Staff Writer
MAPLETON — Despite inclement weather, organizers of the fifth annual Maple Meadow Farm Festival say “a couple thousand people” attended the two-day event, which celebrates agricultural heritage, rural living and family.
THE FIFTH ANNUAL Maple Meadow Farm Festival was held June 25-26 at the Gregg farm in Mapleton. The weekend event featured a variety of demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, draft-horse farming, fieldwork with antique tractors, country cuisine, music, and more. Despite inclement weather, organizers estimate several thousand people attended the festival, which celebrates agricultural heritage, rural living and family.
“We think the festival went very well,” said organizer Andrea Gregg. “This might have been our best year yet; even with the rain. People came out in their muck boots and raincoats and enjoyed themselves. The weather held off Sunday and we had a fantastic group of people. We had a family here from California and their little girls were so excited because they don’t get much rain in San Diego. They were the last ones to leave on Saturday and the girls were running in the rain.
“Since admission is free, it’s hard to determine how many people attend,” she said. “We try to count cars at various times, but this year we weren’t very successful at that because of the weather and we ended up being quite busy. However, we also sell pies and concessions and we can use that as a gauge from year to year. Because our infrastructure has changed, the festival was spread out more, but I would say there were probably a couple thousand people over the course of the weekend.”
DONALD PAUL (Spirit of the Bear), of Castle Hill, a member of the Aroostook Band of Maliseets and Micmac tribes, makes Indian bread over an open fire for guests to sample at the June 25-26 Maple Meadow Farm Festival in Mapleton. Paul estimated he made over 65 “loaves” of bread during the festival which were deemed quite delicious by visitors and served with either honey, jam or jelly.
A number of demonstrations were held throughout the June 25-26 event including talks on horse dentistry, spinning, Windsor chair seat carving, wood milling, firewood processing, digging potatoes with a one-row horse-drawn digger, and more. Local musicians played bluegrass music, a number of food items were for sale, and artisans and antique dealers were on hand selling their wares, as well.
“We had lots of comments from folks attending the festival that they really loved that we had a schedule of events, that there were specified demonstration areas, and with the rain Saturday,” said Gregg, “people really liked having access to the barn and covered areas. That was very beneficial. We had lots of positive feedback on the animal/petting area for kids. It was a very successful festival.”
GARY SWEETSER of Garfield Plantation, who owns and operates Sweetser Farrier Service, nails a horseshoe onto his 19-year-old Appaloosa, Rosie, during a demonstration at the recent Maple Meadow Farm Festival in Mapleton.
Gary Sweetser of Garfield Plantation, who owns and operates Sweetser Farrier Service, was on hand to show community members the art of horse shoeing.
“The weather, of course, was a real factor with the mud and the dirt, but there was a lot of interest and a lot of questions,” he said. “Once you’re into doing a job, people seemed very interested in it, and I think they liked it all right.”
Sweetser, who has attended all five Maple Meadow Farm Festivals, said not much has changed in the horse shoeing business.
“The big thing is that we don’t make shoes anymore and don’t do very much forge work; you can buy them and take a shoe right out of the box and get in on the horse,” he said. “I’ve been showing people how to trim the foot properly, putting them on and answering horse owners’ questions.”
A draft horse enthusiast, Sweetser said he’s been friends with the Gregg family for years.
“This [the festival] is really nice. It’s got a good atmosphere, it’s down to earth, it’s agriculture and family,” he said. “They never have to twist my arm to come. It’s something we really look forward to and enjoy. I like to watch the horses and visit with the people; it’s an enjoyable day for me.”
Gregg said the festival will continue again next year.
“Each year things change a little bit and we’re trying to manage the growth and keep the quality of the event the same,” she said. “We really want to make sure that we’re maintaining quality and keeping the integrity of our philosophy as it grows.
PROVING THAT SOMETIMES the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, this alpaca has a quick bite at the recent Maple Meadow Farm Festival in Mapleton. The alpacas were courtesy of Paca Pals 4-H Club and Forticor Farms Alpacas of Hodgdon.
“Maple Meadow Farm Festival emphasizes the daily and seasonal farm and home-making practices of Aroostook County, honoring an agricultural heritage and creating an opportunity for personal enrichment and enjoyment,” said Gregg. “It builds community, while supporting economic growth, by showcasing the best of the past and educating others about the history and traditions of a rural culture with an emphasis on collaboration. We hope people plan on attending the festival in 2012.”
