Big Dreams for the Big Fair
by Molly Ahearn

If you could peer inside Bob Grems, you'd probably discover Joey Chitwood's race cars were pumping his heart and clever carnival monkeys were powering his brain. That's how much entertainment is in his blood. As a small child in Boonville, NY, he stood on tiptoe to see out the family's living room window as workers set up the Oneida County Fair across the street. He sold his mother's lemonade to the tent men for $1 a gallon. Those early days bred a love for the institution of the county fair that has guided his life. After 40 years in the business of fairs, carnivals and family entertainment, Bob Grems was chosen to take the reins as manager of the Dutchess County Fair in 2006.

The Fair is a big business and, as Grems admits, ran like a well-oiled machine when he took over last January. "How do you make something great, better?" he asked me. To ensure its continued success and high quality, the organizers needed to embrace new sources of revenue, open the fairgrounds to other events and lessen their financial dependence on six days of weather in August.

Bob had no shortage of ideas, but he wanted to stand united with the 16-member Fair Board. "I don't like hanging alone. I want 17 to be on the gallows. I've been very careful not to initiate change without support." He also credits his dedicated staff with making the place run smoothly and professionally.

New events were added to the 2007 fair. Sunday's bull riding was so popular hundreds of disappointed fans had to be turned away. Cowboys, some as local as Stanfordville, busted out of the gates, bravely hanging on as two-thousand pounds of angry bull tried to jettison them. This year, look forward to barrel racing as well.

The ESPN dog competition was also a keeper. Dogs of all shapes, sizes and abilities bolted down a short runway as their masters threw a favorite toy over an above-ground pool. Kids vied for spots in the splash zone to beat Saturday's 100-degree heat, their ice creams melting faster than they could be eaten. Competitors jumping the farthest scored best with the judges, but the dogs with the highest leaps and most dramatic mid-air catches won the hearts of the audience.

A huge change this year: the quirky 70s-era band shell is gone. A new concert-style stage is being built that can be dismantled and reassembled as events demand. This will allow an additional 900 track seats, increasing total capacity to 3,800. For Sunday's bull riding, the stage will be removed and seats arranged on both sides. Once again, track seats will be for sale and grandstand seating will be free. Grems initially took a lot of flak for the decision to charge an additional fee to offset increasing talent costs, but people who bought track seats complimented him because they were able to enjoy the fair until the last minute before the show.

Big name talent will inaugurate the new stage. Tuesday, country singers Jake Owen and Jason Michael Carroll will be the first to perform. Wednesday, surf on over to hear the Beach Boys. Blake Shelton was one of the last performers to sing on the old stage and he'll be back again this year on Thursday. Weekend shows include Keith Anderson with American Idol star Bucky Covington and Little Big Town.

A dream on the horizon is to expand the antique schoolhouse into an entire village. "The idea that Mr. Odak and the board had in bringing that one-room schoolhouse here was visionary," Bob marvels. "Some day I'd like to see it joined by a church, a farmhouse, a doctor's office and a bank stretching from the schoolhouse down to the back side of the antique museum." He pictures buses of schoolchildren visiting year round and historical memorabilia and articles from past fairs adorning the walls of an old railroad station. If you've got fair treasures, consider donating them to the Dutchess County Agricultural Society.

The food court is going international. Flags from countries around the world will wave as diners enjoy Italian cuisine from Coppola's, Cajun from New Orleans, Latin tastes from Sabroso, and American from CIA chefs. Many will be overjoyed to hear that Pete's Famous will serve turkey. What's Bob's favorite fair food? Budd's cream puffs.

There is one thing that will never change at the fair—agriculture will always remain at its core. Boutique farms specializing in wine, herbs, organic meats, flowers and garlic are sprouting up alongside traditional dairy cows and sheep. "The changing face of agriculture in the county is something that should be celebrated," says Grems. "I want to see a farmer's market at every single gate. When people leave the fairgrounds, they should be able to go home with fresh produce." At this month's youth festival, BOCES students will be building a sugarhouse so that syrup can be harvested and sold from fairground maple trees.

Another tradition Bob is proud to continue is making the fairgrounds available for fundraising events. Between $750,000 and $1,000,000 will be raised this year between the Relay for Life, Autism Walk and Starlight Ball benefiting Northern Dutchess Hospital. Bob points out that the Agricultural Society is a volunteer, non-profit organization itself. Contrary to rumors, its directors don't get free cars or salaries in return for their hard work. Any profits made at the fairgrounds go right back into the grounds and its events.

Tickets went on sale for this year's August 19 24 fair at www.dutchessfair.com beginning May 10. Take advantage of the Agriculture Society's offer to keep prices affordable by buying bulk-priced tickets that include admission, rides, one track event and a 20 percent discount in the food court. As always, tickets will be available at local retail outlets closer to the time of the fair. Or, new this year, pay with a credit card at the gate!

Whatever you do, don't miss the 2008 Dutchess County Fair—the finest county fair in the United States.