Cookshire Fair president on readying the horses

The Sylvester family is a familiar sight at Cookshire Fair. And so it should be with a family that has probably been involved in planning, preparing and exhibiting for three generations. And so it was a natural conclusion that Jonathan Sylvester, a veteran of 40 or more fairs, exhibitor of his muchloved Percherons and heading up the horse committee for several years should be this year's president.

"I probably don't remember the first times Mom and Dad took me to the fair but I do remember the first time I exhibited," he said adding he was almost shy to admit that his first time in the show ring was with a pair of goats. But father's horses, and the Sylvester farm had several horses, soon became part of his life.

"We had up to ten horses on the farm and we used horse power to work in the woods and during 'sugar' season," he explained. For the Sylvesters, it was only natural they would exhibit at the fairs through the years forming a family tradition which has endured since 2008 in Sylvester's lifetime.

"We used to have cows but now, with a job in town, we parted with the herd and all my spare time is spent with my favorites, the Percherons, and three will be at the fair," he added proudly, "Empress, six years old, her mother Holly, 10 years old and another daughter, Molly, just two years old."

Sylvester's interest and support of this county fair is ongoing for him. "When you think about the economic impact an event that lasts three days certainly brings a certain amount or financial encouragement to local merchants, etc.," he pointed out. He spoke about the local sponsors and community support, underlining the importance of putting together a successful event such as a county fair, which involves more than just hiring a midway and programming truck pulls and such. "This is really the only place town folk and agriculture producers come together. Food production of all kinds is on display. It's the only place outside of parades the public has a chance to see the animals which produce our meat, and the horses which played such an important role as the first settlers began clearing land and developing the farms we see today."

Sylvester and his wife Nadia Boutin and their two boys, William and Anthony will be on hand from day one. Few folks realize how much work goes into preparing any type of show animal and yes, swine and poultry too. Bathing, clipping, careful nutrition, and most importantly, training. Different competitions have quite different presentations. Horses are shown in halter classes, hitched singly, pairs of four or six and sometimes more hitches and no one counts the hours spent cleaning and conditioning harness, polishing brass or nickel plating, preparing the show wagons and finally, donning one's favorite 'show' clothes, depending on the type of class which could be western or English style riding, harnessed to the show buggies or the huge show wagons or perhaps simply a fancy halter and lead line. Most spectators know the difference between heavy draft horse breeds and light horses either ridden or driven. But recognizing different breeds is quite another story. The Sylvesters' horses are Percherons, which means they are usually dappled gray and silver color or all black with silver mixed with black in their mane and tail. These are draft horses with a plump, rounded appearance, muscled rump, chest and shoulder, hooves large but rounded, legs foursquare. They move with ease and are usually well-behaved and willing to listen to signals from the driver.

The four most common breeds seen at county fairs are Percheron, Clydesdale and Belgian and sometimes Friesian and Canadian.

"We're nearly ready," Sylvester said hopefully. "But being president is a serious responsibility. I'm very thankful we have a great team of directors and volunteers and I think we've got a really great fair coming up. All we need now is good weather," he concluded.