Sharing the fair
By MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune ChronicleArticle Photos
CANFIELD - After nearly 40 straight years of attending the Canfield Fair, Marie Young knows a lot about what to see, do and eat.
So it only seems fair that the 41-year-old Berlin Center resident should share her knowledge with a first-time attendee. On Friday, her trainee was 39-year-old Brian Murphy of Kent, who also happens to be Young's boyfriend of several months.
The couple took an afternoon break near the grandstand at the central flag post, where Young recalled having her picture taken with her father when she was 6 or 7.
"I remember sitting by the flags holding a purple and white stuffed animal," Young said.
Her father died in October 2002, but a photo of him wearing a hat she purchased for him at the Canfield Fair several years before his death hangs in Young's family room.
Young said she has never missed the fair and usually comes at least three days each year.
"It's just a tradition," she said.
She and Murphy arrived at the fairgrounds about 11 a.m. and planned to spend the day, topping off the day at the demolition derby event at the grandstand. Murphy said he was really looking forward to the derby, but the couple's agenda was packed until then.
"I want him to see the pumpkin barn," Young said. "Everyone should see the pumpkin barn."
Murphy oohed and aahed at the giant gourdes, especially this year's winning pumpkin that weighed in at 1,745.5 pounds. Visits to the Western Reserve Village, the health and medical building and the 4-H barns were also on Young's "must-see" list.
She also recommended that first-time fair-goers attend a show at one of the stages and check out the truck and tractor pulls.
"The food, the sights, the smells. It's all brand new to me, so I am up for anything," Murphy said.
As for food, Murphy already had sampled some fried cheese at the Antone's booth, a gyro and a lemon shake. He and Young shared a large cinnamon roll later in the afternoon, but Young drew the line when her boyfriend suggested eating a hamburger.
"A hamburger? You don't come to the fair and eat a hamburger. You can get one of those anywhere," she admonished, suggesting a DiRusso's sausage sandwich instead.
"That's fair food. Stuff you can't get anywhere else," she explained.
Young planned to ride the Ring of Fire - her favorite ride - later in the day, but that's where Murphy drew his own line.
"I don't do rides," he said, adding "I have never been to a county fair like this one and I am lovin' it so far."
Young just smiled.
"What's not to love?" she asked.
