After the first two days of the San Benito County Fair, two
things stand-out in the mind of six year-old John Vieira.
”
The best part is the rides, and the animals,
”
he said.
Tres Pinos – After the first two days of the San Benito County Fair, two things stand-out in the mind of six year-old John Vieira.
“The best part is the rides, and the animals,” he said.
On Friday, Vieira enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes of the 82nd Annual San Benito County Fair, just as four generations of his family had done before him. Although it’s not his first fair, it definitely won’t be his last.
“It’s important to us because we’ve been doing this all of our lives,” his great-grandmother Carmen said. “The fair is just a lot of fun. It’s like a family reunion.”
This year’s fair promises fun for people of all ages and is expected to draw 24,000 people to Bolado Park in Tres Pinos this weekend, fair officials said. In addition to animals, carnival rides, petting zoos, music and food, many fair-goers are looking forward to Saturday’s Junior Livestock Auction.
“It’s the reason people come – it’s the meat and potatoes of the fair,” Livestock Auction Chairman Jim Knoll said. “For many, it’s the biggest event of the year.”
Children darted through the mazes, stroked animals and giggled with clowns Bitzy and Alfy on Friday, which was Kids Day at the fair. Kids ages 6-12 got in the fair for free and although their were fewer kids than on Thursday, Fair Director Kelley Ferreira said everything went well. On Thursday, several school districts from throughout the county brought in busloads of students – more than 1,200 – to tour the fair, he said.
The San Benito County Fair was started in 1890 as a traditional harvest-time gathering. Throughout its history, the fair has often been plagued by heavy rains, something Ferreira and others were pleased to avoid this year. And while the location of the fair has changed several times over the years, Ferreira said the event retains its agrarian roots.
“Some things are different, but overall not much has changed in the last 82 years – we’re still the local county fair,” he said. “This is still a very agricultural fair.”
The atmosphere at Bolado Park this weekend has been “nice and relaxed,” Ferreira said, adding that he hopes it will continue throughout the rest of the weekend.
The Livestock Auction is one of reasons Anthony Botelho, a county supervisor, will be attending the fair this weekend.
“I attend to support the 4-H and the FFA (Future Farmers of America) and possibly to bid on a couple of animals,” he said.
Botelho was disappointed that he will not have an opportunity, for the second year in a row, to kiss a pig.
“There will be no pig kissing this year because this administration funded the 4-H the way it should be funded,” he said, referring to the County Board of Supervisors.
Last year the county cut $17,500 from the club’s budget and Botelho’s opponent in the 2004 race for supervisor, Anthony Freitas, had to swap spit with a swine in order generate revenue for the cash-strapped club.
County Clerk John Hodges, who has been going to the fair for more than 50 years, isn’t interested in the pigs this year.
“I like to go over there and look at the chickens,” Hodges said. “I got a couple of grand kids with chickens and a couple of daughters with chickens.”
Hodges will also be manning the County Clerk’s booth, which is showcasing the county’s new touch-screen voting machines.
This year’s fair also has events for people who aren’t not interested in animals. Saturday’s highlights will include truck pulls and rock ‘n’ roll music from Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. And for all those who love to see cars collide, there will also be a demolition derby.
“Besides the truck pulls, this one of the bigger events,” organizer Bob Poelker said. “The young guys really love it. And it’s going to be an interesting derby because this year, for the first time, there are going to be trucks competing.”
In the end, the fair is all about people.
“The fair brings everyone out and it’s a great opportunity to see the people you don’t see everyday,” Botelho said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com
