GREENFIELD — Turnout at the Franklin County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 11, was “record shattering,” organizers said as they continued with cleanup in the wake of the 172nd annual fair this past weekend.
“Thursday, Friday and Sunday were pretty average, in regards to how they usually are with turnout,” said Mike Nelson, president of the Franklin County Agricultural Society, which oversees the fairgrounds on Wisdom Way. “But we know for sure Saturday was one of the busiest we’ve had in decades.”
He said he imagines Saturday’s high turnout can likely be attributed to the good weather, and people’s excitement to get out after the last year and a half amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would guess it was a combination of the gorgeous weather, excitement for the feeling of normalcy, and the excitement to get out for some fun family entertainment,” Nelson said.
Although final numbers still had to be tallied as of Friday morning — both in terms of turnout and finances — Nelson said he thinks it’s “safe to assume there will be funds available to go toward the mudslide (stabilization project).” The Franklin County Agricultural Society has been raising money to shore up an embankment that has been prone to collapse and mudslides above Linwood Street.
Nelson previously said the project is estimated to cost $265,000, of which $96,000 will be covered by a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, $30,000 from local banks and $25,000 from individual donors.
Nelson — whose 1-year-old son, Dylan, experienced the Franklin County Fair for the first time this year — said “it was incredible to be back.”
“I always get excited to be here for the fair … and this particular year was special for everyone, myself included,” he said.
His son, he added, loved seeing all the animals and going on the rides, and was disappointed to discover Monday morning that the merry-go-round had been taken down.
“He had an incredible time,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he and other organizers are already looking ahead to next year’s event.
“The day after the fair is always interesting, because we’re cleaning up the fair and beginning to plan for the next fair the very same day,” he said. “We’re already beginning our marketing, and we’re getting contracts lined up with entertainers, toilets and staffing, and reviewing areas for improvement and looking for ways to make it even better for next year.”
With his eyes set on the 173rd Franklin County Fair, Nelson said that although this year was an usual one, it ended up being a “great year” for the fair itself.
“Going into it, we knew it was going to be a little more unusual to plan,” Nelson said. “But my team really stepped up and went to bat and they knocked it out of the park.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne