| AUGUST 24, 2010 -- Don Offinger and the rest of the Cannon Grange Agricultural Fair & Exposition committee advertised Sunday's event as rain or shine, which was smart because showers came through Wilton and the 78th annual fair.
Although the rain may have kept people from some of the outdoor events, it gave them a chance to go inside Cannon Grange Hall to see the exhibits of locally produced items submitted for judging. The exhibits included baked goods, collections and vegetables, among others, Offinger said. The competition is the main reason the fair has been successful for so long, he said.
"People like to get those blue ribbons," said Offinger, treasurer of the Cannon Grange.
The outdoor activities continued despite the rain, with the eating areas and the spot in front of the stage protected by tents.
The rubber duck race was canceled because the Norwalk River not in prime condition with the rain. However, the Grange still raised money by turning the rubber duck fundraiser into a raffle to benefit the Wilton-based charity Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes.
Each year the fair is put on to give Wilton residents a chance to relive the town's agricultural roots. When Wilton was supported by its farming, the Cannon Grange Hall was the center of the community and everyday, people would take their crops there to barter and trade.
"You don't find this type of thing everywhere," committee member Shelley Dempsey said. "It's the Norman Rockwell thing Wilton has."
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