WEST AMWELL: Country festival returns Saturday

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   WEST AMWELL — The township’s country fair is back this weekend following a three-year hiatus.
   This fair, “Celebrate West Amwell,” will be held Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the West Amwell municipal complex, 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road.
   The rain date is May 21, according to Betty Jane Hunt and Breanna Fulper, who are chairing the event.
   DJ Mike Hauldeman will provide music, and there also will be karaoke. Jess Lefebvre will add a few country songs. Local five-piece band, Phase 3, also will perform.
   The fair will conclude with a bonfire beginning at 8 p.m. and s’mores around the fire.
   The West Amwell Fire Company Auxiliary and South Hunterdon Regional High School’s FFA club will provide food.
   In keeping with the agricultural nature of the township, many activities are related to farming. Visitors will be able to view animal demonstrations and exhibits, including alpacas, goats, chickens and cows. Plant exhibits will include vegetables and flowers.
   Plant and gardening demonstrations will be presented by South’s FFA and resident Jim Hurley. Gary Robinson will have a puppet theater. Amy Whitney will bring sheep and her spinning wheel. Others will talk about raising and caring for cattle, horses, chickens, rabbits and goats. There will be pony rides and a chance to try steer-roping.
   Visitors also will have the opportunity to make homemade ice cream.
   Games for children will include animal jeopardy and an obstacle course. There also will be face painting and hayrides as well as games, crafts and other contests.
   Patrolman Anthony Goccia will use a laser gun to time pitching speeds. Ms. Fulper is organizing games for young and old, including a pie-eating contest. Emergency personnel will show off their equipment and explain what one can do to prevent emergencies and how they react when the need arises. There will be cake walks, a scavenger hunt planned by the Environmental Commission and a West Amwell knowledge interactive contest.
   All costs for this event are being sponsored by the following: Affordable Self Storage, Boan’s Marine, Caldwell Banker, Chicken Dog Café, Fulper Farms LLC, Hunt Family Preserve LLC, Pleasant Run Farm, Ruggieri Precision Machine LLC, the Tomenchok Farm and Strober-Wright Roofing Inc.
   The township fair began in 1996 as part of West Amwell’s 150th anniversary celebration. Following its success, the Township Committee agreed to make it an annual event.
   Early fairs were held at Hewitt Park before the event’s popularity caused it to outgrow the smaller venue. The fair first was held at the municipal building in 2007. That was also the last year the township mounted the fair.
   In 2008, a lack of funds led to the fair’s cancellation. The township was facing a tight budget and strained funds. Previously, the township had contributed as much as $4,000 to the fair’s expense. In 2008, it was unable to contribute at all, officials said.
   Also, local sponsorships were meager as the recession continued. In 2008, less than $400 in donations had come in.
   That year’s Country Fair Chairwoman Ruth Hall said in explanation, “You can’t run a fair on $375 . . . It’s a tough year financially.”