Many Capital Region residents flock to the Saratoga County Fair every year – this year is the 176th season for the epic week-long event, and it starts on Tuesday the 18th. But, there is one person who has literally been attending the fair her entire life: Saratoga County Fair Board Member Jennifer Flinton.
A Fair-Goer From One Month of Age
You could say Jennifer Flinton was born out of a love for the fair – her parents met at the Saratoga County Fair! They then brought Jennifer to their favorite summer event when she was just one month old and they were showing cows at the fair. Since then, Jennifer has been to the Saratoga County Fair with her family every single year.
Jennifer embraced the agriculture life by joining 4-H as a kid, and then later on she became an exhibitor of goats. Around 2003/2004 she became an ad hoc for the goat department. Her very first memory of the fair was buying her goat and getting her picture in the paper.
The best fair moment for Jennifer, though, was finally winning best doe in show for the county after many years of showing. Her winning goat was her favorite goat, Holly.
The Tradition Continues
It’s no surprise that later in life when Jennifer had her own children the tradition continued as she brought them to the Saratoga County Fair – Jennifer actually gave birth to her first child the night of opening day at the fair!
Years later, Jennifer was appointed to the Fair Board and later became an officer. Her second son was born the same year she took over doing fair entries, 2011, and became a hit in the entry office at just seven months old.
As an adult, Jennifer loves watching her kids begin to experience all the amazing aspects of the fair that she got to growing up. Last year, her older son Jadon brought goats to the fair for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Her younger son, Zach, is hoping to bring goats to the fair this year as well.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what is so wonderful about the fair, Jennifer indicated in a statement. “It’s the friendships, it’s the hard work you’ve put in, it’s the education, it’s the love of AG, it’s the competition, it’s so much of that and more…but I’ll say once it’s in your blood you’re hooked.”
Check Out the Fair & the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The 176th Saratoga County Fair is running from Tuesday, July 18th through Sunday, July 23rd. You can catch seven stages of entertainment from all over the country, domestic and exotic animals, exciting competitions with the rodeo and the demolition derby, tractor pulls, contests, rides, and so much more.
If you’re planning to head to the fair this year – and why wouldn’t you with so much going on? – consider stopping by the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony happening on opening day, Tuesday the 18th, at 12:30pm.
The fair organizers and visitors will be celebrating the dedication of the new 7,200-square-foot building, which was constructed thanks to a $96,000 grant that was part of the 10 Million Dollar New York State Agricultural Fairgrounds Infrastructure Improvement Program. This building will now be the home of the top dairy and beef farms who compete at the Saratoga County Fair each year.
