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08/12/2015 12:00 AMThese days, you see her photo all over town. With her curly locks and dark, soulful eyes, Beatrice the Sheep is enjoying her fourth season as the poster girl/mascot of the annual North Guilford Country Fair and Auction, which comes around for the 53rd year at North Guilford Congregational Church (NGCC) this Sat. Aug. 15.
Church Deacon and fair co-chair Diane Grasso is “mom” to Beatrice. The cross-bred beauty joined the Grasso family together with her sister, Mavis, when both were still bottle-fed little lambs. A captivating photo of then-six-month-old Beatrice inspired Diane’s daughter, Hannah, to devise a poster immortalizing Beatrice as the fuzzy face of NGCC’s annual fair.
Now four years old, Beatrice will be back at NGCC this Saturday as part of the fair’s popular Animal Farm. The kid-pleasing attraction is just one of several old-fashioned, family-fun activities available at the one-day-only event. The fair also features a huge White Elephant Sale in the church hall and a crowd-pleasing live auction, as well as sales of handcrafts, vintage tools, fair trade gifts, plants, linens, books and more, together with a basket raffle and silent auction. Attractions include a quilt show, antique tractor show and children’s games and rides—among them Lil’ Toot, the fair’s tiny “train” ride. The day’s signature dish, peach shortcake, will be served up by church volunteers. The best place to enjoy that delightful dish is under the music tent, listening to live performances, says Diane (who also happens to run the music tent).
Diane first became involved with the church and its annual fair when her family moved to North Guilford from Bethany in 1996. As a veterinarian with a large animal practice, Diane first made an impact for the fair by taking the Animal Farm up a notch, building pens and bringing in animals loaned by local residents and clients. This year’s farm is shaping up with two mini donkeys, sheep, bunnies, and more. Next, Dianne added the Music Tent to the fair.
“I thought it would be fun to have some music with it, and it’s turned out to be really nice because not only do we have musicians come out to play, but we also give our kids a chance to perform. This year, one of the kids in our congregation has asked for a set. So it’s a chance to sit down, eat your peach shortcake, and relax to the music,” she says.
Regulars and newcomers to the fair and auction will all enjoy what Diane calls “stepping back in time” to a type of country fair that once peppered the New England summer landscape, but is pretty hard to find today. The fair also appeals to the Yankee in everyone for another reason—it doesn’t cost an arm and leg.
“The nice thing about the fair is a lot of it is free,” says Diane. “You don’t have to pay to get in, you don’t have to pay to park, and the music is free. There’s stuff that’s for sale and a lot of it is at bargain prices. It’s a lovely way for families to get their kids out and it doesn’t cost a fortune.”
Dovetailing with the fair this year is a craft sale offered by St. John’s Episcopal Church (next door to NGCC). The two neighboring churches on Ledge Hill Road also plan to join together the next day, Sunday, Aug. 16, for a service at which Diane and others will play music as part of the gathering. Diane plays guitar and bodhran (a traditional Irish drum).
“We have our little bluegrass gospel band, which is called the Peach Cobblers, and we’re working on some bluegrass music and traditional hymns for the service,” says Diane. “It’s a really nice service and it’s nice having the two congregations come together.”
As NGCC’s webmaster, Diane will be found taking photos on fair day (when she’s not overseeing the farm or running the music tent). While Diane doesn’t mind staying busy, her only regret is that she doesn’t get a chance to catch the lively action of the fair’s live auction, featuring an authentic auctioneer and plenty of interesting items up for bid.
“I never get to see the auction!” Diane says, laughing. “I’m usually busy trying to get as much digital content as I can for the website. We’re trying to keep it really dynamic to keep up with the energy at our church, which has just been blossoming.”
The church hired a new pastor in April, Reverend Judith Cooke, and has been revamping its family service and youth mission programming.
“We have taken in a lot of new members recently, and I’m hoping that will continue over time,” says Diane. “We’re really trying to keep young families and kids engaged, because they’re the future of the church.”
Diane is a co-leader of NGCC’s Senior Youth Group for parishioners in grades 8 to 12.
“When we’re working with the Senior Youth Group, I feel like their deciding to spend time with us is a gift to the church, so I really try to honor that by doing things that are worthwhile.”
Meanwhile, when it comes to the success of the church’s annual Country Fair and Auction, Diane says it’s worthwhile to continue to include a nod to North Guilford’s past.
“There’s always been so much agriculture in North Guilford. Even though a lot of it has gone away, you’ll still find it here. I think people treasure that,” she says.
North Guilford Congregational Church’s 53rd annual North Guilford Country Fair and Auction is Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at NGCC, 159 Ledge Hill Road, rain or shine. For more information, call 203-457-0581 or visit www.northguilforducc.org.