Seniors turn out on their fair day Tuesday

FARMINGTON – Despite the wet start to the day, seniors turned out in force by midday to take advantage of a reduced admission and to catch the shows, displays and entertainment at the 174th Farmington Fair.

This year marked the 70th year Eleanor Pooler of Solon has been showing cattle. The long-time 4-H leader’s pair of matched working steer obeyed each of her quiet commands for the judge. Their performance was good enough for a second place behind Sheldon Morgan’s team, with David Heath’s team picking up a third place finish.

As a few drops of rain fell, the exhibition hall and museum were popular places to hang out.

This year’s featured town at the fair’s museum is Rangeley. The Logging Museum and the Rangeley Historical Society’s Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum and History Museum combined to bring artifacts and photographs to document Rangeley’s past.

The Rangeley Lakes Regional Logging Museum’s exhibit highlighted skidder inventor Elijah “Tiger” White. The story is that the Carthage native born in 1915, was cutting softwood trees near Richardson Lake in 1947 but having a lot of difficulty maneuvering over exposed rock in winter. A lack of snow and the attempt to operate crawler tractors over rock proved difficult. White went home and some days later returned with a snow plow converted into first “Number One Muscles” skidder.

Various photographs and hand tools and equipment of the lumber industry are on display. Also on exhibit are photographs of the William Reich Museum, along with the outdoor museum’s sporting equipment, fish mounts and more. Historical society members help guide visitors.

Wednesday is the ride special day from 1 p.m. on and Thursday seniors can return for another discounted admission of $2. Pari-mutuel racing starts each day of fair week at 2 p.m. The fair runs through Saturday.