Improvements on the fairgrounds

Improvements have been made at the fairgrounds in Harford, including a renovation of the swine and sheep barn that includes new concrete and pens. From left: Brandon Bennett, Fair Director; Bill desRosiers, Cabot Oil & Gas; Cindy Reynolds, Fair board vice president; Adam Diaz, Fair director; LouAnn Kiefer, Fair secretary; Jason Miller, Fair board vice president.

Visitors to the Harford Fair will see some visible improvements on the grounds this year and will likely appreciate some of the not-so-visible upgrades, as well.
Improvements include new concrete, updates to and in the swine and sheep barn, a new rabbit barn, improvements in the antique building for vendor spaces, refurbishing of the grandstand bleachers and work on drainage issues on the grounds.
Foot backings were installed on the grandstand bleacher seats and stairs – perhaps saving cell phones from dropping to the ground.
Cabot Oil & Gas stepped up with a three-year sponsorship commitment to provide $7,500 each year for capital improvements on the fairgrounds.
This year those funds were used in the swine and sheep barn, which now sports a new concrete floor.
The 4-H also contributed to the project with new pens.
“These are all the things people see,” said Cindy Reynolds, a Harford Fair director. “All the money we raise goes right back into the fair, There’s lots of visual changes,”
Fair director Adam Diaz said visitors would really see the improvements this year, especially in the grandstand. “It’s all aluminum. It’s bright, but it’s a lot better,” he said.
Diaz also said there are many improvement visitors don’t actually see – like work on the drainage and roads – that will make the fairgrounds more accessible to all.
“We’ve done a lot,” Diaz said, “but there’s still more to do.”
Future improvements are planned for the dairy barn and the ice cream stand.
The Harford Fair returns for its 160th year, Aug. 21-26.