FARMINGTON —  In celebration of the 175th year of the Farmington Fair, admission was set at $2 for everyone Tuesday on what is normally a seniors day.  

And people came.

“It’s a once-a-year reunion,” said Maurice Hovey, 95, of Farmington, as he and the Rev. John Tolman sat and watched people walk by in the Starbird Building. “There are people here you only see once a year, and hopefully, I’ll come next year to see them.”

Tolman and Hovey were sitting in chairs which had been caned and displayed by his daughter, Georgia Tolman, under her shop, Shadagee Snowshoe Relacing of New Sharon.

“One great thing about the fair, the same people walk by year after year,” said Tolman, who comes every day to help his daughter. “I don’t know their names, but I recognize their faces.”

From her shop on the Shadagee Road, Georgia Tolman relaces snowshoes, does caning and creates customized leather belts, cellphone cases, knife sleeves and gun holsters.

Hugs were prevalent as people walked the grounds and met old friends. People gathered to listen to the music of the Kayla Wass Band, talk and enjoy a lunch.  

Once again, longtime traditional fair events took place as a good crowd toured the grounds and filled the exhibition halls by noon. A $2 ride special was expected to bring more families and children later in the day.

Matt Glover of Rumford washed down his horse, Blue, in preparation for the next day’s events. The large white horse with blue eyes was one of 10 that Glover said he had brought to the fair.  

Horse-twitching and horse-scooting competitions would be held Wednesday, Glover said.

He was ready to compete in the horse pulls.

In the horse show ring, pairs of oxen went before the judges during an exhibition of best oxen and steer teams.

A large white Chianina, along with some smaller, younger oxen, waited their turn to show their strengths. Owner Dan Jordan of the Jordan Family Farm of Porter estimated the 12-year-old Chianina weighed in at about 2,800 pounds. The breed is used for pulling competitions, he said.

Over in the pulling ring, Ervin Leighton, 84, of Mt. Vernon, was waiting for pulling to start. He has come to the fair every year since he was 16 and especially likes to watch the pulling events, he said.

Later Tuesday, a firemen’s muster and pro-wrestling exhibition were planned to be held.

Wednesday features a ride special on the midway from 1 to 9 p.m., pari-mutuel racing at 2 p.m., a 4-H sheep show at 4 p.m. followed by the market lamb show, a kids’ pedal tractor pull at 5 p.m. and a horse-versus-ox, 6-foot sweepstakes in the pulling ring at 6:30 p.m.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net