The Great Frederick Fair gets going after year-long prep

The Great Frederick Fair kicked off on Friday afternoon after months of preparation from vendors, fair staff members and livestock owners.

Karen Nicklas, the fair's general manager, said that as soon as the fair ends one year, conversations about the next year begin.

"I live for this moment, when we get to open and invite the public to come see what we work hard for all year long, and to live out our mission statement, which is ag education," Nicklas said.

From Friday through Sept. 21, the fairgrounds will be a beehive of midway rides, games, animals, music, food and much more.

On Friday morning, vendors set up stands and staff members assisted with final touches before the gates officially opened.

Barbara Hermanson prepared for the day's fair attendees at the Fresh Squeezed Juices stand.

Hermanson, from Brunswick, said the stand's owner, Harry Rosani, has been coming to the fair for more than 50 years. She said she is excited for another year of the long-standing Frederick staple.

"Preparations are coming along," Hermanson said. "It's a matter of buying the fruit and getting all stocked up with that."

Farther down the winding road of food vendors, James Koontz helped unpack slabs of marinated brisket for the Ribbins BBQ stand. Ribbins is based in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

He said the brisket takes 12 to 13 hours to marinate in its seasonings. The stand sells brisket sandwiches.

"Hopefully, people come in today and have a good time," Koontz said.

Along with food vendors setting up stands, the fair staff prepared exhibits for attendees to walk through and explore.

Exhibits at the fair show off judged entries in many categories — such as baked goods, photography and fine art — in multiple buildings across the fairgrounds.

Megan Cronkite, the Youth Building superintendent, said judges were still working through chapter and club entries, which could include scrapbooks and photography and flower entries.

She said entries are judged based on the Danish judging system. A blue ribbon means the entry met all of the requirements of the contest, following with red and white as scores decrease.

After the basic judging, Cronkite said, entries are then compared to each other and receive different ribbons.

She said this was her third year running the Youth Building and most attendees think of more agriculture-heavy programs when coming to the fair.

"It's just great to see the other side of the fair," Cronkite said. "We have hundreds of youth that this is all they do. They don't have animals or livestock."

The fair features free entertainment, such as a comedy magic show, a stilt walker and appearances by Disney princesses, as well as concerts for which tickets are sold separately.

Flo Rida was scheduled to perform on Friday night as part of the fair's concert series. Other performers scheduled for the fair include the Beach Boys, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and Tracy Lawrence with Sara Evans.

Another popular attraction to the fair is the birthing tent, where attendees can learn the processes farmers take to ensure a smooth birth for livestock.

Nicklas said one sheep already gave birth last week. She said that "if the stars align perfectly," students from Frederick County Public Schools attending the fair on field trips next week can witness other animal births.

Nicklas grew up on a dairy farm in Thurmont and her relatives are lifelong members and attendees of the fair.

She said staff members have worked hard to diversify the music lineup of the fair's concert series.

"We're excited to kick off the week with Flo," Nicklas said. "Then, we have country, we've got rock. There is truly something for everyone, and we have Christian music to end the week."

She added that tons of volunteers, partners, vendors, farms and other groups in the community work in tandem to put on the fair every year.

"I am so thrilled to be a part of the fair," Nicklas said. "I feel like I sound like a broken record, but I feel blessed to be the team leader here with my board and staff and all of the amazing people we get to work with."