AUGUSTA, Maine — Officials with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry have denied a request by the Northern Maine Fair to change the dates of its 2019 festival.
Northern Maine Fair officials sought to change the dates of their fair, which has typically taken place at the end of July, to instead run from Friday, June 28, through Saturday, July 6. This past year, the Presque Isle festival was held from July 27 to Aug. 4.
The requested dates, however, would have been in direct competition with Houlton’s annual fair, which is slated for July 4-7 in 2019. Those dates were approved by the state back in 2016.
“There are no winners in this difficult decision,” said John Bott, director of communications and special projects for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. “Heartfelt testimony was provided from all sides of this matter and speaks to the high level of community support for both fairs.”
On Friday, Oct. 12, representatives from both fairs attended a hearing in Augusta before the Department of Agriculture. The decision was handed down late Thursday afternoon and both boards were informed that the change of dates had been denied.
According to Bott, Mari Wells-Eager was the designated hearing officer and authored the written decision on behalf of the Maine Department of Agriculture.
“This is a very difficult and unfortunate situation, and there are no winners,” she wrote. “Through no fault of their own, and solely because of the actions taken by Smokey’s Greater Shows, both the NMF and the Houlton fair have been put in the precarious predicament of having to choose between changing traditional agricultural fair dates in order to continue to use Smokey’s, or keeping awarded dates and losing Smokey’s as the midway provider.
“The NMF decided, for valid reasons, that it should request a change in its fair dates. The Houlton Fair, also for valid reasons, decided not to request a change in its dates. If the NMF’s request to change its fair dates is granted, these two fairs will overlap for three of four days of Houlton’s fair. These two Aroostook County agricultural fairs will then have to compete against each other for income, attendees, participants, sponsors, advertisers and exhibitors.”
Wells-Eager also wrote, “As the Houlton Fair is in geographic proximity to the NMF, the rule requires consideration of the economic harm that would be caused by overlapping dates. The Houlton Fair will be economically harmed if it has to compete with the NMF for three of its four dates, including the 4th of July. The Houlton Fair would have to compete for many of the same attendees, participants, sponsors, advertisers and exhibitors.
Beyond that, the report states there was also sufficient evidence that the NMF too would suffer economic harm by having to compete with the Houlton Fair.
“The NMF would also have to compete for many of the same attendees, participants, sponsors, advertisers and exhibitors. These negative economic effects would be felt not only by the fairs, but by the communities in which they are held as well. Such a situation is counterproductive to both Presque Isle and Houlton.”
Northern Maine Fair President Lynwood Winslow issued a statement Friday morning blasting the state for denying their request.
“It is a sad day when the Maine Department of Agriculture can deny the only 4H and FFA Fair programs north of Bangor,” Winslow stated. “The fair provides an opportunity and venue for area youth in these nationally-recognized programs to participate in fair-related agricultural education events.”
According to Winslow, the Northern Maine Fair is the only one north of Bangor to host other traditional events, including harness racing, the popular Lil’ Farmer’s At The Fair exhibit, and an Open Horse Show.
“With this decision, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is saying no to the future of the Northern Maine Fair,” he said. “They are saying ‘No’ to 4H and FFA kids, ‘No’ to harness racing, and ‘No’ you cannot choose what carnival company to do business with.”
Winslow added that the NMF was now about 2 1/2 months behind planning for next year’s fair.
“If the fair board cannot find an alternative quickly, this 165-year-old tradition and these events will cease to exist in The County,” he said.
Houlton Fair President Paul Cleary said while he was pleased the state ruled in favor of Houlton’s Fair, that decision now creates even more questions to be answered.
“There are no winners in the end, because now we are both wondering what we are going to do next year,” Cleary said. “It is too bad that this is happening. Maybe instead of us working against each other, maybe now is the time for both fair’s to work together?”
At the crux of the issue is the fact that Smokey’s Greater Shows, a midway entertainment vendor based out of Fryeburg, was awarded the bid for the Bangor State Fair in 2019. Because the Bangor State Fair is scheduled for July 27-Aug. 5, the midway company would not be able to provide rides for the Northern Maine Fair under its normal dates.
By moving the dates of the Northern Maine Fair to June 28 to July 6, the company could do both Bangor and Presque Isle, but that left Houlton in the lurch. Houlton was then asked to consider moving its dates to the end of July into early August, but Houlton’s board refused.
Cleary also disputed claims that having a carnival is a “make-or-break” situation for any fair. When they first learned that Smokey’s Greater Shows may not be an option for them next year, the board decided to move forward with alternatives.
“Smokeys would still be available for the Houlton Fair dates next year, but the Houlton Fair hasn’t discussed or thought about that option,” he said. “As of today, we are moving ahead with a lot of new ideas and opportunities.”
He said Houlton has received overwhelming support from the local community on coming up with alternative options to midway rides. Some of those ideas include a possible zip-line attraction, putting on two demolition derbies, and offering more musical entertainment and food opportunities.
“When we learned it was going to be hard to find a carnival, we talked as a board and have come up with a number of different ideas,” Cleary said. “I have so many people who have come forward and offered their support. I am actually more excited about (potentially) not having a carnival next year. To say you can’t have a fair because you don’t have a carnival … come on. That’s crazy.”
He also has yet to rule out finding a different midway provider for rides.
The combination of the lost revenue from carnival fees paid by Smokey’s Greater Shows, and the loss of gate fees, due to the lack of a carnival, has NMF board members questioning their ability to keep the fair going. Finding a different midway provider is not an option for the NMF, according to Winslow.
“A change in carnival provider is a huge risk,” Winslow said. “Our community will remember about 10 years ago when our carnival provider didn’t show up. The fair is still recovering from that disaster and the board firmly decided we are not going down that road again.”
Complicating the matter for the NMF, Winslow said, was that dates for harness racing had already been sent to the Harness Racing Commission. Those dates were taking into account changing the NMF to June 28-July 6.
“It will be very difficult now to get any harness racing dates,” Winslow said. “In addition, we can’t book any entertainment, we are unable to give our exhibitors, sponsors and vendors a date so they can plan, and a whole lot of other things that should be in place by now.”
The Northern Maine Fair Board plans to meet early next week to discuss the possibility of appealing the state’s decision and also will discuss other options.
“Changing our dates was solely for the purpose of maintaining this 165-year-old tradition,” Winslow stated. “It is not, and has never been, about us against another fair.”
