WESTFIELD – Yeehaw.
This year’s 97th Westfield Fair has something that most other area fairs do not — a real sanctioned rodeo with cowboys and cowgirls.
But that is not all.
When the fair opens its gates on Friday for three days, fairgoers will experience agricultural and livestock exhibits, a midway that grows every year, motorized competitions, live entertainment, music, food, kid’s activities including a petting zoo, and much more, including an exhibit hall filled with flowers, vegetables, handmade items and more entered into competition.
Sheila Phelon, president of the Westfield Fair Association, said people come to the fair for different reasons.
“For many who always attend the fair, it is nostalgia. For first timers, it’s all about seeing a cow or horse up-close for the first time, watching a horse or ox draw, or seeing a cow being milked,” Phelon said.
“Kids love the amusement rides and mini tractor pulls, while adults love our new rodeo which we added two years ago, and the tractor pulls and horse and ox draws. Not a lot of adults understand what is going on, but an announcer explains what is happening during these competitions,” she added.
Founded in 1927 under the name of the Young People’s Agricultural Association, the Westfield Fair remains true to its roots with a junior dairy show, adult dairy show, adult sheep show, junior sheep show, junior beef show, and adult beef show. Additional agricultural activities include truck pulls, ox draw, antique tractor pulls, tractor pulls for kids, and a horse draw. There is also a Barn Museum, filled with memories of bygone farming days.
Live entertainment on Friday features The Boneyard and continues on Saturday with The Storytellers, The Pitoniak Brothers Band, and Jim Blanch and Boot Hill Band. The music comes to an end on Sunday with CO2 and The Attik Band.
Other entertainment spread over the three-day fair includes Bubba’s Reptile Experience, Magical Moments Balloon Sculpture, Lawn Mower Race organized by the New England Lawn Mower Racing Association, a petting zoo for all ages to enjoy, State Police Dog demonstration, a fun hay bale toss for men, women and children, and a Truck & Equipment Show.
Giddy-up over to the Lucky E Rodeo on Saturday at 3 p.m. for some wild action in the ring.
“When I was a kid, our parents took us all the time to the rodeo. My favorites were the bucking horses and bulls which audiences will see at the fair along with tie-down, breakaway, and team roping, and cowgirl barrel racing where the horse and rider run a cloverleaf pattern around barrels,” said Tye Eglin of some of the rodeo competitions that await watchers of all ages.
Before starting his own rodeo in 2014, Eglin played one of the most important roles at the rodeo as a pickup man, who keeps the athletes safe in the area after the end of their ride, as well as keeping track of the horses and bulls used in rough stock events.
He said barrel racing and bull riding — where some bulls can weigh up to 1,400 pounds — remain audience favorites.
While the rodeo can be dangerous for riders, Eglin said he only sees injuries occasionally during bull riding but added “not very often.”
“It’s a chance they take, but today riders wear protective gear such a vests and helmets to avoid serious injury,” he said.
Also, a fair favorite, Phelon noted, there will be a teeter totter competition after the rodeo, where contestants drive their vehicle onto a board balancing on an iron barrel and try to hold it there at the top for five seconds.
Just as many people toss their diets aside during the holiday season, the same holds true when fair season comes around with many taste-tempting treats from cotton candy to fried dough, hamburgers to hot dogs and other delectable treats. Among the many vendors serving up their culinary creations are Butcher Block with their yummy beef brisket, mac and cheese and pulled pork, Poppies with their popular French fries, and Northside Creamery scooping out ice cream.
In addition to beverages of all kinds from sodas to milkshakes, for those old enough to imbibe, there is a beer garden hosted by Tin Bridge Brewing Company which will be open daily.
Before the fair ends for the day on Saturday and Sunday, two lucky children each day will go home with a bicycle as part of the annual Kid’s Bicycle Raffle. More information on the free raffle is available at the information booth in the Exhibit Hall.
Hours are Friday from 5-10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
General admission is $15 and seniors are $12. Children under 12 are free with paid adult admission. Parking is free.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit thewestfieldfair.com.
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