maine-association-agricultural-fairs

2024 Catherine L Damren Distinguished Service Award

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:12:24 GMT

2025 Catherine L. Damren

Hope Ricker - Pittston Fair

Hope Ricker was raised in a farming family and grew up helping her cousins show their Ayrshire cattle at the local fairs. She truly enjoyed being at Maine fairs as a child. As an adult, she became more involved with her local fair and the world of draft horses, eventually becoming the secretary of the Farmers Draft Horse, Mule and Pony Club. Outside of her hometown fair, Hope became the manager of the draft horse and steer shows at Topsham, Skowhegan, Windsor, Fryeburg and Litchfield fairs.

In 2006 Hope was elected to the MAAF board of directors and rose quickly through the organization. She was elected MAAF president serving from 2012-2014 and worked tirelessly with Roger Hoffses and Katie Damren to grow the MAAF Scholarship program. Hope has also traveled to represent Maine and participate in several IAFE conventions. Hope currently serves as the president of the MAAF Foundation, which has taken on the responsibilities of the MAAF scholarship program. The Foundation provides educational opportunities to Maine fair youth and Maine agricultural fairs. Hope was inducted into the Skowhegan Fair Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2016.

Congratulations to Hope Ricker, 2024 recipient of the Catherine L. Damren Distinguished Service Award.

Distinguished Service Award

2024 MAAF Ag Challenge Award Contest

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:07:32 GMT

2024 Meet our Farmers - Winners

Windsor Fair - Large Fair

Harmony Free Fair - Small Fair

“Meet Our Farmers” was the Ag Challenge theme for the 2024 fair season. So many fairs chose to reach out and invite Maine farmers to be their guests at the fair. Farmers, farm families, young and old – all who farmed the land and the sea were front and center. Fair goers met oyster and lobster farmers, fruit farmers, organic and grass fed farmers, beef, hog and poultry farmers, flower farmers, maple farmers, the list is endless. Videos were on display, Q and A sessions were available, special buildings were constructed to house the farmers and everyone was invited to hear what exactly all these hard working men, women and children actually did in their farm life.

Thank you so much for the creativity displayed through buttons, stickers, signs, displays and community interaction. It was our pleasure to partner with a team of judges representing Hannaford. We all notice how Hannaford stores highlight the names of local farms who sell their produce to Hannaford. It seemed perfect to invite them to see how much our fairs were focusing on farmers this summer.

Windsor Fair was selected as the winner in the large fair (5 days or more) category. Harmony Free Fair was selected as the winner in the small fair (4 days or less) category. There were no entries that focused primarily on programs for children. Fairs selected as winners receive an engraved plaque and a $250.00 award. Photos below.

Our contest judges, representing the Kennebec Valley Community College Culinary Arts program, Allagash Brewing Company and the Maine Dairy Promotion Board and the Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, were honored to be asked to review and score the applications.

2024 Rising Star Award

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:02:26 GMT

Madison Chadbourne - Harmony Fair

Madison’s journey began on her family’s farm in Harmony, Maine, where she learned about hard work, responsibility and raising animals ethically. Madison began volunteering at the Harmony Free Fair as soon as she was able, assisting with everything from carrying piglets for the pig scramble to selling 50/50 tickets to working in the Patriarch’s food booth. Word has it that Madison has helped sell 50/50 tickets since she was old enough to hold a roll of tickets and climb into the bleachers.

Madison has made a positive impact on the fair community through her efforts to recruit and engage young people as volunteers. When she reached high school, she actively reached out to her schoolmates and they eagerly volunteered. Her ability to reach out and bring in new energy and talent is ensuring the fair’s sustainability.

When WABI-TV Channel 5 visited the fair, Madison gave a thoughtful and enthusiastic interview, providing positive publicity for the fair and demonstrating its welcoming, family-oriented spirit . A project near and dear to her heart is the Children’s Area which came to life following the COVID-19 pandemic. Madison took the lead in reinventing the fair experience for children. . She filled this section of the fairgrounds with engaging agriculture-focused activities, such as cow-milking demonstrations, butter making, muddy pig art, homemade piggy banks and other interactive activities which are educational and fun for all ages. Madison hand painted farm animals and farm scenes on tote bags, and each child received a unique bag to take home. To fund these activities, Madison secured a $1,000. grant from WalMart, and also obtained sponsors for some of the events, such as the ice cream eating contest.

Madison’s dedication to the fair continued through her college years, when Madison became involved in Harmony Cares, a food pantry serving Harmony, and Harmony Cares Closet, which provides free clothing and household items for those in need. Madison serves as a member of the Patriarch’s Club Board of Trustees and brings a fresh perspective to the board. More recently Madison participated in MAAF annual conferences, and the 2024 IAFE convention in Phoenix, AZ. Congratulations to our newest Rising Star, from Harmony Free Fair - Madison Chadbourne.

2023 Rising Star Award

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:25:57 GMT

Jessica Benner - Pittston Fair

The Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs presented the 2023 Rising Star Award to Jessica Benner from Pittston Fair. Brittany Moon, the 2022 Rising Star, introduced Jessica as follows: "Jessica grew up on the Pittston fairgrounds and could always be found days before the fair opened each year helping to take care of the last minute details. During the fair, she could be found at the barn with her cows, but would also be available to help at the truck pulls and other mechanical events. As a previous contestant for the Strawberry Queen, Jessica performed hours of community service. After being crowned Queen in 2004, she finished her term and then continued to assist Liz Chaisson with the pageant in the years to follow. Jessica works side by side with her husband in coordinating the fair mechanical events and can always be available to answer questions when needed. When the Pittston Fair treasurer began to consider stepping down, Jessica put her degree in accounting to good use and began assisting the outgoing treasurer. In 2023, Jessica was chosen by the fair board to take over the position of Fair Treasurer. Elected to the board of directors in 2020, Jessica has brought a new youthful outlook on the fair events and activities. Finally, if you can’t find Jessica with the strawberry princesses, cows or the derby cars, head over to the Cook Shack. She has helped there for a long time, always with a warm, welcoming smile. We are proud to introduce you to the newest Rising Star - from Pittston Fair - the fair known as “Maine’s Friendliest Fair.”

2023 MAAF Ag Challenge Award Contest

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:21:35 GMT

2023 Maine on My Plate

Thank you to all who participated in our recent 2023 Ag Education Challenge. Maine On My Plate offered many opportunities to introduce our fair goers to the connections between the food we grow and the tasty meals that we produce using these foods.

Our contest judges, representing the Kennebec Valley Community College Culinary Arts program, Allagash Brewing Company and the Maine Dairy Promotion Board and the Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, were honored to be asked to review and score the applications.

Cumberland Fair - Large Fair

Cumberland Fair received the award for “agricultural experience for ALL fairgoers at a fair operating for five concurrent days or more”. There were three major areas of their fair that focused on Maine On My Plate. The Maple Sugar House, the Farm Museum and the most extensive area of display could be found in the Exhibition Hall. Visitors to the Exhibition Hall were greeted with a large banner boldly displaying MAINE ON MY PLATE. Throughout the hall, visitors could find Maine cookbooks, State of Maine license plates, cooking demonstrations, student scavenger hunts, photographs of Maine foods and much much more. Many local businesses sponsored the hall activities, and two home school groups did cooking demonstrations in our kitchen using local products and recipes that highlighted Maine foods. Local orchards created colorful displays of fresh Maine produce.

The biggest challenge for this team was to measure how much education was occurring. “We know that our work was enjoyed by the fair visitors, as they stopped by frequently to offer positive comments and share their search for more Maine On My Plate logo signs “.

The Cumberland Fair team of Carolyn Small and Lynn Copp spearheaded the program, and their whole staff used the theme as an exciting way to breathe new life into their hall. Everyone involved enjoyed being a part of the planning and preparations.

Litchfield Fair - Children's Programs

Scoring highest for children’s programs was Litchfield Fair. Agricultural experiences designed for children and offered by a fair operating four concurrent days or less, Litchfield Fair looked at how they could encourage fairgoers to recognize the connection between agriculture and the foods produced in Maine.

Having spent time at an IAFE annual convention and observing many new ways to educate their fairgoers, the team at Litchfield set to work offering hands on opportunities for children, and their families, to teach themselves about Maine agriculture. Representatives from Wheeler’s Wee Farm, the 4-H building, the exhibition hall and the Pumpkin Contest worked tirelessly to offer their fairgoers a combination of diverse, colorful and fun activities.

Wheeler’s Wee Farm greets the fair folks as they pass through the ticket gate.. This program, made possible through the financial generosity of longtime dairy farmer Alice Wheeler, introduces children of all ages to a diverse sampling of Maine agriculture. Entering through an apple orchard, the path leads to a hen house, lobster boat, garden plot, milk cow and much more. Everyone finishes at the General Store, where their produce is exchanged for a healthy snack. Many of these snacks are donated by local companies/businesses.

Nearby, a model of the USDA’s My Plate guide to healthy eating. Divided into 5 sections of foods, children are encouraged to create a healthy meal plate.
Adults noticed brightly colored, decorated mailboxes as they walk around the fairgrounds.

Tucked inside were recipes from local fair families sharing information about how to connect the recipe and local agricultural products.

The Exhibition Hall was full of examples of many Maine foods - potatoes, beans, lobster, apples, blueberries, grains and much more.

The Giant Pumpkin contest educated folks on growing pumpkins and cooking with pumpkins. Seeds were distributed to families who were then encouraged to grow pumpkins for the 2024 fair competition.

Finally, the 4-H building explained the use and importance of many antique tools used in food preparation.

How delighted the planning team was to find positive notes tucked inside the mailboxes regarding their displays. Overall, “the planning, preparation and completion of this project has provided many new ideas for the upcoming year.”

2023 Catherine L. Damren Award Distinguished Service Award

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:30:27 GMT

2023 Catherine L. Damren Award

The Catherine L. Damren Distinguished Service Award is presented to a person in the Maine agricultural community who has gone above and beyond in support in support and promotion of Maine’s agricultural fairs. This year's recipient is C. Richard "Dick" Hall of Farmington Fair.

Dick, as many of us know him, started officially in the fair business in 1973. He took over from his grandfather, Ralph Hall, as a trustee in Farmington, and served until his retirement in 2004. During that time and beyond, Dick has been involved with the MAAF, serving on the board of directors and serving as the President from 1998-2000. He was the MAAF representative to the Maine State Pulling Commission from 1990 until his retirement in 2015.

During his many years with the fairs, Dick has served as the pulling superintendent at Farmington from 1973-2004, Fryeburg Fair for 25 years and Blue Hill for many years. Dick could be found at all of our Maine fairs as a very enthusiastic fairgoer, moving from person to person inquiring as to their wellbeing, sharing the latest about his extensive Hall family and always with a warm and welcoming smile.

Dick joins previous recipients of this award - Roy Andrews and Tom Foster.

Congratulations, Dick!

Distinguished Service Award

Dick Hall - Farmington Fair

2022 Catherine L. Damren Distinguished Service Award

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 17:58:50 GMT

Tom Foster - Windsor Fair

Tom Foster, the President of Windsor Fair since 1992, was presented with the Catherine L. Damren Distinguished Service Award by the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs at their Annual Conference held this past weekend in Portland. The Damren Award is given to a person in the Maine agricultural community who has gone above and beyond in support and promotion of Maine's agricultural fairs. Tom in photo with his wife of 55 years, Karen.

2022 MAAF Ag Challenge Award Contest

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 17:48:31 GMT

2022 Creating an Experience: Maine GROWS

The 2022 MAAF “Creating an Experience: Maine GROWS” agricultural education challenge brought some very exciting applications from fairs across the state.

These three high scoring fairs received a recognition plaque and a cash award.

Fairs that were also recognized for their projects for children, and fairgoers of all ages, are: Monmouth Fair, Washington County Fair, Acton Fair and Harmony. These fairs received a 2 cu. feet bag of Bar Harbor Blend Organic Potting Soil and a cash award. Thank you to the judges and many sponsors of our challenge, especially to Coast of Maine for their generous donation of organic potting soil.

Blue Hill Fair

Congratulations to Blue Hill Fair who collaborated with the family of beloved children’s author E.B. White and welcomed fairgoers of all ages to come through the doorway of Zuckerman’s Farm to meet Wilbur and Charlotte. Throughout their fair, reminders of the theme for the fair were quite evident. Especially unique was the involvement of the Ellsworth Grand Theater players as they brought this story to life with their offering of two specially written shows a day.

Litchfield Fair

Congratulations to Litchfield Fair for their delightful Wheeler’s Wee Farm project. In

place for several years, Wheeler’s Wee Farm introduces children to the many aspects of Maine farming. From the apple orchard through the lobster boat and chicken house to the “milking” cow, all were opportunities to become farmers for a moment.

Northern Maine Fair

Congratulations to Northern Maine Fair and their project Lil’ Loggers at the Fair.

They were recognized for their outstanding forestry project involving children in a hands-on lesson about the importance of forestry in our northern Maine woods.

2022 Rising Star Award

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 18:02:20 GMT

Brittany Moon from Cumberland Fair was selected as the 2022 MAAF Rising Star.

Introduced by Union Fair’s Ryan Soule (2021 MAAF Rising Star with Brittany in photo above) at the MAAF annual banquet, Brittany has been an important part of her home fair from a very young age. As a 4-H member, Brittany moved from a young girl eager to help at her fair (regardless of the task) into a seasoned mentor educating youth and adults alike about the origins of their food.

Brittany Moon received a MAAF Scholarship as a 2012 high school senior which helped her graduate from UNH. Currently she is employed in the Education Department at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester . This year-round program engages visitors of all ages in the areas of local natural history and agriculture. Additionally, Brittany and her family are well known exhibitors at a number of Maine fairs, including Cumberland as well as Windsor, Fryeburg, Ossipee, Topsham and Skowhegan.

A recommendation written on her behalf states: “Brittany Moon grew up in 4H and has always been an inspiration to be admired. As an adult, she has continued to be inspiring as a leader. An amazing young person who will brighten everyone’s day !”

Congratulations to Brittany Moon !

Brittany Moon - Cumberland Fair

2021 Rising Star Award

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 18:33:42 GMT

Ryan Soule - UnionFair

Congratulations to Ryan Soule from Union Fair who was selected as the MAAF Rising Star 2021. He was presented this honor by Vincent Osgood of Fryeburg Fair, and the MAAF 2020 recipient. Ryan has been involved with the Union Fair since he was a youngster. More information on Ryan will be in the May-June newsletter.

2021 Catherine L Damren Distinguished Service Award

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 18:05:13 GMT

Roy Andrews - Fryeburg Fair

Roy Andrews, past President of Fryeburg Fair, received the first Catharine L. Damren Service Award - given to a person in the Maine agricultural community who has gone above and beyond in support and promotion of Maine's agricultural fairs.

2020 Rising Star Award

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:37:28 GMT

Vincent Osgood - Fryeburg Fair

The Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs with 26 member fairs has awarded their 2020 Rising Star Award to Vincent Osgood of Fryeburg, ME. The plaque was presented to Vincent by Barry Norris, Executive Director of the MAAF & Steve Graustein, Board Member, at the MAAF annual meeting. The award is designed to recognize a young person who is an agricultural fair contributor and leader and deemed a well-rounded outstanding individual.

Vincent has worked in the ticket department of Fryeburg Fair for many years, as his grandfather Jim Osgood Sr. was superintendent from 1984-2015. Vincent became superintendent in 2015 and now manages more than 48 staff members during the fair. Vincent and his team were an integral part of establishing the Fair’s new online ticketing system.

Vincent grew up in Fryeburg and his family has been a part of Fryeburg Fair for many generations. He works at Norway Savings Bank as an AVP, Commercial Loan Officer in their Fryeburg Branch. He serves on the loan committee for the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council, and has been a past board member of the Fryeburg Recreation Department, Rufus Porter Museum, Lakes Region Community Health Board at Bridgton Hospital, Bridgton Economic Development Corporation, and Mt. Washington Valley Housing Coalition. Vincent and wife, Hillary, have two children, Asa, 3, & Raelynn, 1. Fryeburg Fair’s Camping Superintendent Arthur Adams received the MAAF Rising Star Award in 2017.