Racing hogs to rubber frogs, it's the county fair
Middlesex staple kicks off its 69th year, will run through Sunday
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - Outside the 69th annual Middlesex County Fair was a large, grassy field swiftly filling up with rows of cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles. While a mass of gray clouds threatened to make life difficult for the hundreds attending the fair's opening day Monday, by about 6 p.m. the windshields were shining in the light of a newly emergent sun.

People waiting in line for admission were told that blood was now an acceptable payment, since the fair was cooperating with a local blood bank to help refill short supplies. Kirk Bonamici, a spokesperson for the Middlesex County Fair Association (MCFA), said that they expect last year's donation record to be shattered by the time they are finished on Sunday, because this will be the first year they are running the blood drive every day of the fair.

Just through the gates was an avenue of food stands, the consequent aromas settling over all 48 acres of fairground. The scent of fried dough mingled with that of fried meat, though a nearby scented candle kiosk invited passersby to sample other, less-edible aromas. Anyone who walked by may have been enticed by foods like zeppole, oriental barbecue, fresh potato chips, Greek gyros, Italian sausage, deep-fried vegetables, kebabs and lemonade. The line of food stations was interrupted by the occasional craft stand, selling jewelry, T-shirts and other accessories.

PHOTOSBY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Artem Latypov, 9, has a swinging time during the second night of the Middlesex County Fair on Tuesday. At left: Madison Ianniello, 6, chases her father, Mario, and brother, Mario Jr., 3, down the slide Tuesday. The fair runs through Sunday at the county fairgrounds on Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. For more information about the fair, visit www.middlesexcountyfair.org.

Along the side of this avenue were the rides - giant slides, Viking ships and the ever-present Tilt-A-Whirl. Nearby were the games, daring challengers to flip rubber frogs onto plastic lily pads, to whack-a-mole or two, and knock over a stack of milk bottles to win various stuffed animals.

The fair's opening ceremony started with the national anthem, sung by Franklin's Erin Regan, 16, who was picked for this duty after a fair organizer saw her perform at another fair. Several short speeches by local officials followed, and then presentations were made for the Volunteer of the Year and Farmer of the Year awards, chosen by the MCFA.

Renee Narkiewicz, of Jamesburg, was selected as Volunteer of the Year. Narkiewicz, an active participant in the local 4-H club for many years, was surprised to receive the award.

"I was shocked, and I opened the letter and I asked, are they talking about me? I've been part of 4-H and the fair for some 15 years, and I've seen other people get their awards, and [I think] wow, they really deserve that, and don't really think about myself, so I was really shocked," Narkiewicz said.

Patricia Jaccoma, who lives on Ridge Road in South Brunswick, was selected as the Farmer of the Year from the MCFA. Asked how she felt, her mouth opened but before she could speak, someone to her side stepped forward.

"She's the best. Ever been out to her farm stand? No? Well, you've got to get out there tomorrow," he said.

"This is one of my customers," Jaccoma said with a smile.

A crowd had begun to gather near a small racetrack, where Robinson's Racing Pigs competed for fame, glory and Oreo cookies. The trailer where the pigs are kept is painted with pictures of four cartoon swine dressed in jockey outfits. As people settled into the set of bleachers lining the track, music extolling the virtues of these racing pigs played from speakers planted in the ground.

"These pigs aren't sloppy like other pigs are, they're genuine television racing stars," the theme said at one point. "Just a pig, just a swine, but some are good friends of mine," it said at another.

By the time Paul Robinson, the show's owner, asked whether everyone was ready for a pig race, a crowd of at least 50 people had gathered, many of them shouting an enthusiastic "Yes!" At that point, pigs with names such as Dale Oinkhardt Jr., George W. Bushhog and Jerry Sweinfeld ran around a circular track to be the first to get to a plate of Oreo cookies. Many people there said they were first-time pig-watchers.

"It was something different. Never really saw pigs race before," said Arnold Horowitz, from East Brunswick.

The produce tent featured items such as foot-and-a-half-long zucchini, easily as thick as a roll of deli salami, and a pumpkin bigger than most children. Periodically, a thump could be heard followed by distant cheers.

Exiting a tent, a man in purple spandex shorts, his shirt fluttering open in the breeze, ran past. In his direction stood a sign that read "American Championship Wrestling Alliance." Inside that tent was a large, elevated wrestling ring, where a beefy bearded man wearing a shirt proclaiming him to be "your families [sic] worst nightmare" gingerly steps down. He walked out, clutching his head. Someone asked how he's doing. "Not so good."

Animals of all kinds are found in a nearby tent. Signs warn people over and over to not stick their fingers into the cages - some of these animals bite. Besides ferrets, there are also guinea pigs, chickens, rabbits, frogs, turtles and snakes. Comments and ribbons adorn some cages.

Mary Beth Fresolone, one of the 4-H volunteers coordinating the animal show, said that almost all of the animals in the competition are pets, and that the local kids did much of the work in putting together the display itself. She said they planned to stay the night at the fairgrounds to catch any escapees and make sure nothing goes wrong.

"We've been wrangling mice all day," said Fresolone, of Kendall Park.

She said the show was the culmination of the work local kids have done in the 4-H, where they took an animal, raised it and then would either keep it as a pet or sell it.

Joann Mooney, of Helmetta, held a perplexed stare as she gazed into one of the cages near the chickens. She said she had never seen anything like it before - a chicken covered head to toe in fluffy, black and white feathers that resembled a thick coat of fur, making it look more like a sheepdog than a bird. Even the feet were covered. A tiny beak poked out from beneath.

"They're pretty neat looking. And have you ever seen a furry chicken that looks like a dog?" Mooney asked.

Mooney has been coming to the fair since she was a child, and now, along with her husband, she was taking her children there for the first time. The fair is also a tradition with Theresa Mastrocola, of Jamesburg, who had been coming since she had first moved to New Jersey in 1966. She said it hadn't changed much since she first started going, though the food stands used to be run primarily by local organizations instead of being businesses unto themselves. To Mastrocola, the fair, though, is still fun.

"It's still a country atmosphere, and I still eat too much when I come," said Mastrocola.

The Middlesex County Fair will continue through Sunday at the fairgrounds, located at Fern and Cranbury roads, East Brunswick. Hours will be from 5-11 p.m. tonight and Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The cost is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and over, $1 for kids 3-12 free for kids 2 and under. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.middlesexcountyfair.org.