Norris, Diane & Terry Norris, Steve & Jessy Orvis, Randy Ouellette, Aaron & Jenna Ouellette, Steve & Sherry Palermo-Lee, Nancy Paquette, Lucien Paquette, Mike & Sherry Parks, Josh Peck, Glenn & Lynne Peluso, Sarah Piper, Janet & Dennis

Pope, Seth & Stephanie Pratt, Corey & Laurie Pratt, Darwin & Sue Provencher, Larry & Heather Quesnel, Bernard & Louis Reed, Marshlyn Reynolds, Joanne & Richard Roleau, Bill & Bonnie Roleau, John & Margo Roleau, Trent & Abby Rowell, Lisa Roy, Charlie Ryan, Amey Sheldrick, Bill & Jenny Sickles, Mark & Chris Sinks, Bill Smith, Anna Jo Smith, Diane & Wayne Smith, Doug & Vicki Smith, Harvey & Donna Stanway, Beth

Stevens, Judy & Will Sunderland, Bob & Nancy Sunderland, Harold & Margaret Sunderland, Larry & Joyce Sutton, Elsie Sutton, Megan & Clark Tetreault, Pam & Mike Trudeau, Colby Vincent, Bill Vincent, Laurie Vincent, Wyatt & Christine Welch, Chuck & Katie Wells, Brett & Karen White, Bill White, Steve & Cady Whitney, Steve & Jen Wonnacott, Enid Wry, Greg Zecher, John Zeno, Paul & Debbie

Addison County Veterinaries We understand the special role your pet plays in your family, and we’re dedicated to being your partner in your pet’s health care.

Dr. Julie Moenter Dr. Julie Moenter Dr. Meinhardt Dr. Betsey Betsy Meinhardt Dr. Matt Quinn

Daisy’s Dog Days of Summer Tips • Take me for a walk early in the day

• If appropriate, give me a shave

• Check me for ticks – a lot

• Keep me hydrated and flea-free

While in Vergennes, we invite you to take a stroll down Main Street and visit the shops and fine restaurants in our historic downtown.

The Little City is a treasure; a downtown to share.

20 Main Street

167 Monkton Rd., Bristol • 802-453-2191

Dr.Rich RichArmstrong Armstrong Dr. Dr.Kurt KurtKenney Kenney Dr. Dr.Ben Matt Quinn Dr. Hale Dr.Marv EllenGreenberg, Foster CVA Dr. Dr. Foster, DACVIM Dr.Ellen Patrick Leavey Dr. Patrick Leavey Dr. Brendan Bergquist 205 Commerce St., Hinesburg • 802-482-2955

802 877-3371

VergennesAnimalHospital.com

HinesburgBristolVet.com

Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

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Field Days • Official Program • The Addison Independent • July 27, 2017

ITE FREE ON-S ONS TI A LU A EV

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BristolElectronicsVT.com

Vermont Homeowners Recommend We are so pleased with our electric solar panels that we want to tell everyone about our great experience! The wonderful team at Bristol Electronics installed the ground-mount array last fall. We had them put in our solar hot water system several years prior and had established a good working relationship with them. We already knew them to be reliable and quick to fix any problems that arose.

We enjoy the idea of being a part of protecting the environment so when it came time to deciding on what type of solar panels to install for electricity, we contacted Bristol Electronics first, while also considering other companies and products as well. There’s a big world out there with a variety of choices and it was hard to know whose product was actually best for our needs. Finally in the end, we decided on choosing Bristol Electronics because of their reliability, best price, the best installment time frame and most efficient system using micro-inverters instead of the conventional less expensive string inverters.

The team provided very professional and pleasant service all the way from the planning stages to final clean-up. When we finally made the decision to “break ground”, they were exceptionally fast, professional and easy to work with. From start to finish, we were making electricity in about 2 weeks. Indeed, our yard looks better now than before they started! In the end, we are saving a lot of money on both our solar hot water and solar electric systems. Thank you Bristol Electronics for your excellent service in meeting our hopes and expectations!

Sincerely, Ed & Emily Hilbert – Bristol, VT Bristol Electronics installed our 20 panels quickly, efficiently, courteously and just the way we wanted them. Our roof is a difficult one due to our post-andbeam construction, but nevertheless, the crew was friendly, informative and just great people. Then even in the cloud cover, we began immediately to generate electricity! Furthermore (and most importantly for others deciding to install solar), the price was fair, competitive and honest. If we had another home, I’d want them to put the solar panels on that one, too! We recommend solar and Bristol Electronics without reservation!

Lawrence & Cynthia Jones ~ South Starksboro

Visit Us At Field Days!