Now in its 113th year, the Maryland State Fair, starting this weekend at the Timonium Fairgrounds, has long acted as an unofficial reminder that the summer is almost over.
Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders will be flocking here in the next 10 days to enjoy a cornucopia whose contents include a 4-H fashion revue, tractor contests, Clydesdale horses, barbershop singing, beeswax candle dipping, prizes for beautiful animals and produce, live bands, spinning and weaving demonstrations, a mouth-watering display of southern Maryland stuffed ham, a dog show, contests for the best sewing machine cover and best SPAM recipe, square dancing and the Cow Palace as the rural yet royal site for the crowning of the next Maryland Farm Queen.
In all honesty, though, not everybody comes for the farm-related activities. Some folks head for the 30 amusement rides lining the midway. Two new rides are "The Ring of Fire" and "The Lost Mine Dark Ride."
Midway mavens may want to take advantage of the "Family Fun Night Ridemania" tonight from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fairgoers tonight pay $6 for admission and to get on as many rides as they want (or as their parents will tolerate). There's also a live oldies concert by the Headliners. Because tonight is a preview, only the midway rides, games and food stands will be open. Regular hours and ticket prices start Saturday.
All those rides and all those people having fun add up to a noisy fairgrounds environment, so it's a good thing that at least some of the noise is coming from the live entertainment aiming to please your ears. What with the farm-related displays and demonstrations at the fair, it's not surprising that the concerts include a bit of country music. But at least one of the countrified bands has an expansive sense of what constitutes country music.
Cowboy vs. go-go boots
Ruthie and the Wranglers, performing on Sept. 3 from noon to 2 p.m., plays a broad mix of honky tonk and rockabilly. And the band throws in some novelty tunes of the 1960s, too. Based in Takoma Park, this band has played at such well-regarded venues as Tornado Alley in Wheaton and the Roots Cafe in Baltimore and in what the band's publicity material refers to as "numerous smoky drinking establishments."
Now about those novelty tunes. What is it that inspired the band's leader and vocalist Ruth Logsdon to do such numbers as "Harper Valley PTA," "Town Without Pity" and "Those Boots Are Made for Walking"?
"Those songs are all issue-oriented," explains Ms. Logsdon, and she adds that, like a lot of country ballads, they have strong narratives about hard times and resilient women.
In case you're wondering about her footwear for that Nancy Sinatra tune, Ms. Logsdon says: "I wear cowboy boots, but I don't wear go-go boots."
By mixing the novelty numbers with the more conventional country selections, she hopes audience members will all get into the groove at some point -- even people who insist they don't like country music.
"When you use the 'country' word, an awful lot of people turn their noses up," she says. "Country now has a wider range than ever, but for them it still was a hillbilly image."
Ms. Logsdon is herself no hillbilly. Instead, this 33-year-old musician parlayed her graphics design degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art into her present career as a graphics designer. She designs promotional fliers, business cards and other material for her band.
Equally eclectic are the other band members. They include a Japanese-American female lead guitarist, Aiko Butler, who would stand out in just about any band.
Food and flowers
If listening to such music puts you in a down-home mood, you might as well go whole hog and head over to the pavilions where the state's farmers and craftspeople are showing off their best.
One of the philosophical tenets of those populating the pavilions that food should look as good as it tastes. Another of their beliefs is that it's OK to be hopelessly devoted to a particular food group. With that in mind, a good place to visit is the Maryland Foods Pavilion, which has set aside separate days devoted to pork, beef, eggs, lamb, seafood and dairy. In the same spirit, home hobbyists can visit with the experts in the Home Arts Building, where the demonstrations include flowers, wood carving, needlepoint, rug braiding and bonsai.
Then there's the Farm and Garden Building, where the events even include a honey and wax day.
Somebody who has seen it all around this section of the Fair is Lorraine Gover, superintendent of the fair's farm and garden department. Last year, she kept the books on 1,829 entries from 349 people. These entries ranged from common things grown in most back yards to something as little known as the mangelwurzel, a member of the beet family used for cattle feed.
She knows how much tender loving care goes into growing each entry, and so she has felt sympathy for the overly excited entrants who've been known to drop their prize-worthy cantaloupes on the way to the display table.
Ms. Gover emphatically states that bigger is not necessarily better in her domain: "We do not stress bigness, but look for
quality. People come in carrying zucchini that look like baseball bats, but those zucchini are probably just filled with seeds" and hence won't impress a judge.
Still, she can rattle off the stats about some of the big ones, such as the 80-pound watermelon and the 189-pound pumpkin.
Like people, fruits and vegetables come in all shapes and sizes. Which brings us to the category known as "vegetable oddities." This category was formerly known as "vegetable freaks," but Ms. Gover didn't care for the old name. "I said, 'We have enough freaks out there as it is.' "
Ms. Gover also recalls two of last year's odder entries: a squash that looked like a swan, and -- scout's honor -- an eggplant with a bulbous purple projection she compares to Pinocchio's nose.
FAIR PLAY
What: Maryland State Fair
Where: Timonium Fairgrounds, 2200 block of York Road
When: "Family Fun Night Ridemania" preview, with only the midway rides, games and food stands open, is tonight from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fair runs from tomorrow to Monday, Sept. 5. The opening times are 8:30 a.m. for horse and livestock shows, 10 a.m. for all demonstration and exhibition halls, 11 a.m. for the midway on weekends and noon for the midway on weekdays, and 1 p.m. post time for thoroughbred horse racing. Closing times are 10 p.m. for all demonstration and exhibition halls and 11 p.m. for the midway.
Tickets: $4 for adults (fair and racing), free for children under 12.
Parking: $1 for all gates on grounds. Valet parking is available at the Timonium Road gate only for an additional fee. There is a free park-and-ride lot off Timonium Road on Greenspring Drive, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Light rail: The Timonium light rail stop is next to the Cow Palace entrance to the fair.
Call: (410) 252-0200, ext. 226
FRIDAY AT THE FAIR
7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: WQSR Ride mania family fun night.
Live oldies concert featuring The Headliners.
For a complete listing of Maryland State Fair activities, see page 3D.
MARYLAND STATE FAIR 1994
Saturday, Aug. 27
Maryland Foods Pavilion: pork day
8:30 a.m.: Children's fitting and showing followed by equitation: Horse show ring.
9:30 a.m.: 4-H Compact tractor/small engine and electrical energy contest: Cow Palace.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial exhibits: exhibition hall.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily demonstrations: Home Arts Building. Flower demonstration. Miniature quilts. Wood carving. Needlepoint. Painting. Weaving & spinning. Rug braiding.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building: Open wine judging.
11 a.m.: Midway opens.
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Radio Zone: kids' station presents Billy B.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Radio Zone: kids' station presents BT Cab Musical Entertainment.
1 p.m. to 10 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations on stage: 4H Building.
1:30 p.m.: 4H bicycle contest: Cow Palace.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Radio Zone: kids' station presents Val & Pam Kindersingers: Dance & songs.
3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Radio Zone: kids' station presents Terra Nova: Original acoustic music.
4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: Radio Zone: kids' station presents Kinderman-sing-along Baltimore favorites.
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Heaven 600 presents Star is Born Finals.
1l 6 p.m.: Pony of Americas: Horse Show Ring.
6:30 p.m.: Balloon ascension.
7:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: Maryland State Lottery/3 & 4 digit drawing.
7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: Square dance exhibition: Cow Palace.
8 p.m.: Maryland State Lotto drawing.
Sunday, Aug. 28
Governor's volunteer appreciation day
Md. Foods Pavilion: Egg Day
8:30 a.m.: 4H Horse & Pony Show Junior Western.
9 a.m.: Dog Show: Cow Palace.
9 a.m.: 4H Poultry Show: Old 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations on stage: 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial exhibits: exhibition hall.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building: Honey & wax day.
11 a.m.: Midway opens.
11 a.m.: Fleece to shawl competition.
12:15 to 1 p.m.: Volunteer appreciation day presents Episode, a classic rock band.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
1:45 p.m.: Volunteer appreciation day presents Kinderman Show.
1:45 p.m. to 2 p.m: Volunteer appreciation day presents Kangaroo Kids.
2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m: Volunteer appreciation day presents Governor William Donald Schaefer.
2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Volunteer appreciation day presents Kangaroo Kids.
3 p.m.: 4H/FFA Dairy Goat fitting showing.
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Volunteer appreciation day presents Tony Berry New Money.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
7 p.m.: Maryland Farm Queen Contest: Cow Palace.
7 p.m.: 4H/FFA Sheep lead contest: Sheep Barn.
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.: The Rec-etts: Jazz & Tap Dancing.
Monday, Aug. 29
Baltimore County Day
Maryland Foods Pavilion: lamb day
8 a.m.: 4H/FFA Goat Show: Goat Barn.
8:30 a.m.: 4H/FFA Beef Fitting & Showing contest.
8:30 a.m.: 4H Horse & Pony Show: Senior Western.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial exhibits: exhibition hall.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Bldg: Grain, hay & Crops. Oats by Janice Ross
11 a.m.: Midway opens.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1 p.m.: 4H/FFA Beef Steer show: Cow Palace.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: U.S. Martial Arts demonstration.
4 p.m.: 4H/FFA Market Lamb Show: Sheep Barn.
6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Ray Gayleard Magician.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
8 p.m.: 4H/FFA Costume animal show: Cow Palace.
8 p.m.: Extracting Honey: Farm & Garden Building
Tuesday, Aug. 30
Agricultural Day
Md. Foods Pavilion - seafood day
8:30 a.m.: 4H Horse & Pony Show: Senior English.
8:30 a.m.: 4H/FFA Dairy Show: All Dairy breeders except Holstein: Cow Palace.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial exhibits: exhibition hall .
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Bldg: Fruit Day. Fruit & vegetable garnishes: Chef Bill.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Stallsmith of Stallsmith caterers.
Noon: Midway opens.
Noon to 5 p.m.: WPOC FM presents children's games, tattoos, Club 93, card reader & more.
Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
3 p.m.: Milking shorthorns: Cow Palace.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
7 p.m.: 4H/FFA sale of beef/dairy steers, market hogs, lambs, goats, capons: Steer Show Ring.
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: WPOC FM presents country line dance instructors Jim & Mindy Ratliff.
8 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm & Garden Building.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: 100 GRX presents local band, Hectic Red.
8 p.m.: Extracting Honey: Farm & Garden Building
Wednesday, Aug. 31
Agricultural Day
Md. Foods Pavilion: seafood day
8:30 a.m.: 4H Horse and Pony Show: Senior English.
8:30 a.m.: 4H/FFA Dairy Show: All Dairy breeders except Holstein: Cow Palace.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial exhibits: exhibition hall .
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm and Garden Building: Fruit Day.
Fruit and vegetable garnishes: Chef Bill.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Stallsmith of Stallsmith caterers.
Noon: Midway opens.
Noon to 5 p.m.: WPOC FM presents children's games, tattoos, Club 93, card reader and more.
Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
3 p.m.: Milking shorthorns: Cow Palace.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
7 p.m.: 4H/FFA sale of beef/dairy steers, market hogs, lambs, goats, capons: Steer Show Ring.
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: WPOC FM presents country line dance instructors Jim and Mindy Ratliff.
8 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm and Garden Building.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: WPOC FM presents local band, Pay Dirt.
Clydesdale horses on display.
Thursday, Sept. 1.
Maryland Foods Pavilion - dairy day
9 a.m.: Crossbred & Pony Hunter: Horse Ring.
9 a.m.: Ayrshire dairy cattle show: Cow Palace.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations on stage: 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building: Egg day.
Egg quality & grading display.
Noon: Midway opens.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: New Left: regional touring band.
4 p.m. to 9 p.m.: 4H/FFA tractor operator's contest: Track infield.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: V103 Home Jam Showcase.
7 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm & Garden Building.
8 p.m.: Clydesdale horses on display.
Friday, Sept. 2
Senior Appreciation Day
Maryland Foods Pavilion: Fruits & vegetables day
8 a.m.: Oberhasli Dairy Goat show.
9 a.m.: Jersey dairy cattle show: Cow Palace.
9 a.m.: Thoroughbred horse show: horse ring.
9 a.m.: Non-thoroughbred horse show: horse ring.
10 a.m.: Recorded grades goat show: goat barn.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations: 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building day-Dairy foods.
11 a.m.: Saanen dairy goat show: Goat barn.
Noon: Midway opens.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
3 p.m.: Alpine dairy goat show: Goat Barn.
3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: U.S. Martial arts demonstration team.
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Baltimore Chapter barbershop singers.
4:30 p.m.: Lamancha dairy goat show: Goat Barn.
6 p.m.: Goats: Best in Show: Goat Barn.
6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Ray Gayleard Magician.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
8 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm & Garden Building.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: 92Q talent explosion: Live band entertainment: Panama, Flirt.
Clydesdale horses on display.
Saturday, Sept. 3
Maryland Foods Pavilion: apple day
9 a.m.: Draft Horses & Mules
9 a.m.: Other breeds sheep show: sheep barn.
10 a.m.: 4H Automotive contest.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations: 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building day-Homemade wine day.
11 a.m.: Midway opens.
Noon: Berkshire Swine Show: Swine Barn.
Noon to 2 p.m.: Ruthie & Wranglers of Tacoma Park.
12:30 p.m.: Natural colored sheep show: Sheep Barn.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
3 p.m.: Hampshire swine show: Swine Barn.
3 p.m.: Cheviot sheep show: Sheep Barn.
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: WMIX presents Tony Berry & New Money.
4 p.m.: 4H Awards: Cow Palace.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: WMIX presents Crushing Day.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
7:30 p.m.: Light horse pulling contest: Horse Ring.
8 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm & Garden Building.
9 p.m. to 11 p.m.: WMIX presents Cry Monday.
Clydesdale horses on display.
Sunday, Sept. 4
Maryland Foods Pavilion
8:30 a.m.: Angus Beef & cattle show: Cow Palace.
8:30 a.m.: Hereford Beef & cattle show: Cow Palace.
9 a.m.: Shetland & Welsh ponies: Horse Ring.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations on stage: 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial Exhibits: Exhibition Hall.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building: Mead day. Making mead: honey wine: Frank Lovac.
11 a.m.: Midway opens.
Noon to 2 p.m.: Prizm: local country band.
12:30 p.m.: Brown Swiss dairy cattle: Cow Palace.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
2 p.m.: Guernsey Dairy Cattle: Cow Palace.
2 p.m.: Spots & Poland China: Swine Barn.
3 p.m.: South down sheep show: Sheep Barn.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: WMIX Presents the band Fringe.
4:30 p.m.: Shropshire sheep show: Sheep Barn.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: WMIX Presents Sir Rod.
6:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: Collector Car Display: Grandstand.
7:30 p.m.: Heavy Horse pulling contest: Horse Ring.
8 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm & Garden Building.
9 p.m. to 11 p.m.: WMIX presents Crushing Day.
Clydesdale horses on display.
Monday, Sept. 5
9 a.m.: Holstein Dairy Cattle Show: Cow Palace.
9 a.m.: Arabian Horse Show: Horse Show Ring.
9 a.m.: Dorset Sheep Show: Sheep Barn.
10 a.m.: Chester White swine show: Swine Barn.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 4H Demonstrations on stage: 4H Building.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Commercial Exhibits: Exhibition Hall.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Farm & Garden Building: Meat day. Southern Maryland stuffed ham demonstration.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Becky McDonald: St. Mary's County Fair Association.
11 a.m.: Midway opens.
Noon to 4 p.m.: Karaoke: Tom Phillips.
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing. 1st race.
1:30 p.m.: Trial by Jury.
2 p.m.: Yorkshire Swine Show: Swine Barn.
2:30 p.m.: Suffolk Sheep Show: Sheep Barn.
3 p.m.: Charolais beef cattle: Cow Palace.
4 p.m.: Maryland Saddlebred horse futurity.
4 p.m.: Champion open barrow: Swine Barn.
4:30 p.m.: Supreme Champion Female: Swine Barn.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Janine Wilson & Shotgun Wedding.
8 p.m.: Extracting honey: Maryland Beekeepers: Farm & Garden Building.
Clydesdale horses on display.