Harmony free fair marks 60th year

HARMONY – One minute Paul Magoon of Harmony was toting cases of soda to stock the Patriarch Club’s food booth, the next minute he was at the first aid station attending to a fair-goer’s bee sting.

Like all of the other Patriarch Club members, Magoon wears many hats in this small community, so when the club sponsors the annual Harmony Free Fair, he does what has to be done.

“This community has given to us,” so we want to give something back, Magoon said Monday, the last day of the three-day agricultural fair. Proceeds from the fair, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, will go back into the community for fairground improvements, scholarships, insurance for next year’s event, and donations to municipal services.

Several thousand people attended the event, which is expected to raise $8,000 to $10,000 for the club, according to Magoon.

The fair pulls the community together, gives a last-minute reprieve to summer and allows residents to meet acquaintances, according to Jeff Chadbourne, club president.

Flitting around the fairgrounds Monday, Chadbourne greeted people, answered questions and pointed out directions to events on the more than 20-acre fairground.

“It makes you feel wonderful,” Chadbourne said of the crowds of people with smiles on their faces. “Everything is 100 percent volunteer. Nobody makes a dime.”

Chadbourne said it’s great when people compliment club members, remarking that it was the best fair ever, or was better than ever, he said.

“We’re growing,” Chadbourne said, noting that recent additions included a children’s play area, an antique tractor show and participation by the Ancient Ones, an organization that demonstrates how things were done in earlier years.

Chadbourne said word is getting out about the event because there were more participants for the demolition derby and horse show this year than at most other Maine fairs.

On his rounds, Chadbourne makes a mental note of which events pull in the most people and what improvements are needed for next year’s event.

After all, club members soon will begin planning for next year’s fair.