Published: July 31, 2008 12:21 am      

NIAGARA COUNTY FAIR: Event opens with farm breakfast, news of changes

The Niagara County Fair has seen many changes since it was established in 1841, and 1,000 folks at the Farm City Breakfast got more news Wednesday morning.

Nate Herendeen has replaced Paul Westfall as the director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Westfall left unexpectedly and took a similar job in the Carolinas. Herendeen, who had worked at the Lake Avenue offices, is retired and will serve as interim director until someone else is found for the job.

“Everything in life changes and the fair changes, but there’s always volunteers involved, and the fair continues on momentum with the people involved,” Herendeen said. “There is continuity with all the volunteers and staff.”

Westfall left the Niagara County job on Friday. “We weren’t expecting it,” said Janet Schultz, chairman of the Fair and president of the board of directors.

The entrances and exits to the fair on Lake Avenue will be switched, and plans to put the midway out front have been put off for a year.

Alma Miller, Anna Grinova and historian John Hall were honored for giving their time and resources to the 4-H and the fair for many years. Hall was the featured speaker, and he outlined the history of the fair since 1841.

Alma Miller, 90, a relative of Gertrude Warren, a founder of the 4-H, has only missed three country fairs in her time.

Her father helped build the poultry barn and her son, Terry Miller, is a former king of the fair.

Alma’s parents were 4-H leaders for 35 years, and she was a leader for 35 years, as well. Alma missed the fair when Terry was born.

The breakfast was sold out and was the largest in recent years, Schultz said. RealtyUSA employees served the breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes and sweet rolls. The sponsors were Cornerstone Community Credit Union, Cornell Community Extension, the Farm Bureau and the Niagara USA Chamber.

Other changes in the fair include a new livestock education building that will hold 100 head of livestock for the fair and can be used year-round for classes and shows. The show ring has been expanded to allow more people to participate in livestock events.

The fair has a 20-year master plan, but plans to move the midway to be visible from Lake Avenue have been put off due to wet grounds. The rides are too heavy for the grounds.

“We wanted more visibility and to open the back of fair a little bit,” Schultz explained. “We want to make the flow work better and people to walk through entire fairgrounds and not just stop at the midway.”

New drainage was been installed in the front, which will no longer have standing water, but it’s not ready for the 80,000-pound rides.

To park, all drivers will be directed to come in the north gate. They will drive around the perimeter of the fairgrounds to the back. To exit, drivers will continue on perimeter road and come out the south exit, which used to be the entrance.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott 439-9222, ext. 6246.