ALTAMONT — The Altamont Fair will be celebrating 125 years since it was founded to feature livestock competitions and horse races. New to the fair this year are Nerger’s Tigers and the World of Wonders side show with a sword swallower and fire eater. A hypnotist will be performing acts of hypnotism and a magic show. New rides include the ferris wheel “Dream Wheel,” and 360-degree coaster “Super Loop.” But Amy Anderson, manager of the Altamont Fair, is excited about some more down-to-earth features of the fair’s quasquicentennial.

Getting back to basics

The fair, which runs from Aug. 15 to 20, is putting on new exhibits, like examples of farm machinery including tractors and a crop-dusting plane. A “Barnyard” offers activities where children can “milk” a hand-carpentered cow from four upside-down feeding bottles filled with water. They can also “pick” plastic vegetables from turf grass and gather eggs, as well as pet baby animals. Anderson described it as a way for children to connect the animals to farming and the food they eat.

“They’ll put two and two together,” she said.

The fair will also include potted plants strategically placed throughout the grounds so that visitors can learn about growing their own vegetables.

“Anybody can garden,” said Anderson, explaining that a potted plant can be put out in a backyard in the country or on a patio in the city.

There will also be root vegetables growing in glass cases, wheat and barley growing in a display, and potatoes growing in an old tire. Many of the vegetables are in items repurposed as planters, such as buckets with holes in them. They go along with an exhibit on recycling old things that include items like a broken metal rake being turned into a hanging rack.

Another exhibit will be on the threat honey bees are facing from decolonization.

The “Ag-Awareness Trail” will return to the fair. Set up two years ago, children are each given a goody bag and can win prizes for following clues that teach them about agriculture. Anderson said that the program, which was funded by a grant from the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs, has been so successful that the state fair is copying the idea with older children to teach them about careers in agriculture.

“I feel that, sometime in [the past], the fair became more about rides than what we originally were incorporated for,” said Anderson, who added fair organizers are trying to bring back the original intent of the fair — celebrating agriculture.

A look back

Gone is the demolition  derby — Anderson said it took up too much space after the grandstand and bandstand were reconfigured plus attractions were added — but visitors can view old posters of the derby from years ago. The fair updated exhibits like its 1890s Museum by going through the many items donated over the years and cleaning them up.

Included in the exhibit is a 100-year-old piano and Anderson’s own toys from the 1970s. A collection of model trains, Anderson noted, was donated by a man in the 1980s, and his granddaughter recently traveled from the South to see them in person at the fair. An organ sits in one corner, and above hang new lights and old farm equipment.

The Auto Museum will feature antique cars from the area, and the Circus Museum will display its original circus wagon.

125 years

For the 125th celebration, the fair will offer prizes to the first 125 people to enter from Gate 2. It will also be celebrating local veterans by holding a parade at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. A wagon full of veterans will follow the American Legion Post 977 Riders to the infield, and local politicians will be there to help host an event called “Blending Veterans,” celebrating many different generations of veterans, followed by an opportunity for people to speak with the veterans, said Anderson. She and Home Front Café owner Cindy Pollard have been planning the event since May.

Anderson is looking forward to the many cooking and baking contests this years, and trying the treats, as well getting a hold of a steak sandwich and ribbon chips.

She is also looking forward to the baby animals, as well as seeing children interact with them.

An impromptu decision to walk miniature horses on the ballfield last year will lead to them parading again this year, which Anderson believes will delight visitors.

“Some of these kids have never seen some of these animals,” she said. “You can’t help but get caught up in the excitement of it.”

Hoping for sunshine

Anderson said that the number of visitors last year was up by 10 percent — around 90,000 to 100,000 people attended — but it is difficult to track due to tickets being sold in advance and due to veterans, seniors, and Grange members being admitted for free on Wednesday until 4 p.m. Anderson hopes to see even more visitors for the fair’s 125th year. Last year’s fair had rain on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, she said, and she hopes there will be more sunnier days to draw in more crowds.

“We’ve never had six days of sun, since I’ve been here,” she said. “My hope is that we’ll have six days of sunshine.”

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The Altamont Fair will be open from Tuesday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 20, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets will be sold in advance for $15 until Friday, Aug. 11; at the gate on Tuesday and Wednesday for $15; and at the gate Thursday through Sunday for $17.

Seniors 65 and older, veterans and active military members, and grange members may enter for free on Wednesday until 4 p.m. Children under 36 inches in height also enter for free.

Corrected on Aug. 16, 2017: The original version of this story said the “Ag-Awareness Trail” was funded by New York State instead of by the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs. Also, Amy Anderson added that the demolition derby took up too much room after the grandstand and bandstand area was reconfigured and other attractions were added.