Latest / WashCo Insider / Todd Richards & Wayne Hunnell
Transcript
- speaker-0: The Washington County Agricultural Fair has a way of bringing generations together. It's where agriculture meets entertainment, where family traditions are made, and where you can find everything from championship livestock to demolition derbies, homemade pies, carnival rides, and just about every fair food you can imagine. But behind all of that is a dedicated group of volunteers working year-round to make it happen. Today we're joined by two of the people leading that effort. Todd Richards, president of the Washington County Agricultural Fair Board, and Wayne Hunnell, the Fair Board Secretary. Together, they've helped guide one of Pennsylvania's oldest and most celebrated traditions, a fair that dates all the way back to 1798 and continues to showcase the importance of agriculture while welcoming tens of thousands of visitors every summer. Todd and Wayne, when we come back. Guys, I really appreciate you coming in today. Of course, knowing me, I gave you twenty four hours worth of notice. The fair is fast approaching. What are the dates? speaker-1: Or August fifteenth through the twenty second. speaker-0: Fifteenth to the twenty second. Well can ⁓ can we start with the history of the fair a little bit? I know it started as was it the Morganza fair, but like take us way back. We're talking seventeen ninety eight. speaker-1: Right. The the first one was October seventeen ninety eight. That was really held in ⁓ what's now known as Tylerdale. ⁓ it's in the area now is parking underneath the viaducts down there. Okay. ⁓ but it has moved several times. It moved from there. It's been held on Franklin Street in Washington. It was out on East Maiden Street for a period of time. ⁓ finally the what was then called Arden Downs was purchased, which is where the fair is located now. At that point in time, that racetrack that we have there today actually ⁓ autos ran on that, and which is why there's the road inside kind of the double oval. Okay. There, if you if you looked at it from the sky, you would see a double oval. That was where they came in for basically the pit stops and so forth on the on the auto racing, as well as in the horse racing that took place back then. So while we ⁓ do that today, a couple days out of the fair, ⁓ that was an ongoing thing. There were other buildings there that have now been taken down where the people that worked that on the daily basis of stable boys, they actually lived around. Right there on the at Arden Downs and so forth. In nineteen forty, actually, under the current structure of the memberships and so forth, that was taking place April of 1940, which was got some funding back because the fair was running out, didn't have the funds to continue sustain itself. And so in 1940, there was a group of ⁓ fellows in the in the county got together and they ⁓ they basically sold membership and each unbought into the membership. So ⁓ the current structure is really since ⁓ April of nineteen forty. speaker-0: And originally it was created for the purpose of of selling livestock, right? speaker-1: That is correct. I mean, that was initially the the farmers brought in ⁓ their prize bulls and so forth, ⁓ to sell it was really a livestock sale. I mean it started out as speaker-0: And just to to put things into perspective, right, so as a country we've just celebrated our two hundred and fiftieth year. We go back to seventeen ninety eight, right? Yes. And the sixth president of the United States is in office, John Quincy Adams. Correct. And I believe at the time there were only sixteen stars on the flag. So th that's the type of history that we're talking here. speaker-1: Right. There's only a twenty two year difference between the fair and the two hundred and fifty four America. speaker-0: So so bring us forward a little bit and and how has how has the fair maybe not just Washington County, but how have fairs evolved over the years? speaker-1: basically ⁓ what has changed there's a lot more into the entertainment. I mean today we have obviously the carnival rides, the games. the food was there, but it's a lot bigger ⁓ part of the fair today than it was back then. ⁓ it was available, but more of it was packed lunches of people bringing their own foods in and so forth versus what you see today. So ⁓ and ⁓ the buildings that we have at the fairgrounds, when it was down at Arden or now Tylerdale, it was ⁓ outside. I mean they may have a tent or something like that, but basically Basically it was just an outdoor event that was held for the c the two three days. So the initial one wasn't we're we're eight days now. The initial I believe was about three days ⁓ long event. speaker-0: Okay. Todd, talk about, you know, in in what was it, twenty twenty three we celebrated the two hundred and twenty fifth anniversary of the fair. That was a major undertaking. Talk about what it was like to be a part of that and and kinda how special that event was. speaker-2: ⁓ we had a parade, ⁓ it was a huge parade. We had everything from floats of small trailers all the way up to horse drawn carriages. ⁓ we had the Grand Marshal of the parade, ⁓ Bill and Sheila Black ⁓ who have been longtime fair supporters, so they were Grand Marshals. ⁓ it highlighted a lot of the great things that the fair has to offer. So it was a really great event, ⁓ that kind of a landmark piece of history we made right there in the fairgro in the camp. Fairgrounds actually. speaker-0: Well, I I think fifty years ago and even still today, you know, much of Washington County is farmland. ⁓ but as things have changed over the years, what hasn't changed that you know, what hasn't changed is that farmers are still the backbone of Washington County, of our county and as our ⁓ of our country. Can you guys talk a little bit about how this fair is so focused on agriculture and how it honors our agricultural history? speaker-2: ⁓ one thing that sticks out to me for honoring and preserving the agricultural history, every year we nominate a friend of the fair or and what this does is somebody that portrays, you know, what the fair is, what it's about and what it holds up and and the values of the fair. ⁓ so every year we try to honor somebody that has been a part of the fair, you know, whether it has been on the sponsorship side or a longtime supporter, longtime exhibitor. ⁓ so we really try to honor it and and uphold their memory as we go on throughout the years. So that's one of the neat little things we do every year we try to do. speaker-0: Absolutely. Wayne, how long have you been involved in the fair? speaker-1: I've been ⁓ right now I got some in my thirteenth yeah. speaker-0: Okay. Well, going back as a child, how did you first get, I guess, introduced to the fair? What was your experience back then? speaker-1: As a child ⁓ I actually raised capons, which most people don't know even what that is. Yeah. Without getting too far, basically ⁓ it started out as a rooster that was ⁓ then castrated became a capon. Okay. So ⁓ it's kinda like on the beef side which was a bull but became a steer. Okay. ⁓ it was the same there. A rooster became a ⁓ capon. ⁓ but when you did that the capon would become like a thirteen, fourteen pound chicken. ⁓ wow. Okay. speaker-0: I don't know what that is. speaker-1: Starting to get close what a turkey and stuff was. ⁓ back at that time, ⁓ the Kiwanas Club actually ⁓ provided the capons for me. Okay. So ⁓ I got I had two hundred capons. ⁓ one of the things that has changed it's a fair, we still this year we finally this past year anyhow, we finally got poultry back, which for five or seven years we couldn't have it because the aviator flew and so forth. ⁓ last year was the first year in about seven years I think that we've had poultry back. They're live birds fully feathered. When I was doing capons, I plucked those chickens. We cleaned them the morning to bring ⁓ to the fair. They were ready to go to the oven. So they they were not live birds. ⁓ then they were being judged as a bird that you were ready to eat that was prepared for the oven at that point. speaker-0: What about you, Todd? How did you first get involved? speaker-2: It started as ⁓ when I was younger as a kid, you know, mom and dad take us to the fair. We by no means were we really agriculture based. ⁓ so we go to the fair to see the exhibits, see the rides, see the animals and then ⁓ started dating my wife and ⁓ gotten more involved with the agricultural side of it and ⁓ you know, she was into four H and different various clubs there. She had cattle and market animals, market cattle, the market lambs and ⁓ started walking to market lamb and I think the rest has all become a history. speaker-0: Jeez. And speak of speaking of generational, I I bet your kids are involved too. speaker-2: Kids are involved, yeah. Jack's my son was born July of eleven and went to the first fair in August of eleven. So he's kinda been there since since he was born to say. speaker-0: So I think there's probably a lot of folks out there who aren't familiar with four H or with F F A. Can you give us a high level overview about those two organizations and and how those kids are able to participate at the fair? speaker-1: Well, the 4 H is they are basically are clubs. ⁓ each of the ⁓ clubs have their 4-H leaders, and some of them are large enough now. We've got a couple of clubs that are fifty-five, sixty kids in the in the club. ⁓ now some are smaller too. There's some that maybe only have ten, half a dozen to ten kids. but the four H is directed through Penn State as part of the overseer of of the four-H programs and so forth. Locally, that comes through the ⁓ the county extension office ⁓ with Sheila Hack and Johnson as that ⁓ that person that interfaces with the fair in the four H program. ⁓ the FFA is done through the high schools. So you've got right now there's five high schools that are to be well the the initials initially was future farmers of america Most people still refer to it as that, but the organization itself has changed over the years. So it involves more than just the farmer and which is why they they kept FFA, but now it's related to any part of the agriculture. So if you go up the chain to the the slaughterhouse, the the retailer that's in the the meat industry or the produce industry. So that includes all of those now versus just the farmer. speaker-0: And so when it comes to livestock shows and judging and the auctions, can you give us kind of a behind the scenes, how does that all come together and work? I mean it's an awful lot of work for you guys, but what does that look like behind the scenes? speaker-2: ⁓ well behind the scenes, you know, when you get on the market side of it, ⁓ kids will probably start with a market steer project in September, October. So it's almost a year project. So it's a lot of commitment on their end and and well as on ours to make sure they have the grounds and buildings that they need to show with. ⁓ there's a lot of setup that goes on, you know, weeks ahead of the fair. ⁓ fair kind of officially to me kind of kicks off with fair cleanup when we have all the kids come in and you know they clean up and spruce up the barns and they get everything ready ⁓ for the upcoming fair. And ⁓ we've worked with the kids over the years. If they come and help clean, they get to pick their pens and in their spots, so that kind of really, you know, gets them excited and ready in the fair move. And ⁓ it starts from there and then ⁓ it's just ⁓ you know, set up, you know, tear down, set up, tear down, set up throughout the week. And ⁓ we switch, you know, the show arena switches out ⁓ there's probably Mine Wayne, I don't know what fifteen or twenty different teardowns and set ups that we do. ⁓ some are late night, some are early morning, some are midday. ⁓ but the same goes for all over the grounds, whether we're down the grandstands, you Gino's tearing that track up and down in different directions, you know, two or three times a day. So there's a lot of work goes on behind the scenes, ⁓ late at night and early in the morning that ⁓ happens to make that fair. So when you walk through that gate at noon or one o'clock it it's ready to go for the you know, the people coming in. speaker-0: Well you know, I think it goes without saying the carnival rides, the food. We've talked a little bit about livestock. but when it comes to competitions and exhibits, I mean, you fill out those buildings with, you know, baking and produce competitions and what are some of those other things that people can expect to see? speaker-2: ⁓ we've done a fleece to shawl competition here the last few years where they'll take a the raw wool and they'll turn you the the ladies will spin it and and card it and things like that and get it from a raw product to the processing of it to a finished product. So that is always kinda drawing a crowd for us. And ⁓ in previous years we've actually auctioned that off down there ⁓ I think it's right around the queen cotton test, we auction that off before after we do that. So kinda give them the the start to finish ⁓ you know, a raw product to finish material there. speaker-0: What a great tie to Washington County too when you look back at the the sheep farming history in Washington County. I mean, we were one of the largest exporters in the country from Washington County. And ⁓ it's really cool to be able to ⁓ to tie that back in today. Now, you guys have always done such a great job at bringing in entertainment, and I know you've got a lot of different bands and things coming this year. ⁓ Josie Salvetti, ⁓ Morgan Gruber band, Stampede, Co Coalfire Run, ⁓ just all kinds of things. I mean, what is it What does it take for you guys to kinda pull those bands together? And you know, you've got so many different things that are interesting to different people. ⁓ how do you pull all that together? speaker-2: ⁓ we start anywhere from twelve to eighteen months ahead. ⁓ you gotta kinda think early, think ahead. ⁓ we're probably in a process I I know Wayne's working on contracts for next year as we speak. ⁓ so it it's an ongoing process. So ⁓ to keep the best and the greatest coming in we're always, you know, twelve, eighteen months ahead try to be anyway. ⁓ so it it it takes a lot and we have a lot of help to do that to keep everything going. speaker-0: Well is there something that each of you look forward to the most for each year's fair? speaker-2: ⁓ for me, it's just the fair itself ⁓ is starting and and coming together. The the first few days, few hours, you know, are kinda like, you know, Saturday by ⁓ nine o'clock I usually feel better 'cause the animals are on grounds. Most all the animals are there. ⁓ we've got all the the big stuff moved in and out of the way. but I look forward to every year ⁓ Wednesday night is our bus derby night. It's probably our biggest night. ⁓ the the crowd's there, you know, everybody's excited, the school's there, the band's playing, ⁓ the community shows up, just that great feeling that everybody's there. And ⁓ and the next thing for me, i it it kind of rounds out the week, you know, Friday and Saturday are market livestock sales. And ⁓ you know, to me that I don't know, I I look forward to that. It it kinda closes the fair out and wraps the fair up, but it it kind of puts into perspective those those kids see they start with this product. And they fed it and they've taken care of it and at the end they sell it and you know they they kind of see that whole process and ⁓ learn the responsibility and what it takes to manage, you know, if they're managing one steer or one lamb now what it would take to manage a herd later in life. So it kind of teaches them responsibility. But those are the two things to me that, you know, kind of stick out, you know, that that I see that, you know, are my, you know, big ones. speaker-0: What about for you, Wayne? Is there a certain part that you look forward to that you've speaker-1: Y well, I'm probably the oldest one on the board here anymore. But ⁓ so I'm talking about grandkids rather than than my kids and so forth. But it it happens for me throughout the year. The the fair just happens to be the day or that week when it all starts coming together. ⁓ throughout the year. The granddaughter ⁓ she ⁓ does market goats. I have pigs that aren't even hers now, but another exhibitor that didn't have a high a place for them. ⁓ they're housed in my my barn and stuff now. ⁓ but the granddaughter also has ⁓ horses so she has a jumping horse, a gaming horse and a mini. So ⁓ and all those come together with the competitions at the ⁓ at during that week of the fair. So just seeing her being able to do that ⁓ is a highlight. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-2: W for those that don't really know, Wayne is kinda he's our day-to-day guy, you know. Most of us still hold a full time job on the board and I think Wayne's got his third retirement in maybe or so he kind of makes that joke, but he's really got his finger on the pulse of the fair. speaker-0: ⁓ this isn't one week for Wayne either. No. This is three hundred and sixty-five days. Yep. A and you're you're not just managing the fair as an event, but every event operator that comes onto that property is working with you to figure out what buildings they need, what what picnic tables. we just met yesterday about it. ⁓ and so I think I mean, thank you. You know beyond anything else. What you do for the for the fairgrounds ⁓ is meaningful and appreciated here in Washington County and it it's it's what's been able to help fuel that fair for since seventeen ninety eight. Well let's talk a little bit about ⁓ some of the grandstand events and if you haven't done so yet, go to Washingtonfare.org. Is that right? Yeah, Washingtonfair.org and you'll find all these things. But we've got Demolition Derby, right? We've got rodeo on Sunday the sixteenth, pro stock trucks and monster semis. On Monday the 17th. Got motocross. You mentioned the school bus demolition derby and all the high school bands coming in. Monster trucks. Is that a first for ⁓ first in a while? Monster trucks on August 20th, demolition derby, street stock trucks, all that to say. If you can't find something that interests you at the fair, you better check for a pulse. They've got it all. Now speaker-2: ⁓ first in a while. speaker-0: It's not just you guys, it's not just the Fairboard, but you have a ton of other volunteers, right? ⁓ talk about what it takes from a setup perspective and and all the different volunteers and if there's anybody that can still jump in and and pitch in to help, what's the best way for them to do that? speaker-2: Yeah, setup, I we're starting set up now. I mean, ⁓ you you go in and you'll see little pieces starting coming out of the barns and cleanups happen to those and the bigger pieces, you know, our displays and cases and things of that nature are starting to come out of storage and ⁓ you know, cleaned up and going in. ⁓ and I've always said people say, What does it take? And I've always said that it's not one person at that fair, it's not one board member, it's everybody coming in, it's every volunteer, every sponsor, and it takes all those spokes to make that wheel turn. And it it it d it truly does. speaker-0: Now you guys have not just managed the fair, not just managed the fairgrounds, but also the upkeep of the fairgrounds over the years and what are some of the things that ⁓ you've upgraded. I know ⁓ back when we celebrated the two hundred and twenty fifth, ⁓ we had a new mural go in and and ⁓ some different things. Talk about ⁓ some of the upgrades that you guys have done over the years. speaker-1: Yeah, the probably the biggest thing that I ⁓ chase that I think really kind of kick started a lot of the improvements was the the funds that we got from EQT. ⁓ that changed the whole front appearance of the fairgrounds, the new fence, the stone walls with ⁓ our our logos on them. The new logos actually were designed by the ⁓ marketing students at Carnegie Mellon. Okay. ⁓ we had a program, Todd and I met with them on several occasions as to changes, things we ought to do to the fair, how we can approve. ⁓ one of them was the the new logo look with that keystone with the colors and so forth. From there we've ⁓ been a number of improvements and we we've put new roofs on several of the buildings. ⁓ we renovated the draft horse barn for the ⁓ 225th, which is ⁓ other than the John White House, the oldest structure on the fairgrounds. So we wanted to retain it. So we did completely renovate in all new supports had to go in and so forth to keep it standing there. ⁓ Recently we put the new bathrooms on Hall One, which they were on the Ard mine side, they're the opposite side of the building now. Changed the look at that building completely. It doesn't look like just a warehouse building anymore. ⁓ We put in the as you mentioned the mural. ⁓ that restroom hadn't been used. I I mentioned earlier, I've been on the board thirteen years. I'd never seen it used in that period of time. It's now completely used. It was all new fixtures inside. We literally jacked hammered the floor out, put all new drains, everything in it. ⁓ so that was completely done for the two hundred and twenty-fifth. The Mo Moorhoe Plaza right across from the the mural ⁓ where we sold the bricks and still have bricks for sale. There's still ⁓ space in that plaza. With the wall and so forth and the the signage of some of the history of the fair right there. We just put behind her now three flagpoles. ⁓ so ⁓ the middle pole with thirty foot will fly the American flag. ⁓ and then we have twenty foot on each side for ⁓ other flags that will that we'll be flying there. ⁓ we've just ⁓ in a process of finalizing the ⁓ complete renovation of the restrooms in the ⁓ show arena. ⁓ complete renovation of the restrooms in a four H building. ⁓ We've got putting the second code of painting in the front of the 4H building right now. ⁓ so those are some of the current, you know, projects that'll be new for those coming in this year or those that have been there in the past that they'll be able to see as the first time. speaker-0: It's almost like running it another farm. Yeah. Well, ⁓ I mentioned earlier, if you want to find the schedule, it's on Washingtonfair dot org. You can get your tickets there, get ⁓ ahead of time. Here's a pro tip. And I'm gonna throw a plug in here. If you want a nice, easy transition over to the fairgrounds, stop at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for five bucks. They'll give you a nice trolley ride over to the fairgrounds and that'll get you into the museum all day. I can't wait to see you all out there. Guys, thank you so much for joining me today. Can't wait for the fair. It's it's the best week in Washington County every year. Looking forward to it. All right. We'll see you guys out there.