Download the Program Book (pdf) - Warren County Farmers Fair

Celebrating 76 Years of Affordable Family Fun
July 27 – August 3, 2013
Down To Earth... Uplifting
This year marks the 76th anniversary for the Warren County Farmers’
Fair and will again run for eight action packed, fun-filled days starting
on Saturday, July 27 and ending on Saturday, August 3, 2013.
The Fair’s main hours of operation will be from 12 noon to 10
pm on opening Saturday through Friday, with gates opening at 11
am and vendor booths, food concessions and exhibit buildings
opening at 12 noon. (On select days some of our local clubs have
shows that begin prior to our official opening times.) On closing
day Saturday, August 3, we will open at 8am with our long time
sponsor of 27 years, the Warren Hills Wrestling Club, on the dance
floor. On the other end of the fairgrounds we welcome our new
Open Horse Show participants, Top Notch Equestrian Centre, as
they put on their first show for the Fair.
The Fair kicks off with youth and adults competing in the
Garden Tractor Pull. For little ones we have the Big Wheel Race
on the dance floor along with a Chicken BBQ fundraiser. We’d like
to welcome back contestants for the 2nd annual Country Idol contest,
performers from Wild West City, Mr. Warren County contestants
and this year, the first Ms. Warren County contest. Switching
from man to machine, we also have a Truck Show, with classes for
your Ford, GM, Dodge, Import, SUV, or Big Rig!
Sunday is Veterans’ Day and the Fair would like to show their
appreciation to all Veterans by offering free admission with appropriate
ID. On Sunday the Open Pleasure Horse Show starts at 8am
in the horse ring. In the main arena there will be an Ox Pull demo,
free of charge to fairgoers. Speaking of free, on Sunday you can see
the building of the largest ice cream sundae by Fair directors along
with our Fair ‘royalty’ the Fair Queen and Princess. They will all
be dishing out free sundaes, while supplies last. The backyard BBQ
Ribs Cook Off returns with everyone ‘smokin’ their competitors to
have their ribs be the blue ribbon winner, but more important braggin’
rights for the best ribs in Warren County.
For 76 years the Fair has delivered affordable family fun while
keeping agriculture in the forefront. You will find Holsteins, Angus,
Hereford, Alpacas, goats, sheep and small animals on display in the
barns. There are numerous horse shows all week long. Whether 4-
H/FFA or open, our goal is to provide you with a variety of things to
see and do at the Fair. For the seasoned 4-H and FFA youth member
or first timers showcasing projects and competing in shows, we want
you to have a memorable experience. The Home and Garden building
showcases the ‘fruits’ of your labor from the garden with vegetables,
herbs, fruits, sunflowers on display. From the home – handwork, fine
arts, crafts, photography, scrap booking, canning, scarecrows, and
eggs from your back yard farm can all be found on display. Also on display
are the Queen and Princess candidates portraits and Shade Tree
Commission booth. New this year in the Home and Garden building –
Fair hats, t-shirts and totes, 4-H clothing and toys will be on sale.
Local county non-profit organizations run most of the food
stands and try to keep their prices reasonable while still offering
‘Jersey Fresh’ quality. Two of these organizations, known as
granges, helped create the Association of the Warren County
Farmers’ Fair and aided with the construction of many of the buildings
you see today. It was in the early 1900’s when the first
“Farmers Picnic” was organized. Over the years the event was held
at various locations throughout the county and eventually moved
to the present day location on County Route 519 in Harmony
Township and became known as the Warren County Farmers’ Fair.
The Fair continues to add to the family fun and today the entire
south end of the fairgrounds is dedicated to toddlers through teens.
Last year the Kids’ Corral was supersized and a series of teen contests
were added. This year there will be several new shows and
contests at the Kids’ Corral and we look forward to teens coming
out and joining as an “independent or crew of two”. Other competitions
for youth include the Agricultural Olympics, Kiddie Pedal
Pull, Youth Tractor Obstacle Course and the Big Wheel Races.
There is no lack of motorized vehicles at the Fair. Antique tractors
are on display all week and participate in a tractor pull on
Thursday. Other tractor pulls for the week include garden, hot stock
and stock tractors. On Sunday you will find cars of all makes and models
at the FFA Alumni Car Show. Or take a stroll down memory lane
with the Dirt Track Heroes and the Harmony Speedway Historical
Society. On Monday we invite you to come to the Antique Car show
sponsored by the American Legion Post 528 of White Township.
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Hot Air Balloon
Festival – presented by JCP&L and powered by AmeriGas. Each
evening at 6:30pm come out and see our mass hot air balloon
launches from the balloon port, as always; weather permitting.
If this is not enough variety for you, how about a Traditional
Arts Expo – returning for their 16th year! Discover these lost arts
as members of the guilds display and create exquisite examples of
quilting, needle arts, lacing, weaving and more. Explore the riches
of our American heritage through the live demonstrations and displays,
helping to keep our traditional arts alive.
During the week top by the Fair office on the fairgrounds to
purchase your show tickets and check out all the new colors &
styles of t-shirts, hats and totes – including tie dyes and camo.
No event that we know of is as diverse, offering something for
every age and for every like. Where else can you watch a hay bale
rolling contest, mud bogs, lace making and a mass hot air balloon
launch The best way to describe the Fair is “down to earth” and “uplifting”!
So come on down and help us celebrate our 76th anniversary.
For contest rules and regs or more information visit the Fair
website at www.warrencountyfarmersfair.org, call the office at
908-859-6563 or email us at info@warrencountyfarmersfair.org.
For Balloon Festival information or to book a hot air balloon ride,
visit www.balloonfestnj.com or call 908-283-0721.
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