Old fashioned fun at Tioga County Fair

By LAUREN ROYCE
Editor

OWEGO — Another Tioga County Fair has come and gone. Animals were judged, fine art was displayed and the demolition derby drew a sizable crowd as it usually does.

Outside the dairy bar on Friday night, children were playing in a race of who could wheelbarrow who the fastest. Under the tent, people looked on and discussed where their fair itinerary would take them next.

“We came Tuesday and watched them show the goats and the sheep, because the Van Dusens have a lot of goats and sheep,” said Sandy Licata, since the animals are her and Bill’s favorite part of the fair. She said she and her husband Bill Licata came from Barton. They make it an annual tradition to come to the fair watching the animals and having the grandkids ride the rides.

Mark Schoonover, his brother-in-law John McCarthy and his wife Liz McCarthy all came looking forward to the demolition derby.

“I lived in Chemung County, but I never came up here, although I grew up in Tioga Center,” Schoonover said. “So when I moved back from Texas this last year, I said, I’m going to go to the fair this year.” He said he missed having seasons, and the area itself, too.

Wednesday night was the first night of the demolition derby, which the McCarthys came for. John McCarthy said they had been to numerous fairs, but Tioga County’s demolition derby was the best of them all.

“We’ve been to the Yates County Fair, I’ve been to the Chemung County Fair, and the Seneca County Fair. This is my favorite demolition derby,” John McCarthy said.

As the evening inched nearer, demo cars lined up for the big event. Crowds huddled in the grandstands and outside of the gates. Engines revving were met with cheers and applause.
Dan and Ruth Beasley had their maple goods table set up in the craft barn. People tumbled in to get some maple cotton candy, syrup and other treats, lured by the sweet smell.
Donna Diles was helping oversee a craft station where people could dump layers of colored sand in a bottle as a keepsake.

“This is my favorite part of running the craft here, doing the crafts for the kids,” she said. This was her second year of helping. “We’ve got a lot of talent in this barn.”

A quilt with a bright orange tiger hung nearby, and knitted blankets sat with prize ribbons. A host of delicate acrylic paintings drew eyes from those passing by. People walked through the midway with arms full of snacks, prizes, sometimes both. While the fair signifies the end of summer, it also is a welcome reminder of the bounty of the county.