FAIR OPENS IN NEW PALTZ
Some vendors violate event’s ban of Confederate flag merchandise
The annual Ulster County Fair kicked off its six-day run Tuesday afternoon with the usual mix of animals, their young caretakers, rides and games, but also with the controversy over Confederate flag displays lingering at the event.
The fair has had a policy in place since 2015 that prohibits the display and sale of so called “stars and bars” merchandise — viewed by some people as racist because of the Confederate symbol’s ties to the South at the time of slavery — and fair organizers last week canceled a performance by a country and southern rock band called Confederate Railroad, whose logo includes two Confederate flags. On Tuesday, though, three vendors were selling the banned merchandise at the county fairgrounds on Libertyville Road in New Paltz.
Fair officials said they would speak those vendors.
“To be very honest ... we haven’t had a chance to even think, [much less] go around and start checking, but we will,” said Gary Newkirk, the fair’s general manager.
Confederate-themed items being displayed by vendors Tuesday included T-shirts, belt buckles and small skulls.
The three vendors who were selling them said they weren’t familiar with the ban on Confederate themed merchandise and would remove the items if told to by fair officials.
One of the vendors, Jared Bogart, said he’s gotten more grief at other events over selling Donald Trump-related merchandise than he has about stars-and-bars items.
“I do daily get cussed out over Trump,” he said.
Elsewhere on the fairgrounds Tuesday, 4-H members spent time gearing up for competitions that will show their skills with animals.
“It’s hard to take care of a chicken because you have to get up in the morning, feed them, water them, collect their eggs, and you have to do that two times a day,” said Jordiana Rivera, who is participating in her third Ulster County Fair.
As for competing at the fair, Rivera said she’s learned she does her best by being “calm and staying focused.”
On the fun-and-games side of the fair, Frank Carhart was overseeing an ax-tossing booth, which is new this year. It allows children as young as 12 to throw sharpened 18-inch axes at a target about 10 feet away.
“This is our first event with this,” Carhart said. “I just brought it home this past Friday from Utah.”
Boys and Girls Club member PaeShance Robinson, meanwhile, was enjoying a ride on a mechanical bull.
“It was easy,” she said. “I took my hand off the rope, because it hurt, and that’s when I fell off.”
Eniah NcComb, a 4-H member, was excited about both rides and animals.
“I love bunnies, and I’m looking forward to the Dreamcatcher ride,” NcComb said.
Confederate Railroad was scheduled to perform Thursday, Aug. 1, at the fair, but the Ulster County Agricultural Society dropped the band from the lineup after County Executive Pat Ryan raised objections. The Felice Brothers have been scheduled to perform instead.
Opponents of the Confederate Railroad cancellation were vocal on social media and called for people to boycott the fair. There were no protesters evident at or near the fairgrounds Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Confederate Railroad was dropped from the concert lineup at the Illinois State Fair.
The Ulster County Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 4, at the county fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Road, New Paltz. A complete schedule of events and information about admission prices and discounts can be found online at ulstercountyfair.com