2011 marked the return of the Windsor County Agricultural Fair in Springfield Vermont and sponsorship had a great deal to do with our success.   Our sponsors' generosity was key to our return to Barlow’s Field and allowed us to once again highlight the agricultural heritage of Vermont and New England.  And this year we are ready to expand on our success with your help.

For the 2012 Fair we are offering sponsorship packages that will give you back more for your sponsorships.   A sponsorship can showcase your business and products to our 3500 plus attendees on July 7 and 8, 2012.  Depending on the sponsorship level you choose your company’s name can be used in our radio and print advertising, in our web content, and onsite during the fair itself. Additionally this June we plan to attend the Strolling of the Heifers Parade  http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/parade-a-weekend-2012   in Brattleboro Vermont which offers a second great venue to display your business – on our banner for the parade and the T-shirts our members will be wearing. 

We have a range of targeted promotional packages available.  We can work with you to tailor a partnership to your specific needs and benefit.   If you would like to sponsor a specific event at the fair just let us know. 

If you are interested please email us at [email protected] for more information.

Thank you!

We thought we would pass along this invitation from Rural Vermont to our

Rural Vermont Hosts a “Leap for Local” Food Tasting and Info Session about Chester’s Food Sovereignty Town Meeting Day Resolution

On Wednesday, February 29th from 6-8 pm, Rural Vermont hosts Town Eating Day for the Chester community at the Fullerton Inn & Restaurant, located on the Village Green of Chester. All Chester residents are invited to review the Food Sovereignty Resolution as it will appear on Chester’s Town Meeting Day ballot while enjoying a “Leap for Local” food tasting featuring the bounty of local farms and prepared by the Fullerton Inn’s Chef James. Donations will be welcomed. Please RSVP for planning purposes by either calling Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or emailing [email protected].

The “Leap for Local” tasting will highlight some of the many farm and food producers in the greater Chester community. A Farmer Showcase in the lobby of the Fullerton Inn will provide an opportunity for Chester residents to meet and mingle with area farmers, including Jersey Girls Dairy, Winterview Farm, Springmore Farm, Woodcock Farm, Smokeshire Hilltop Farm, and Coger’s Sugarhouse Garden.

Over the course of the evening, and during the local food tasting, Chester residents can participate in an informal discussion with Rural Vermont staff about Chester’s “Food Sovereignty” resolution and its potential impacts on the Chester community and the state of Vermont. Find out what can be done to ensure this important declaration of support for “Vermonters Feeding Vermonters” passes at Town Meeting on March 5th.

Folks will also have the opportunity to learn more about the larger, statewide Vermonters Feeding Vermonters campaign, which draws together all of Rural Vermont’s past and current agricultural policy issues under the common thread of food sovereignty. The principles of food sovereignty call for food for all people that is healthy and accessible, valuing our food providers, and localizing our food system as well as the decisions that are made around it. As part of this campaign, Rural Vermont is working with towns, such as Chester, to pass Town Meeting Day resolutions that will prioritize the interests of communities over those of the corporate food regime.

The Fullerton Inn & Restaurant is generously donating the space for this special event and Head Chef James Beliveau his expertise towards making this a hospitable and delicious event. The Fullerton Inn & Restaurant is located on the historic and picturesque Village Green of Chester and offers luxurious accommodations and dining for visitors as well as catering for special events. Enjoy live music on Fridays with farm-sourced meals cooked by famous Vermont Chef James Beliveau.

Rural Vermont is a non-profit advocacy group founded by farmers in 1985. For 25 years, Rural Vermont has been advancing economic justice for Vermont farmers through advocacy and education. For more info or to join Rural Vermont’s mailing list, call (802) 223-7222 or visit www.ruralvermont.org.

People of all ages can find something fun to compete in during the Windsor County Agricultural Fair. You don’t have to be just an observer; you can join in the fun, amaze your friends and maybe win some bragging rights and prizes in the process!

On Saturday July 9th at 1 p.m. Arms for Kids will sponsor an Arm-Wrestling Tournament open to all ages.  The group is a non-profit children's charity that was founded in 2006 by brothers Jeramie and Justin Towle from Claremont, New Hampshire.  The group raises funds for local children in need through these tournaments and other fund-raising activities. Weigh-ins and registration start at 10:30.  There will be adult prizes for the top 3 contenders, with all participating kids receiving an award.  Contact Arms for Kids at 802-376-4223 for more information or visit their webpage at http://www.armsforkids.com

Get out your recipe box as a King Arthur Flour Baking Contest will be held on both days of the fair.  Saturday will be a Brownie contest for juniors (8 to 17) and Sunday will be a Raspberry Pie contest for adults.  Judging will be at 11:30 a.m. both days.  Entries must be made from scratch with King Arthur flour and be submitted in a disposable pan.   Drop your entries off at the Fair Committee Office between 10 and 11 on the correct day. First, second and third prizes for each day include gift certificates to King Arthur Baker’s Catalogue and King Arthur merchandise.  For more information about the Baking Contest contact Deb Ankuda at 802-885-1062.

Not a baker, but love canning?  Well, the Jam-Jelly and Relish-Chutney competitions will be right up your alley.  Jams and Jellies will be judged on Saturday and the Relishes and Chutneys on Sunday.  Judging begins at 11:30 each day. Products should be dropped off between 10 and 11 am at the Fair Committee Booth.  Each contestant may enter as many different items as they wish as long as a separate entry form is made out for each item. Please include a recipe card with each one.  For more information on entering please contact Deb Ankuda at 802-885-1062.  Rules available for download from our Rules and Documents page.

After your competition, take a stroll around the Fairgrounds, there’s lots to see.  C.H.A.P.S. Riding Club is hosting a horse show game day on Saturday.  4-H competitions and exhibits take place throughout the weekend including working steers, dairy cows and llamas and alpacas.  The main stage will be the place to look for entertainment. Buddy the Clown will be entertaining the kids. Local band the Illusion, guitarists Dan & Bob as well as singer Dr. Rogers will all be taking their turn getting the audience to tap their feet.  As a special treat for Springfield’s 250th Anniversary the Springfield Community Players will be putting on an old radio show which is sure to delight! 

Get your vocal chords in shape!  The Windsor County Ag Fair is all about singing this year.  The highlight for American Idol wannabes will be the Country Karaoke Contest scheduled for Saturday, July 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. on main stage.  So start getting ready; pick a crowd pleasing song or two, know the words, get out a memorable outfit and you’ll be good to go.

Co- MCs Dan Cole of 5 Season Entertainment and Reuben Ouellette will be organizing the singers by age.  There will be three groups: kids (0-16), teens (16-21), and adults (21+).   Guys and gals will compete against each other.  The music is all country (no rock etc) and provided for you.    First, Second and Third place winners will be picked in each of the three categories.  Please arrive early in order to register between 3 and 4 p.m.

Need a little practice before the competition? The karaoke fun will continue all weekend in the Fair’s “Entertainment Tent”.  Dan Cole will have his Karaoke equipment set up both Saturday and Sunday July 9 and 10 with free karaoke for all from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  So you’ll have plenty of time to test your favorite songs on the passing crowd and polish your act. 

Thanks to Frank Gould, IV (17) of Springfield the Windsor County Agricultural Fair will have a new Milk Promotion booth this year.  With a planned name of “The Milk House” as a nod to the name local dairy farmers give to the room where they cool and handle milk, the new donated building is a much needed facility.  It has been more than 15 years since milk promotion has had a dedicated location at the fair. 

Frank is a Life Scout with the VFW Robert L. Johnson Post 771, Boy Scout Troop 252 in Springfield led by Scout Master Paul Kendall.  His parents, Frank, III and Karen are longtime committee members of the Fair and it only seemed natural to Frank to focus his Eagle Scout project in that direction.  The booth will measure 8 ft by 8 ft and be a place where fairgoers can learn about milk production; kids can get some fun dairy related materials & souvenirs and everyone can get a glass of free milk donated by McNamara’s Dairy in Plainfield, NH.

Frank has passed the planning stage and work has begun on the actual building.  He won’t be working alone though; his entire troop will join in the construction process.  Frank designed the building on his own and he also organized a plan to garner donations of building supplies and funds from local merchants and individuals.  The long list of donors will be added to a permanent plaque on the building in appreciation of all those who helped make the building possible.

Once the building is complete Gurney Brother’s Construction from North Springfield along with Frank’s father and other fair committee members will transport it to its new home at the fairgrounds on Barlow’s Field, Eureka Road.    The fair scheduled for July 9 and 10 is known as the “Best Little Fair in Vermont” and includes a variety of entertainments and educational exhibits relating to Vermont’s farming heritage.

On Saturday and Sunday July 9thand 10th the Windsor County Agricultural Fair will host an ATV Obstacle Course Challenge at Barlow’s Field in Springfield in partnership with the Reading R.A.T.S. (Reading All Terrain Sportsmen).  Mark Bushway Construction and Gurney Brothers Construction are supplying materials for the construction of the course and Spauldings Service Station has donated the use of the Portatree Timing System.

This popular event promises excitement for both competitors and spectators alike. Registration for the competition starts at 9 a.m. on both days in the upper field of the fairgrounds.  Competition will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday and at 12 p.m. on Sunday.   Each day will feature 4 classes: 2 Wheel Drive 399cc and Under; 2 Wheel Drive 400cc and over; 4 Wheel Drive 0 – 500cc; and4 Wheel Drive 501cc and over.

Anyone may participate if they are at least 18 years of age (proof of age required).  All participants must wear a helmet and safety gear.  This is a ‘bring your own ATV course’.  Participants will need to pay the $7.00 fee for the fair and a $10.00 entry fee for the competition itself.  The fun lasts until all the competitors have run the course.  The competition is an electronically timed course using “port a tree” timing system and trophies will be awards for the top three finishers in each class.

The R.A.T.S. meet every month on the second Wednesday at 7 PM at the fire department in Reading.  Their riding season is May 15 to December 15 and memberships can be purchased at Exit 9 Motor Sports in Windsor, Napa in Ludlow, Robbins Sled Shop in Windsor and the Reading Greenhouse.  Total cost for a V.A.S.A./R.A.T.S. membership is $ 50.00 which entitles you to ride on any VASA trail in Vermont.

Questions about the competition can be answered by contacting Dan Hadwin at 886-8252, Dennis Allen at [email protected] or Carole Canfield at [email protected]