The Niagara County Fair opened Wednesday morning with the annual Farm-City Breakfast. Wayne Jagow, past Niagara County Clerk and retired pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, said the invocation.
Approximately 600 people turned out for the buffet-style meal served under a large tent; the crowd included local, state and federal elected leaders.
U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney was spotted sitting next to Niagara County Legislature Chair Rebecca Wydysh. State Assembly Member Mike Norris, Lockport Mayor John Lombardi III, County Clerk Joe Jastrzemski, county legislators Shawn Foti and Carla Speranza, and Lockport town council member Paul Siejak, were scattered amongst the crowd.
Jagow started off by saying, “Thank you to the volunteers.”
“I said to myself, I’m going to use the dedication for this, something I haven’t done for a while: ask you all to give a round of applause for our (4-H) volunteers who make this really happen,” he said. The applause was given quickly.
After reading off the names of 4-H youth scholarship winners and noting, “this isn’t our future, this is our right now,” Jagow asked for a moment of silence as he read his prayer.
“I’m not going to ask you to stand up, not to minimize anything at all, but because … well, I’m older and I know what an ordeal it is to stand up,” he said to laughter.
“Remember the individuals who have touched your lives and were a part of this wonderful organization and especially this community. Take a moment in your own way to remember in silence the wonderful people who are part of Niagara County that make us who and what we are.”
The county fair is ongoing through Sunday. One-day admission is $10 and a weekly pass is $30. On Sunday only, admission is $7 per person and $20 for a carload. Midway all-day wristbands are $30; a 25-ticket pack is $35 and a single ticket is $1.50. All midway rides require between three and five tickets.