THE BALLOON MAN

Stratham Fair begins four-day run

Kids turn upside down on the ride called "Freak Out" on a very hot morning Thursday at the Stratham Fair.
Deb Cram/dcram@seacoastonline.com
By Liz Markhlevskaya
news@seacoastonline.com
July 21, 2011
STRATHAM, NH — The Stratham Fair kicked off Thursday with hot weather and a day filled with amusement rides, vendors, food and livestock.

“It's a great family event,” said Hampton resident Carl Hendrickson, who came to the fair with his daughter Katie, 16, and son Keith, 10

Katie enjoyed one of the new amusement rides offered by Fiesta Shows. The “Freak Out” ride swings visitors from one side to another while spinning at the same time. “I really liked it, it was really intense,” said Katie, while on the way to the next ride, “Starship Exodus.”

Hendrickson said he brings his family to Stratham Fair every year, because the event offers a perfect mix of rides, vendors and 4-H activities for youth interested in agriculture.

Rival Ink, an airbrush tattoo company from West Springfield, Mass., has one of the more than 70 vending spots at the fair. Owner Scott Primack said he chose the Stratham Fair because of the number of visitors attracted to its amusement rides and its inexpensive entrance fee.

“There are big rides here,” said Primack, who has his vending spot next to the midway. He said a $7 entrance fee per adult is a good deal and he hopes to see many customers throughout the weekend.
For young people interested in agriculture and raising livestock, those under 18 can showcase their animals and test their knowledge at the 4-H offering.

Christine Lamore, 14, of Newmarket brought her 2-year-old hen, Roberta, for showcasing on Saturday. “From day one, I knew she was going to be a good show bird,” Lamore said of her Barred Rock black-and-white hen. “She's a super docile bird — she's just friendly.”

Lamore said she has been training the bird since it was two days old. “She's my baby,” said Lamore, who won first place for poultry showmanship at last year's fair. This year, her only goal is to have fun.

At the 4-H cattle barn, Alycia Wojtusik, 17, and her cousin Joey Bosworth, 16, brought about 12 cows and calves to the fair in preparation for the beef cattle showcase on Saturday. Bosworth said he first got involved in showcasing dairy goats at the Stratham Fair last year, and after helping fellow 4-Hers bring their cows into the ring, he decided to participate in the showcase this year.

The cows came from the JKJ Simmental Farm in Northwood, said Wojtusik, who has showcased the cows at Stratham Fair for the past six years. She said the cows are judged on how clean and fit they are, as well as for their calmness. To prepare for the showcase, the cousins wash the cows, clean their ears and practice walking them.

“I've always wanted to be around animals,” Wojtusik said. Wojtusik will attend the University of Maine this fall, studying to become a large animal veterinarian.