Many visit The Big Fresno Fair in awe of the food, rides, booths, shops and entertainment, but few realize the history and stories of those who put on the event.
From those who sell food to those who raise livestock, along with award-winning artists, each participant has a story to tell. Some with many years experience and a few rookies take part in what makes the fair a success.
Vendors continue tradition
Some of the most popular vendors within The Big Fresno Fair have been around for years. As they become more experienced, their production and business greatly increase.
The Baldwin family, who owns Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls, runs their several booths throughout the fair with huge amounts of output each year. Dane Baldwin, the stand’s current proprietor, started the job at a young age, and continued the work to this day.
“We’ve been operating since 1978,” Baldwin said. “There are three sisters, all married; I am married to the oldest one. I got started as a junior in high school, I was dating my wife at the time and she took off for the summer — this was pre-computer, and pre-cell phone — so that didn’t really work. She said ‘why don’t you come on the road and jump into the business and see how that goes?’ I started in the Long Beach Grand Prix in 1978 and I’ve been in it ever since.”
For only one of their three locations in the fair, the Baldwins utilized a semi-truck loaded with hundreds of pounds in ingredients to last throughout the fair season.
“At the Fresno Fair we had a semi-truck full of flour, cinnamon and sugar brought to us the Friday prior,” Baldwin said. “At one location we will go over 14,000 lbs of flour, 6,500 and plus lbs of cinnamon and sugar and 2,500 lbs of butter.”
The Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls is not only in Fresno, but travels around California during the fair season and for other events.
“We go to over 56 events, mostly fairs, some golf tournaments and in the spring we do some college events,” Baldwin said. “From June to the end of the Fresno Fair is a solid time for fairs from San Diego all the way up to Santa Rosa and everything in between.”
Baldwin appreciates the chance to serve to Fresno because of his close affiliation with the area.
“We are from the Oakhurst area; we’re local,” Baldwin said. “We consider Fresno our backyard. We were all raised in the foothills and came down here for college. It’s nice to end the season at home. ”
Another of the more popular foods available at the fair is the Beerocks Stand. The owner, Jim Hazelrigg, caters especially to customers.
“Our recipe came from the original and we slowly developed it to fit the peoples’ likings,” Hazelrigg said. “There are no fillers, just meet, cabbage and onions. The people just love them.”
Their booth has been open for business for about 40 years, where 24 employees sold bierocks (correct spelling). This year the stand moved from their usual location, causing some difficulty, but, soon, people found them again.
“We got started with hot dogs and polish dogs about forty years ago,” Hazelrigg said. “Then we started with bierocks about twenty-four years ago. The people in Fresno know what bierocks are and a lot come just to eat them. They moved us to a different location this year, and some people were having trouble finding us, but our loyal customers are back. They wait for once a year to come to the fair and get a bierocks.”
Artists enter award-winning pieces
The Big Fresno Fair also offers areas where students and teachers have the opportunity to enter their art pieces into contests. Recognition for their work comes from awards and even cash prizes.
Art teacher Sharon Scharf entered two of her drawings and a garment into the fair in addition to many of her students’ works.
“I had taken a picture of a similar piece and based mine off of that,” Scharf said. “I learned the technique of the sand in the background at a water color workshop in Mendocino. I did one piece with a dead animal skull and flowers and one with a live animal and flowers.”
Campus students entered in some of their artwork as well as competed in The Big Fresno Fair chalk-drawing competition. Junior Katharine Barisic was awarded second place for her watercolor piece and received honorable mentions for her chalk-drawing.
“I think its fun to participate in something that has been a part of Fresno for years,” Barisic said. “It’s cool that we [high school students] are even able to enter our work.”
Barisic enjoys the accomplishment that her awards have given her art career.
“It makes me feel like I am getting better,” Barisic said. “Any artists wants to outdo themselves since last time and it shows that I am every time I get a different award.”
Livestock competitors build relationships
One of the more interactive sections of the fair is the livestock barn, where spectators can pet animals and watch showings. Students from all over Fresno work all year to raise and prepare for these competitions.
Dallon Crilly, from Clovis East High School, has been around livestock and cattle his whole life with the Clovis Future Farmers of America (FFA), and now spends his entire year raising them.
“I’ve had him [his cow] for about 12 months,” Crilly said. “I have a black angus cross steer. I have been doing this for three years, but I have been around livestock and cattle my whole life. Usually I spend 5 to 6 hours with him every day. I buy them with my own money and use the profit for the next year. My favorite part is being one with the steer, getting him ready, showing him.”
FC senior Darlene Idsinga also entered her holstein Dairy Replacement Heifer into The Big Fresno Fair. Idsinga appreciates the relationships created between the owner and animal.
“My favorite part is how connected you become to your animal,” Idsinga said. “The biggest lesson I learned through all my years of showing is that you won’t do well if you do not work with your animal as often as you can and allow the animal to learn who you are.”
With seven years of experience in raising animals, Idsinga received 10th in class, 7th in showmanship and sold her cow for one of the highest prices in the fair. Idsinga encourages other students to become participants in later years.
“It’s a great experience to be someone who’s a part of the fair instead of going as an outsider,” Idsinga said. “It also allows you to meet a lot of people who are showing with you. Also, you have the chance to make money.”
For more information, read the Oct. 10 article The Big Fresno Fair features attractions, FC students (VIDEO) or the Oct. 17 article, Art students test abilities through chalk-drawings (VIDEO).