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Warm start

Fonda Fair begins 167th annual run

By KERRY McAVOY, The Leader-Herald
POSTED: August 27, 2008

Article Photos


FONDA - Adults and children walked through the gates of the fairgrounds Tuesday on a warm opening day of the 167th Fonda Fair.

The day's temperatures were in the high 70s, and a cool breeze kept fairgoers from getting too hot.

Gary and Rob Henry were at the fair Tuesday with their mother, Julie.

"I've been coming out every year since I was little, but it just got so expensive after a while," said Julie Henry. "We've been coming back, though, for the last couple of years."

The boys said they were excited to enjoy the rides and see a tractor pull Tuesday.

The Animal Enterprises Petting Zoo and Racing Pigs appeared to be a big attraction.

Christian Salsbury of Amsterdam visited the animals with his grandmother, Sue Ellen Harrington of Gloversville. The boy petted goats, pigs and a baby camel at the petting zoo.

"I like the turtles and the piggys, but they're really loud," Christian said over the squeal of a demanding piglet.

Harrington said she enjoys taking her grandchildren to the fair, and has been bringing them for the last five years.

The family then went to watch the Miss Fonda Fair pageant at the event pavilion. Christian's sister Haley was competing in the pageant.

Bob Rodd was at the petting zoo watching his grandson Aiden Hoag feed the goats and pigs.

Rodd has been coming to the fair for at least 55 years, but said he enjoys it more now that he gets to bring his grandchildren.

"Once they get too much to handle, you just drop them back off with mom and dad," Rodd said.

Debbie and Ken Hinkle traveled from New Jersey to see the fair. Ken Hinkle is originally from the area.

"We try to come up when the fair is on," said Debbie Hinkle.

The Hinkles took their granddaughter Zoe Koutsoutis of Gibbstown, N.J., around the fair for the day. Zoe also was meeting new friends, having found a couple new playmates to enjoy the rides and games with.

"She's been on at least six rides," Debbie Hinkle said. "She hooked up with a couple other little girls, so they've been going all around the fair together."

Megan and Josh Gonzalez of Canajoharie were at the fair with their mother, Sandy. The two played on the bumper cars while their mother watched from the side.

"I really like the bumper cars. They're the most fun," said Josh Gonzalez.

The family tries to go to the fair yearly, and Sandy Gonzalez said she was impressed with the atmosphere this year. She said she was thankful for a warm and dry start to the fair.

"It's nice and clean here, and the atmosphere is also very nice," Sandy Gonzalez said. "I have to say that it is very nice and very safe here."

Today, the fair will feature half-priced admission for senior citizens until 5 p.m. and free admission for children younger than 14 until 5 p.m.

Highlights today include horse shows and a modified tractor and truck pull, which will begin at 7 p.m.

Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.

Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-15 | Post a comment
teebzz
08-30-08 2:05 AM
wow i ALMOST understood that one, id better up my meds.

RizziBear
08-29-08 7:25 PM
Yeah Peeker! Look out fer sppedracer man!

sppedracer
08-29-08 4:46 PM
no wrestling lol i dont think it would turn out to be nice.this guy loves to stick his nose into places that it dont belong and iam just tired of it.just this year he tried to have several people arrested at the fair on tuesday because the people treid to buy demo cars.the last time i knew that was county property not peekers when he drives the pace car he yelled at me at the races saying he was having me arrested because i voiced my opionon the race accident that happend.this guy has to go there is no option to staying

Stardust
08-29-08 11:10 AM
Yeah, that rant was pretty frickin' eloquent.

RizziBear
08-29-08 10:34 AM
They should have a wrestling match between Peeker and speedracer.

teebzz
08-29-08 2:27 AM
sppedracer, u sure have a way to tell a story.

sppedracer
08-28-08 9:25 PM
how about that peeker person the one keeps robbing the fair ?lets see he charges 8000to have the demoes and so on in the grand stands i know the person who started the entertainment and it wasnt him iam sure bob would roll over in his grave if he knew what peeker did to his son rob.its ok rob help is on its way dont worry.peeker has his hands in the till at the fair (just like sammons)he also runs his mouth at the track every week like he is somebody.PEEKER UR TIME WITH THE FAIR IS CLOSE TO OVER AS FOR THE PACE CAR I HEAR HEART IS COMING FOR UR JOB.BUT LOOK OUT RACE CARS AND PACE CARS DONT MIX

RizziBear
08-28-08 10:31 AM
A lot of whiners over the rough equivalent cost of a movie ticket. There aren't too many scenes left like the Fonda Fair. Where else will you find car wrecks, tractor pulls, carny geeks and a parade of local goofballs under one tent like the Fonda Fair?

Pretty soon some lame corporation backed by a hedge fund will buy it up, triple the price,and make everything similar to a visit at McDonalds.

Stardust
08-28-08 9:37 AM
Piggys? way to transcribe the little kid's quote LH. But yeah, Onesies, that is killer that he actually said "i like turtles"

Give me a break you complainers, $8 for a whole day of farm animal petting and tractor pulling?!?! that is a bargain.

m011ys
08-28-08 9:02 AM
I cant stand the fair anymore, too expensive for admission and for rides or games or food. ridiculas prices.

needstosleep
08-28-08 8:46 AM
I like how the fair charges $8 m-th then charge $10 fri-sun. That is the foolishness that has made me only take my children once a year now. If they lowered the admission im sure they'd get more people and actually make more money...

sameyeam
08-27-08 1:59 PM
Not everybody loves the Fonda Fair..."NOT" they need to get some new people in there to run that fair other than the Sammons family...who every year when the fair is over some how have a new tractor or new building on their farm...gee isn't that handy when Mr. Sammons is the fairs treasurer..crooked....crooked....need I say more!!!

RizziBear
08-27-08 1:18 PM
Everybody loves the Fonda Fair.

Onesies2
08-27-08 11:24 AM
I'm with you Christian..."I LIKE TURTLES"!

Search that in Youtube

ReclaimGville
08-27-08 11:07 AM
Did the lobster man make his yearly return?? He is a staple of the fair!!

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