T-burg Fair returns after COVID hiatus

A year after being canceled due to the pandemic, the Trumansburg Fair will return to the fairgrounds Aug. 24.

“So far, we’re alright, but you never know. It could change any day,” said Jerry Reynolds, Trumansburg Fair Association president, when asked if the pandemic has changed anything. “Just like everyplace else, if you’re not vaccinated, you should wear a mask. Other than that, it’s pretty much open as normal.”

Aside from a couple of years during World War II, Reynolds said, the fair that began in 1850 has taken place every year except in 2020. Having the year off and uncertainty about this year has been a challenge, he said, and planning has taken place in a much shorter amount of time.

“We usually have a convention every year in January with all the fairs in the state. We usually book the acts in January,” Reynolds said. “But we didn’t know if we could have a fair until April, so we had to hustle around to get everything lined up.”

About 30 to 40 people volunteer to get the fair up and running.

“It takes quite a lot of time,” Reynolds said.

A fair staple is back — the demolition derby — and will take place on the opening and last two days of events. There will be a traditional demolition derby, as well as pickup truck and minivan versions.

“The demolition derby is probably the most favorite thing at the fair,” Reynolds said.

Jay Milligan, president of JM Motorsport Productions, which is running the demolition derby events at the fair, said people “love to see smashing and crashing.”

“It is mostly local people who come out to compete, so their friends — or enemies — come out, whether they’re sitting in the stands watching or are in another car waiting to smash them,” he said. “The action is different every year. You never know what is going to happen in a derby. Sometimes cars roll over. There are little fires. There’s excitement.”

Despite the smashing and crashing, Milligan said those who compete do so safely.

“The rules are very safe for all the drivers,” he said. “That’s why people love to compete in it as well.”

Opening day, Aug. 24, will feature colt stake and harness racing at noon, and the midway opens at 4 p.m., marking the official start to the fair.

Aug. 25 and 27 are designated Children’s Days, with youth activities planned.

“We have a youth program in front of the grandstand. On Wednesday, there will be all kinds of events, like egg toss and [a] pie-eating contest, all for kids,” Reynolds said. “On Friday, we will have a kids pedal pull. That’s a tricycle-type tractor that pulls a sled. That’s quite interesting for kids, too.”

On Aug. 28, the Firemen’s Parade will take place at 4 p.m., starting near the Trumansburg Fire Department, then marching through the village to the Fairgrounds and onto the grandstand. And later that night, fireworks are set for 9:30 p.m.

There also will be agricultural exhibits on display.

“There will be dairy cows and sheep, and we might have some llamas,” Reynolds said. “We have a group that is going to demonstrate where fiber comes from, either from cotton or animals, and how it goes into the clothes we wear.”

A new event this year, Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers show, has drawn criticism from area residents. Reynolds acknowledged the local criticisms of the tiger show, saying that everyone has their own opinion about it.

“This fellow putting the show on, he’s worked hard,” he said. “Bengal tigers are almost extinct, and this man putting the show on is trying to save as many as he can. Whatever other people think, he’s doing the right thing in trying to save them and get more tigers in the country.”

Molly Wadzeck Kraus of Trumansburg raised the issue of exotic animals on display at the fair in 2019, the last time it took place. She wrote letters printed by local news organizations calling on the fair association to stop using wild animal exhibitions. Wadzeck Kraus maintains that stance this year, objecting to the Bengal tiger show.

“Animal exhibition is a very poorly regulated industry, and the federal law [Animal Welfare Act] is weak and poorly enforced. Exhibitors can keep animals in inhumane and unsafe conditions and still comply with the law,” she said of her objections. “Animals on the road don’t have access to urgent veterinary care and are kept in overcrowded conditions that deprive them of the ability to express natural behaviors.”

Wadzeck Kraus also pointed out that state and county fairs are typically “intended to highlight and promote agriculture and agricultural activities.”

“Shocked” was how Alexis Self of Trumansburg described her feeling when she saw the fair would have the Bengal tiger show, which led her to launch an online petition calling on the fair organizers to stop exploiting wild animals.

“The thought of Bengal tigers, an endangered species with an estimated 2,500 left in the wild, being paraded around to entertain people just seemed very wrong to me. I like to believe that there’s good in people, so I would hope that their ‘keeper’ has no bad intentions, but the traveling life for a tiger is not a good life,” Self said. “Wild animals should not be kept in cages or forced to perform in acts that are presented under the guise of education and conservation. Sure, maybe someone will learn something about tigers at the show, but there are much less harmful ways to learn about a wild animal.”

Wadzeck Kraus said she has found many others who share her feelings.

“Any pushback I receive usually references how these acts or traveling zoos are educational for children,” she said. “Animal acts are for entertainment purposes, not education.”

Self said people who share her feelings have responded to her petition, which had more than 36,000 signatures as of Aug. 14, and social media posts.

“It’s sad to think of tigers being kept in cages traveling around the country, and it’s easy to see the harm in keeping a wild animal that way,” she said. “Perhaps the town can pass an ordinance and the fair board will no longer have a choice about scheduling wild animal acts. Lots of people who have reached out say they are torn and want to boycott the fair, but of course, that’s difficult if you have children who are hoping to attend. But honestly, exploiting an endangered species should not be included in the ticket price of a local fair.”

Reynolds noted that fair organizers had booked a flying trapeze show for this year’s event, but that act was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. That led to the tiger show booking.

“We usually have a free act so people can watch. This is about the only thing that was available,” Reynolds said. “[The tigers are] well taken care of, regardless of what people think.”

He said the fair will also feature a dog show, “where the dogs jump in the air and catch frisbees, that sort of thing,” and three horse shows.

Asked for a suggestion to replace a wild animal show at the fair, Wadzeck Kraus said she was uncertain that it was needed. She noted the dog show, agriculture awareness daily activity and horse and cattle shows as providing a chance for people to interact with and learn about animals.

“However, [I] suppose the fair board felt that removing an exotic petting zoo or wild animal show would leave them with a lackluster program,” she said. “In that case, there are many entertaining kid-friendly alternatives to include: Pet adoption events for the Tompkins County SPCA in which people could meet and interact with adoptable animals; acrobats and human circus performers — I’d suggest even contracting with our excellent local circus troupe from Circus Culture in Ithaca; children’s magicians; ventriloquists. It is a perfect opportunity to collaborate with local farmers or domestic animal caregivers. There is no shortage of creative ideas from our own community.”

“I don’t know how needed a replacement show is per se — isn’t the draw of a fair the rides, games, fried foods — funnel cake! — local domesticated farm animal exhibits, maybe the demolition derby?” Self added. “Is a replacement even needed?”

Advance ride tickets are available at the website of Coleman Brothers, which Reynolds said runs the carnival portion of the fair. He said there is a $5 discount for purchasing ride wristbands in advance.

Reynolds said free parking is available at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds.

For more information about the Trumansburg Fair, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/trumansburgfair.

Have Trumansburg-area news to share? Contact Rob Montana at rob.j.montana@gmail.com.