NEW HAVEN, Vt. (WCAX) – Addison County Fair & Field Days draws families and farmers from across the region. But in recent years, organizers of the fair are among those wrangling with how to pay for new state stormwater regulations.
It’s a once-per-summer showcase that brings families together.
“It’s a family thing. They’re showing beef cattle just like I used to,” said Brittany Trudo of Shoreham.
The fair highlights everything Addison County has to offer, from homemade art to local produce, along with deep-fried and salty fair food. The fair is a celebration of agriculture of the past, present, and future. “It’s the experience just to watch them and to learn. I think its good that they come and see the agriculture,” said Chasity Panton of Vergennes There’s also plenty for thrill seekers on numerous rides.
But in recent years, Addison County and other fairgrounds have been on a ride of their own. While farms are a big source of phosphorous in Lake Champlain, runoff from impervious surfaces like rooftops and parking lots are also big contributors. A 2015 law was aimed at addressing those non-point sources, but compliance so far has been spotty.
But with the fairgrounds funded by admission sales, organizer Cindy Kayhart says the state mandate just doesn’t pencil out. “Our goal is to break even and maybe have a little extra to make minor improvements,” she said.
The Addison County Fairgrounds in New Haven sits on 16 acres and Kayhart says they wanted an exemption from the law. Instead, key budgetwriters appropriated $2 million to help fairgrounds pay for stormwater studies, but not the upgrades themselves.
“Without help, I don’t know how we can do it because we can’t raise that type of money at the gate for five days,” Kayhart said.
It remains an open question how organizations like fairs, schools, and others will pay to follow the regulations. For now, organizers say they’re just glad the fair will live to see another year filled with smiles, laughs, and memories.