ADAMS -- The Agricultural Fair is gearing up for a year to remember.
With construction on a new pavilion at Old Columbia Street's Bowe Field beginning last week, and new events planned to pair with old favorites, patrons can expect bigger and better from this year's festivities.
"It's a year-round project for all of us," said Elizabeth Randall, who is in charge of fair publicity. "I hope people from all over come and enjoy what we've been working to put together.
This year's fair -- the 38th ever and the 25th at Bowe Field -- will fall be held Aug. 2-5, and it will be the first to be held under a permanent structure, the new 60-by-80 steel pavilion at Bowe Field, which has a roof, a floor and electricity.
"It's sort of joke," Randall said, "It always rains at the Aggie Fair, so it will be really nice to not be in a tent. We also feel that the pavilion is a good place for anyone or any group who wants to contact [the fair committee] regarding potential use during the year. It should be a nice asset for the town."
The pavilion is being constructed by Atlantis Equipment Corporation, and the fair committee is planning a ribbon cutting and cake event to celebrate the structure's completion. The committee still accepts donations to put toward any remaining costs.
Scheduled events for the Agricultural Fair include music and a battle of the bands, the popular demolition derby and a new tractor race, knife throwing and
"We encourage anyone who has any interest to enter into some of our food contests," Randall said. "There's a lot of good gardeners and handy people around, so we're expecting a great turnout."
One of this year's most esteemed new events, the "Hill Billy" Garden Tractor Drag Race, involves participants racing stripped down lawn mowers -- which, as a rule, must cost under $3,000 -- around a track located at the site.
Contests include "best cookie," "best pie," "best cake" and more, with gift certificate prizes.
The fair's 25 years at Bowe Field have been a story of constant improvement, taking what was formerly a town dumping site and turning it into the field one sees today. A barn, an exhibit hall, bleachers, restrooms and the soon-to-be-finished pavilion now fill the space. The organization recently agreed with the town to a second 25-year lease of the property.
The fair is a nonprofit organization.
"We've had a lot of business and community support," Randall said. "This has been such a positive step for us."
For more information, visit www.adamsfair.com.
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