Old fair tradition back in Pembroke

On Saturday, August 25, the Pembroke Trotting Association put on the first Farm and Horse Fair the town of Pembroke had seen in years. Activities included live music, good food, crafts and quilts for sale, and horse races.
"It is impressive and we're really excited about what's happened here today," said William Attick, a member of the trotting association. "We've been working on this since September of 2011."
The Pembroke Fairgrounds are owned by the Pembroke Trotting Association, which is, according to Attick, the oldest trotting association in Maine. The fair itself started in 1841 and then in the early 1900s saw a new track added along with the trotter and pacer racing. As years went by the racing circuit began to die off. The racing track is being refurbished because of the interest in starting up the fair.
Vendors came from all over to partake in the fair: Pembroke, Dennysville, Topsfield, Perry, Charlotte.
"The exciting thing about today, besides the fair in general, is that there are a lot of people that remember racing that were here on a regular basis as kids, and some older people here who remember it from their younger days," said Attick. "They were excited about seeing this track being used."
Chet Carter, who used to race the track years ago, was invited to race again. Bill Varney, another former racer, was happy to partake in the fair races. His grandfather, a former secretary of the Pembroke Trotting Association, raced the Pembroke Fairgrounds track in the 1940s and '50s, and the younger Bill Varney would assist in jogging the horses. This was his first time racing on this track, and Varney says, "It went quite well."
Nancy Curtis of Dennysville was one of the riders for the races and demonstrations. She took part in the pole‑bending demonstration, a timed event where riders weave their horses around six poles as fast they can. Curtis also participated in the cross‑rails demonstration, which involves the horse jumping.
In preparation for next year, Attick is currently seeking volunteers or those interested in serving on the committee, which usually meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Pembroke library. Next year's fair will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, and plans are starting for added areas for children and an increase on farm-themed activities.
Winners for the children's games are as follows. Road race: first place, Zach Gower; second place, Antonia Vizcarrondo and Dakota York; third place, Shaelynn Brown. Backwards: first place, Devon Wilder; second place, Zach Gower; third place, Jacob Gower. Egg on the spoon race: race one -- first place, Zach Gower; second place, Jacob Gower; third place, Kailyn Trott. Race two -- first place, Braydi Dana‑Surles; second place, Bailey Riquier; third place, Madison Riquier. Race three -- first place, Dakota York; second place, Bobbie Moholland; third place, Zach Gower. Back-to-back race: first place, Dakota York and Logan Surles; second place, Randa York and Kaitlyn Trott; third place, Kaeson Dana and Braydi Dana‑Surles. Three-legged race: first place, Rebekah Tolatovicz and Veronica Tolatovicz; second place, William Hewes and Bailey Riquier; third place, Randa York and Sydney Verge.