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09/13/2017 08:30 AMDid you know? There’s a Guilford Fair family, and that family’s “mom” is Nancy Keeler. For 42 years, Nancy has dedicated her time and talent to helping all-volunteer, non-profit Guilford Agricultural Society (GAS) grow the Guilford Fair, while honoring its old-fashioned country fair legacy. The Guilford Fair was established in 1859.
“We are the Guilford Fair family. We’re very close,” says Nancy, who now serves as GAS second vice president. “I started here as a young person, and I have become the mom of the fair—I’m the oldest one here! But I love it. Once you’ve gotten involved in this kind of thing, it’s in your blood.”
Nancy and the rest of the family have been putting in countless hours to prep for this year’s fair, so that everything will be ready when the barn-red gates swing open to greet thousands arriving at the Guilford fairgrounds for three days of entertainment, events, shows, exhibits, and more. The 2017 Guilford Fair takes place Friday, Sept. 15 from 1 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Nancy first volunteered to help GAS put on the Guilford Fair in 1975. The East Haven native and current East Haven resident was a young mom (then Nancy Maturo) who’d newly moved to Madison, but had grown up going to the Guilford Fair. Seeing some of Nancy’s handiwork in her new home, a neighbor asked Nancy if she’d like to help out “down in Guilford” overseeing the fair’s Needlework tent. Within a couple of years, Nancy began organizing concessions and was vending superintendent for 30 years.
“We started with a small number of vendors and built up; now, we don’t have an inch of space to sell—we have a waiting list,” says Nancy. “The nicest thing is vendors I’ve had for many years come back every year, and say it’s like coming home. “
From managing paperwork to keeping the best balance of vendors, mapping out locations, and literally staking out the spaces, “it’s a year-round job,” says Nancy, who passed the superintendent of vending baton to Dave Popolizio about five years ago.
“I thought, ‘You know, it’s time for young blood to do this!’” says Nancy, laughing.
That doesn’t mean Nancy’s slowed down in her service to GAS and the Guilford Fair. Like so many dedicated GAS volunteers the fairgrounds become a second home when fair time rolls around. This year, as every year, Nancy will be working from her desk in the main office at the fairgrounds, on the final details in the lead-up to the fair and always available to assist with issues, questions, and the unexpected.
“What’s my schedule for the week? My schedule is ‘here,’” says Nancy, who’s been at the office on the grounds all week and will even forgo attending the celebratory Citizens’ Day Parade to work in the office.
The Citizens’ Day Parade steps off Saturday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. in the town center. Organized by the Guilford Rotary, the parade helps citizens participate in the legacy of the Guilford Fair.
“It’s really nice to see all the volunteer organizations and citizens ride and walk in the parade. We [GAS] have a big exhibit of farm tractors in the parade, and some are antiques that are still working the fields in Guilford, because Guilford has always been an agricultural town,” says Nancy. “But I don’t do the parade anymore, because I’m here. This is the time you’re needed here to make decisions.”
Whether it’s an extreme weather emergency or any other type of unforeseen hurdle that could crop up during the fair, Nancy, together with GAS President John Hammarlund and GAS First Vice President Keith Kennel, will meet at the office to make the tough calls.
“The [GAS] officers all get along very well, and we have to make decisions, sometimes at last minute,” says Nancy. “The three of us sit down here and we discuss it, and it’s done. Any problems, this is where we solve them.”
Nancy served GAS as first vice president until December 2016, then offered to “swap” positions with Kennel, then-second vice president, in the best interests of the fair family.
“I served as first vice president for many years,” says Nancy. “I said, ‘At my age, I don’t want to be groomed to be president’... [Keith] is really dedicated. You need new blood. This is the future.
Also for the future of the fair, Nancy became involved with other fair organizations, including the Florida State Fair and the Association of Connecticut Fairs.
“I used to go to all the other fairs, only to better ours. I got involved at the state level for a few years,” says Nancy.
Volunteering and visiting with other fairs gave Nancy a great idea that’s helped GAS greatly in recent years: offering off-season rental of the fairgrounds. GAS owns and maintains the fairgrounds at Stone House Lanes, now including several permanent structures and plenty of open space. Renting the grounds off-season to other non-profits, such as the Rotary for its Lobster Festival, helps defray costs.
Nancy notes the Guilford Fair also continues its mission of offering low admission prices to give families and individuals access to the fair’s entertainment, events, exhibits, and shows.
“Tickets prices have stayed the same for the last two years and what’s really special about that is what you pay at the gate entitles you to everything we have going on here. We have Nashville entertainment and the Flying Wallendas,” says Nancy. “We have all of the animals and exhibits, and we have the [Guilford] Family Circus here that’s just great—not only for just the kids, but the adults get into it, too! And kids love to see the animal exhibits, and most have people there to answer their questions, so it’s educational, too.”
If Nancy sounds a bit like an excited kid, there’s a great reason: “I love this fair,” she says. “We’re lucky to have all of the fairs that are around [Connecticut], but we’re very proud to have this fair in Guilford. We take a lot of pride in being a family fair.”
Visit www.guilfordfair.org for ticket information, entertainment schedule, and more news of the 2017 Guilford Fair, Friday to Saturday, Sept. 15 to 17, at the Guilford Fairgrounds, Stonehouse Lane. General admission: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Children (ages 6 to 11) $5. Free to children 5 and under. Three-day discount pass: $25.