The 162nd Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair came to a close on Sunday, bringing an end to four days of carnival favorites, Island eats and face time with furry barnyard friends.
The event is the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s biggest fundraising event of the year. More than 30,000 people passed through for candied apples, cozy quilts and ferris wheel views.
On Saturday the 4H animal and handler costume show drew a large crowd. Fourteen year-old 4H member Wren Robertson walked out wearing a cardboard cut-out of a milk carton and led her black-and-white calf, Venus, who was wearing a giant mega-stuff Oreo sign. The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers and the pair won a blue ribbon.
“We were doing the costume contest and everyone was thinking of these amazing ideas and I was trying to think of the most crazy one,” Wren said. “I was up last night making it and Venus fit it so well. I stayed up until midnight painting this and cutting out letters.”
4H returned to the ring on Sunday when the Katama Cowpokes put on a talent show with their animals. For months, 4Hers have been working with their cows to teach them how to be ridden, jump small fences and even dance. Wren led highland cow Owen B as her younger sister Regan rode atop his back.
Wren and Regan’s mom, Elizabeth Bonifacio, was the morning barn manager and worked hard with her team each day to get the animals and their homes ready for visitors. Ms. Bonifacio said the best part of the fair was seeing young people interact with different aspects of farm life whether it be harvesting vegetables, collecting eggs or holding chicks.
“This year has been really great,” Ms. Bonifacio said. “We had a lot of interactive activities in the barn.”
A particularly beloved animal at the fair was Chilmark the ox. The gentle giant pulled carts full of families around the fairground. On Sunday afternoon, owner Cicilio Rosa Neto officially relieved the local celebrity of his duties.
“He’s a good friend,” he said as Chilmark happily munched on hay. “Everyone loves him.”
Around the corner was another celebrity namesake: Chicki Minaj, a black silkie hen named after rapper Nicki Minaj. She was tucked away in a metal crate with her siblings until her owner, Kelly DeBettencourt, pulled her out to play.
“People really like them because they’re so soft,” she said.
Humans, too, provided entertainment throughout the weekend. Miss Molly Dazzle wore a bright green and gold glitter dress while teaching kids how to hula hoop. Later in the evening, Ms. Dazzle stood eight feet in the air atop stilts. Dressed as a monarch butterfly, she spun different props lit on fire that drew wows from onlookers.
“It’s all about the kids for me and making sure everyone’s having a fun time,” Ms. Dazzle said. “I consider myself a professional joy-bringer so I’m just here to help amplify that at the fair.”
Ms. Dazzle flew in from Washington D.C. to bring her sparkle to the fair for her third time. Eight years ago, Ms. Dazzle used to spend her summers working in Edgartown and in her spare time practiced her circus arts outside of the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs.
“Here we are, eight years later, and I get to do this as a profession and bring the joy of performance and circus to so many other people,” Ms. Dazzle said.
Outside the merchandise trailer, Traeger di Pietro sat signing posters and passing out postcards. Mr. di Pietro designed this year’s fair poster, and the artist said seeing his painting throughout the fair was a dream come true.
“Ever since I came to the Island and went to the fair, I saw that kids were wearing shirts with the fair poster,” Mr. di Pietro said. “It’s always been a dream to have kids wear my work and be walking around, eating caramel apples and having a blast… I’ve always wanted my art to be a part of that.”
All weekend people were anticipating the final fair event: the esteemed skillet toss. This year’s winner was Kelsey Ivory, who worked in the fair merchandise booth.
Diane Burt has been coming to the fair for more than 40 years and never ceases to be impressed by contestants’ skillet-hurling prowess.
“It’s the best thing at the fair, far as I’m concerned,” she said. “I could throw it 2 feet.”
As tummy aches from fried oreos subside, rides get dismantled and livestock trot back to their familiar pastures, fair fans need not despair. The next one is just around the corner.
“We’ll see you next year,” Ms. Bonifacio said.
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