Fair-goers buy food from vendors at the Maricopa County Fair on Thursday in Phoenix. The fair reopened this week after his two-year closure due to COVID-19. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Isabel Ramirez (middle) leads Sheila the goat after placing sixth in a showmanship contest at the Maricopa County Fair. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
The prize goat will be on display at the Maricopa County Fair showmanship competition. Many competitors between the ages of 8 and 19 participate in 4-H or FFA. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Madison Carter, who began exhibiting animals during the two-year closure of the Maricopa County Fair, grooms goats for a showmanship contest. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Amie Blackwell helps kids prepare for a showmanship contest at the Maricopa County Fair. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Logan Lee gets one of his chickens out of the cage at the Maricopa County Fair. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Amber Bridges, owner of Dragonfly Designz and Maricopa County Fair vendor cuts apples for apple, chocolate and caramel plates. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Phoenix – The Maricopa County Fair Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we returned in earnest on Wednesday for the first time in two years.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. It looks just like I remember,” Stephanie Dowdell said as she perused the art display.
The fair, which runs through Sunday at the Arizona Exposition and State Fairgrounds, features a carnival, food and craft vendors, livestock competitions, live music, and other entertainment including a monster truck show.
Two-year-old Milo Salmon watches the piglets doze off at the Maricopa County Fair on Thursday. (Photo by Monserrat Apud/Cronkite News)
Maricopa County Fair Executive Director Karen Sar said: “We felt like we were in a cage. It felt like an eternity not being able to hold fairs for our communities and celebrate agriculture, education, culture, arts and just food.” I did.”
The last Maricopa County Fair was held in 2019, and many vendors didn’t have that income for two years.
Lemonade stand owner Michelle Davis has been a vendor at the fair for 20 years. “We’ve had him out of business for two years, so we’re very happy to be back.”
Davis also said that while the fair looked much the same as it did pre-pandemic, show-goers seemed to be enjoying everything more.
A stable with six buildings full of animals is a staple of county fairs. Children ages 8 to 19 and her teens, many of whom belong to her 4-H or FFA, keep animals, and some of them are up to 1 in preparation for the County Fair. spending years Chickens, goats, and other animals compete in various livestock and showmanship events.
“I’m thrilled to see my kids back in the ring. They’re working so hard,” said Amie Blackwell, whose daughters are in FFA and 4-H. “We’ve all worked hard together to make this opening even more special for children.”
