To the Editor:
The Rochester Country Fair Committee wishes to thank the visitors, participants, sponsors, vendors and the many volunteers who helped make the 13th Annual Rochester Country Fair such a success!
We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves at the Fair. If you have some fun photos taken at the Fair that you would like posted on our website, please forward them along. The Fair Committee is already working on preparing for next year’s Fair, so if you have any specific event and theme ideas, please feel free to email them to us rochestercountryfair@comcast.net.
Perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions we have received to date was “why the admission fee?” As an explanation to clarify why an admission was charged, here is some information that might help. Prior years’ Fairs at Plumb Corner cost over $25,000 each. This year, the Fair spent just over $62,000, of which $25,000 was strictly for the required improvements to the Pine Street site. This included the installation of electricity and lighting fixtures and materials, fencing, well, equipment rentals, buildings, signs and various other site preparation costs. It cost over $10,000 for advertising, outhouses, light tower and equipment rentals and fair supplies. The specific entertainment events cost $17,000 and the Police, Fire and EMT details cost $10,000 alone!
Now that the Rochester Country Fair has a permanent home, we look forward to bringing more events and attractions to the Fair next year and years to come. But first we need to focus on raising money to pay for other items that are required and necessary, such as a septic system, additional lighting, seating and a pole barn to shelter the animals. We also hope one day to have bathroom facilities.
Money to pay for all this comes strictly from donations received from businesses, individuals, program book advertisements, vendor and admission fees as well as the numerous fundraisers that the committee works to put together. There is no cost to the town. We feel that a $5 admission charge is relatively inexpensive in comparison to the other local Fairs.
The continuation of the Fair at Pine Street was only accomplished due to the many individuals who donated their time, money and equipment. We are especially thankful to Co-Chair David Souza who took the lead in preparing the field, Rick Charon for his donation of engineering services which would have cost over $10,000, Padula Brothers who donated equipment and the clay to make the tractor pull track, while G.Lopes Construction trucked in the materials. Stearns Irrigation donated the well materials, PCC Corp and Church Street Garage donated heavy equipment, while both Covanta Energy SEMASS and Mayflower Bank backed the Fair with their Sponsorships.
In retrospect, I’m still amazed at how many people stepped up and assisted in making the Fair a success! The Town Hall, Police and Highway Departments were especially helpful. Volunteers came to help setup over 3,000 feet of fence, level the grounds, install telephone poles, light fixtures, construct buildings, gates and signs, mow the grass and just about everything else. We are also fortunate to have such a dedicated committee and staff who are willing to spend the weekend catching frogs at the Frog Derby, flipping hamburgers at the Fair’s Food Booth, set up tables and chairs under the tent, man the ticket booths, and the less glamorous part of the fair, which is of course the cleanup.
Without the help of so many, the Fair would surely have ended when we left Plumb Corner. I don’t think that there are many Towns left where so many people in the community are willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand, and for that we are very grateful. Thank you from everyone on the Rochester Country Fair Committee.
Rochester Country Fair Committee