CANFIELD — The Canfield Fair board has announced the celebration surrounding the 175th Canfield Fair will kick off with a community art project.

The art project is 6-foot replicas of the iconic rooster standing on “the big rock” at the fairgrounds.

The fair next year is scheduled for Sept 1-6. This year’s fair was limited to the junior fair and its livestock and crafts events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but fair officials say they want the 175th to be the biggest, best ever.

The flock will consist of 25 artist-created roosters. Rooster sponsors and artists are actively being sought.

Artists are required to submit an application and finalists will be selected by a juried art committee with the rooster sponsors having the final call as to what design will be featured on their bird.

Both amateur and professional artists are encouraged to apply. Selected artists will be paid a stipend for their work.

“In the same fashion that the Penguin statues flocked around Youngstown and the Goddess of Speed statues roared into Warren this project is a way to celebrate 175 years of the Canfield Fair and to unite the community in a time when unity is needed more than ever,” said Ward Campbell, fair board president.

Artist applications are due in early January with the finalists being announced in February. The finished birds will land around the Valley this summer and reunite as a flock at the fair before being auctioned off in November.

Artist applications and sponsorship details can be found at www.canfieldfair.com or by emailing market ing@canfieldfair.com

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