The Antique Tractor pull began with a parade at 5:00 PM at the junction of Rt 100 and Higley Hill Rd in Wilmington, picking up tractors along the way, ending at the fairgrounds with 17 tractors in the parade. The tractor pull is more for exhibition, and no classes or prize money is involved, and a stone boat loaded for weight. John Deere was well represented having 22 of the 32 tractors in the competition. Ford, Farmall, Oliver, Massey Harris and Cockshutt were also represented. Gregory Adams brought 5 John Deere’s and a Cockshutt, William Adams also brought 5 John Deere’s.
The overall performers of the event were Carl Fowler of Bennington with his 1962 John Deere 5010, and Gary Joy of Troy, NY with his 1978 John Deere 4440, which tied pulling 27,000#. They could have pulled more but the fair ran out of blocks after nearly 4 hours of pulling!
Casino Night: Big Winners included Jerry Osler, Nishon Morgan and Dan Kosek.
Cattle Show: 25 Cows competed at this years show. Senior Showmanship; 1st Seth Mathews, 2nd Paige Stevens. Jr. Showmanship 1st Heidi Mathews, 2nd Brenda Atwater, 3rd Lenny Howard, 4th Sara Moye. Novice Showmanship; 1st Meghan Devine, 2nd Alyssa Bezanson, 3rd Alexander Breau, 4th Garett Matteson. Comforation classes, Jr. Calf Holstein, 1st Jacob Atwater, 2nd Garett Matteson, 3rd Alexander Breau, 4th Meghan Devine. Jersey Jr. Calf 1st Paige Stevens. Holstein Intermediate calf 1st Heidi Mathews, 2nd Elliot Gragen. Holstein Sr. Calf 1st Conner Hamilton, 2nd Seth Mathews, 3rd Jake Hamilton, 4th Amber Classey, 5th Kirsten Breau. Holstein Summer Yearling 1st Heidi Mathews, 2nd Paige Stevens.
Jr. Champion Holstein Heidi Mathews, Reserve Champion Conner Hamilton. Jersey Jr. Champion Paige Stevens, Reserve Champion Heidi Mathews. Overall Jr. Champion was Heidi Mathews with her Holstein, Reserve Champion was Paige Stevens with her Jersey. In the senior cows Paige Stevens took 1st for her dry cow, and was Sr. Champion. In cow group classes, the Vernon Cowlicks took 1st and 2nd in Get of Sire. Holstein Herd of Five was the Vernon Cowlicks 1st and 2nd, and 3rd to Whetstone Farms. Herd of Five Jersey 1st Paige Stevens. Mark Hamilton took a Blue Ribbon for his pair of working Steers. The overall points Champion of the day went to Paige Stevens. The show ended with a cow costume contest. Nine kids dressed themselves and their cows in various costumes. 1st went to Sarah Moye with Hawaiian Hula dancer, 2nd Amber Classey with log mover, 3rd Kristen Breau with Santa and reindeer. The addition of the cow costume contest once again was the grand finale of the show. The kids all did a great job and the crowd was impressed with their creativity.
Children’s Games: Sack Race Results: Ages 0-4; winners; 1st Sammy Schindel, 2nd Grace Powers, 3rd Justin Powers, 4th Seneca Bolte. Ages 5 – 9; winners Max Schindell, 2nd Kendall Howe, 3rd Zoe Kuebler, and 4th Mariah Powers.
Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest winners; 1st place Max Schindell with 95”, 2nd Dylan Howe with 80 ¾”, 3rd Kendall Howe with 77” and Tadan Bolte 53 ½”
Egg & Spoon Race: Ages 0-4 winners; 1st Grace Powers, 2nd Elizabeth Pitts; 3rd Sammy Schindell, and 4th Seneca Bolte. Ages 5-8; 1st Dakota Bolte, 2nd Mariah Powers, 3rd Zoe Kuebler and 4th Dylan Howe.
Tug of War: 1st place to Dakota Bolte, Max Schindel, Tadan Bolte, Grace Rizio, Mackenzie Rizio and Seneca Bolte. 2nd place to Dylan Howe, Sammy Schindel, Emily McDill, Zoe Kuebler, Ben Kuebler, Kendall Howe.
Coloring Contest; Ages 2-4, Abby Rizio, Age 5-10, Carson Fillion, Age 11-13 Samantha Bernard.
Demolition Derby: Thank you to all of the participants, sponsors and volunteers that put their best efforts, time and funds into making this years Derby a success, in spite of the weather!
4 Cylinder Qualifiers:
Heat #1 Tim Bernard #03; Dan Brown #29; Justin Parris #54
Heat#2 Rick Bernard #45; Adam Skwirut #76; Travis Briggs #38
Heat#3 Nate Tanguay #53; Robert Boyd #27; Sean Barber #34
Heat#4 Justin Parris #54; Dennis Pike Jr. #32; Ben Barnett #60
Last Chance: Ross Barnett #98 and Will Elting #72
Small Car Finals 1st Travis Briggs #38; 2nd Justin Parris #54; 3rd Dennis Pike #32
6 & 8 Cylinder Qualifiers:
Heat#1 Stephanie Komsta #79; Adam Ranslow #42; Justin Hill #88
Heat#2 Heath Renaud #105; Bonnie Betit #82; Michelle Wilkins #104
Heat#3 Matt Somerville #30; Josh Beckwith #78; Justin Fournier #95
Heat#4 Robert Boyd #27; Dan Brown #29; Al DeCarlo #32
Heat#5 Paul Leonard #87; Tim Bernard #03; Peter Cebo #109
Last Chance: Dan Brown #29 and Stanley Janovsky #75
Finals: 1st Michelle Wilkins #104; 2nd Adam Ranslow #42; 3rd Josh Beckwith #78
Winners: Most Artistic: Stanley Janovsky
Sportsmanship Award: Dooley Boyd
Congratulations to all the Drivers and Pit Crews, with a special Thank you to all of the fans that cheered them on!
Photography Contest: Diane Heileman with “Under the Pier”
Exhibits (Adult): 59 Adults representing seven towns (Dover, Halifax, Marlboro, Readsboro, Wardsboro, Whitingham and Wilmington) entered 429 Exhibits. Premiums totaling $993.50 were earned and ribbons awarded included 197 1st Place, 169 2nd Place, and 48 3rd Place.
Best in Show Fine Arts - Photography; Diane Heileman for her Color Photography entry, book of color photographs, and Tamara Allen’s Baby in 1858 Dress. Fine Arts – Art: Jim Strysko’s tempera painting, “Sleigh in Sunset”. Horticulture; Victoria Capitani’s Garden Flower Arrangement in a natural stone. Potatoes Roots & Vegetables; Wendy Pratt’s Green Beans. Prepared Foods; Sylvia Johnson’s two crust pie. Needlecraft – Quilts; Annelle Holzman’s “Original Calendar Design” Quilt. Needlecraft; Karen Gypson’s Avan Sandal Socks. Crafts and Hobbies; Mark Sprague’s Tap Hole Maple Bench.
Peoples Choice Awards in Fine Arts; Gail Look, with “Dear Ol’ Dad” Crafts & Hobbies; Mark Sprague with his Maple Bench, and Needlecraft; Annelle Holzman with her Calendar Quilt.
The Myron Allen Gardener of the Year Award was presented to Robert Robinson. The Greatest Cook of the Year was presented to Gail Look.
Exhibits (Youth): 84 Youths representing seven towns (Dover, Halifax, Marlboro, Readsboro, Wardsboro, Whitingham and Wilmington) entered 668 Exhibits. Premiums totaling $1,084.25 were earned and ribbons awarded included 391 1st Place, 165 2nd Place, and 97 Third Place. Best in Show: Needlecraft, Olivia Mancivalano’s Welcome Wall Hanging. Fine Arts; Max Picut’s Pastel Mask. Crafts and Hobbies; Sloan Forstrom’s Ink Stamped Greeting Cards. People’s Choice Awards in Needlecraft; Olivia Mancivalano’s (Age 9) Sample Throw Quilt and Sarah Gypson’s (Age 11) Lighthouse Latchhook Rug. Fine Arts; Rob Heileman’s (Age 10) Cat Photograph, and Beth Gypson’s (Age 13) Black and White Yoda Drawing. Crafts and Hobbies; Rob Heileman’s (Age 11) Baseball Field, and Jacob Holzman’s (Age 11) Jazz Wall Hanging. Horse Pull 3000 Class: 1st place to Johnson & Blanchard of Putney with Colby & Mike, 2nd to Allen Smith of Raymond, NH with Prince & King, 3rd to Roger Lockerby & Smith of Putney with Bill & Shorty, 4th to Gordon Johnson and Kris Perkins of Putney with Misty & Dan, 5th Smith & Lockerby of Putney with Randy & Pride, 6th to Joe and Joe Malloy Jr. of Adams, MA with Doc & Jerry, 7th Don and Chris Kirstead of Canaan, NH with Rex & Slick, 8th to Gordon Johnson with Jed & Nemo, 9th to Rick Fletcher of E Dover with Doc & Roy, 10th to Chris Kirstead & Sons with Bill & Rex. 3300 Class: 1st place to Charlie & Colby Chickering of Westmoreland, NH with AJ & Mike, 2nd to G. P. Blanchard and Johnson of Putney with Scooby & Charlie, 3rd to Kris Perkins and Brad Hurlburt of Warwick, MA with Dick & Shorty, 4th to Skip Smart and Bruce Durgin of Deerfield, NH with King & Otis, 5th to Charlie Chickering with Goose & Rudy, 6th to Roger Lockerby and Smith with Mike & Dick, 7th to Gordon Johnson with Popeye & Gerry, 8th to Roger Lockerby & Smith with King & Barney, 9th to Skip Smart and Raymond Smart of Chester, NH with Jason & Wyatt, 10th to Chris Kirstead & Sons with Bill & Rex. Free for All: 1st place to Harold Brigham and Roger Fuller of Colrain, MA with Duke & Chester, 2nd place to Roger Fuller and Harold Brigham with Jim & Jerry, 3rd to Charlie Chickering with AJ & Goose, 4th to Frank Valley of Hubbardston, MA with Rock & Pat, 5th to Roger Lockerby and Smith with Big Dick & Mike, 6th Charlie Chickering and Brad Hurlburt with George & Oscar, 7th to Kris Perkins and Gordon Johnson with Popeye & Barney, 8th to William Buttler of Barnett, with Pete & King, 9th to Jason Dougneau and Smith of Raymond, NH with Barney & King, 10th Joe Perkins and Gordon Johnson with Nemo & Jerry.
Horse Show: Beginner Western Champion, Michelle Phillips; Reserve Champion; Theresa Snow. Junior Western Champion, Alyson Marcucci; Reserve Champion; Sarah Gordon. Senior Western Champion, Melissa Brown; Reserve Champion; Samantha Snow. Adult Western Champion, Ken Lady Reserve Champion; Lori Longo. Green Horse Champion, Alexandra Glover; Reserve Champion, Melissa Wise. Leadline Champion, Brenda Glover; Reserve Champion, Morgan Ellis. Beginner English Champion, Karli Knapp. Junior English Champion, Amanda Mills. Adult English Champion, Nancy Wimmelman; Reserve Champion, Lori Longo. Beginner Gymkhana Champion, Michelle Phillips; Reserve Champion, Theresa Snow. Junior Gymkhana Champion, Alyson Marcucci; Reserve Champion, Alexandra Glover. Adult Gymkhana Champion, Amy Sullivan; Reserve Champion, Melissa Wise.
Ox Pull: Under 3200 class; 1st place to Mike Audette of Harwington, CT with Jim & Jake, 2nd Place to Mike Audette with Spike and Mike, 3rd Place to Ted Lewis of North Stonington, CT with Spike and JR, 4th place to Mike Audette with Babe & Tony, 5th place to Ted Lewis with Turbo and Charlie, 6th place to Kyle Clark of Hawley, MA with Mick & Bill, 7th place to Ted Lewis with Mic & Murdock, and 8th place to Mike Audette with Charlie and Dick.
Over 3200 class; 1st place to Ted Lewis with Barry & Andy, 2nd place to Gary Gaylord of Rensealer Falls, NY with Y2 and Chad, 3rd Tim Clark of Hawley, MA with Smokey & Clyde, 4th Mike Audette with Charlie & JR, 5th Ted Lewis with Tony & Mike, 6th Mike Audette with Baldy & Art, 7th Nick Stone of Londonderry, VT with Link & Isaac, 8th place to Ed Allen of Reading, VT with Pete & Huey.
Photography Contest Best of Show; Sarah Shippee’s “The Fair”. Nature Category; 1st place to Nicki Steel, 2nd Susan Sweeney, 3rd Jessica Rizio. Pictorial Category; 1st and 2nd place to Nicki Steel, and 3rd to Stacey Birch. Farm Category; 1st to Nicki Steel, 2nd to Sarah Shippee, and 3rd to Stacey Birch. Unusual Category; 1st to DeAnna Asborno, 2nd to Sarah Shippee and 3rd to Oscar Smith. Pets Category; 1st to Sarah Shippee, 2nd to Isabel Bosley, and 3rd to Jessica Rizio. Faces of Vermont Category; 1st to Michelle Knapp, 2nd to Sarah Shippee, and 3rd to Lynn Dupuis. The Fair Category; 1st to Sarah Shippee, 2nd and 3rd Tamara Allen. My Town Category; 1st and 2nd to DeAnna Asborno, 3rd to Nicki Steel. Cultivated Plant Category; 1st and 2nd to Sarah Shippee, and 3rd to Nicki Steel.
Pie Eating Contest Grand Prize Winner Travis Bolti of Readsboro, VT. Adult winners were 1st Place Travis Bolti, 2nd place to Fred Dickinson of Texas, and 3rd place to Lisette Menard of Connecticut. Ages 14-17 winners were 1st place to Isaiah Seneca of Whitingham, 2nd place to Lizzie Curlin of Bennington. Ages 10-13 were 1st place to Samantha Bernard of Jacksonville, VT, 2nd place to Cade Nesbitt of Wilmington, and 3rd place to Christi Strysko of Wilmington.
Saw Competition 75cc & Under: 1st to Aaron Dupuis, 2nd Ben Barnett, 3rd Chris Lowe. 76 – 90cc: 1st to Aaron Dupuis, 2nd Sean Dupuis, 3rd Chris Lowe. 91 – 105 cc: 1st to Sean Dupuis, 2nd Aaron Dupuis, 3rd Ben Barnett. Open: 1st to Sean Dupuis, 2nd Aaron Dupuis, 3rd Mike Cole. Crosscut Jack & Jill: 1st to Tracey Reed & Nicki Steel, 2nd Aaron & Lynn Dupuis, 3rd Craig & Tanya Bernard. Crosscut with Owner’s Saw: 1st to Aaron & Sean Dupuis, 2nd to Jeremy White & Harry Prouty. Crosscut with the Fair’s Saw: 1st to Sean & Aaron Dupuis, 2nd to Jeremy White & Harry Prouty, 3rd to Chris & Julie Lowe. Splitting: 1st to Sean Dupuis, 2nd Jeremy White, 3rd to Ralph Staib.
Scavenger Hunt Winners: Michelle Defosses (Adult), Garbriel Rice (13-18) and Wyatt Shippee (Under 13).
Talent Show Results: Preschool – 5th grade results; 1st place Amelia Kennedy & Teagan Reeves, 2nd place Madison & Hailey Howe, 3rd place Rheanna Galaski. 6th – 8th grade results; 1st place Callie Gunther & Jessica Beam, 2nd place Bailey Paige and Sammy Cunningham, 3rd place Rachel Campus. 9th – 12th grade results; 1st place Lauren Charnoe and Amanda Rantilla. Adult results; Will Wheeler and Elizabeth Baral.