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A Vindicator editorial from April 1, 1949, heralded the opening of the 103rd Canfield Fair thusly:
"Certainly the fair will continue to be fun, for one of its purposes is to help people laugh and be gay and enjoy themselves. On the Canfield midway for the next five days, city and country people alike will find entertainment to suit their tastes, from the ice and vaudeville shows to horse races. That is the magic of the fair, a mixture of farm and fun to brighten the day of all who attend."
Though this year's 177th edition of Ohio's largest county fair will be missing the vaudeville shows of yesteryear, there will be plenty of thrills to go around. But despite the flashy rides, the scrumptious fair food and the major grandstand attractions, the essence of the annual Canfield Fair lies deeply rooted in agriculture.
Those roots run deep indeed. They can be traced to one Elisha Whittlesey, a local and national attorney and military hero who served under Gen. William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812 and represented the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. Congress. He also served as first comptroller of the U.S. Treasury under Presidents Zachary Taylor and Abraham Lincoln. But his most enduring contribution to Mahoning County lore was his role as a founding father of the inimitable Canfield Fair by helping to organize the Mahoning County Agricultural Society.
Clearly some of the fair's prime assets transcend time. Just as in 1846, the Canfield Fair in 2023 remains at its core a celebration of the important role agriculture plays in Mahoning County. As tens of thousands of fairgoers stroll the midways, they have ample opportunities to appreciate local farmers of all ages and their premium animals and produce.
Particularly deserving of our attention and appreciation again this year are members of the Junior Fair, who include participants in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Campfire, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Junior Grange and Farm Bureau. Leading the charge are 4-H youngsters who range in age from 5 to 19 and promote the interests of youth and farming in a grand way.
This year promises to be more grand than ever as the Junior Fair occupies sorely needed additional space for its popular displays and auctions inside the newly named Michael J. Kusalaba Fund of the Youngstown Foundation Event Center on the fairgrounds. In prepping their animals for display and prizes, the 4-Hers, who number about 1,000 throughout the county, also learn important farming skills while internalizing the timeless values of 4 H -- allegiance to the head, heart, hands, health -- that will serve them well on and off the farm for decades to come.
This year's fair also places a premium on farmers on the other end of the age spectrum. On opening day Wednesday, the agricultural society inducted its second class into the Mahoning County Agricultural Hall of Fame. This year's inductees are Dorothy "Pearle" Hartley Burlingame, James Clay "J.C." Hedge, Jesse and Roger Martig, Clifford A. Morrison, David C. Myers and Wade Wehr. Some are being honored posthumously for their contributions, while others continue to work the land proudly well into their golden years.
But regardless of one's age, attendees of the fair this year will do well to remember that where it's been, where it's now and where it's going remain deeply embedded in Mahoning County's rich and sturdy agrarian roots.
editorial@vindy.com