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08/28/2019 08:30 AMFor Jeanne Lewis, volunteering is a part of life. For the past decade she has been an integral part of the North Haven Fair all-volunteer run event and is currently the vice president of the North Haven Fair Association.
It’s a constant balancing act for this mother of four, who in addition to her full-time job and volunteering with the fair, also volunteers her time to the local 4-H program, as well boy scouts and, in the past, girl scouts. However, Jeanne a true believer of strong family values and is committed to the success of future generations. Volunteering is one way she feels she can be part of that success.
“It’s all about family,” Jeanne says. “That’s a huge part of the fair. Creating family traditions and having events that promote families doing things together, that’s why the fair is so important.”
This year’s fair runs from Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 5 to 8. Jeanne is particularly excited about this year’s fair and the addition of the special Thursday event, which is Celebrate North Haven Day.
“We will have $5 admission that day and $20 wristbands for the Rockwell Amusement rides and special entertainment including the local country band Southern Voices,” Jeanne says. “The reason we included this this year really goes back to family. This fair is one of the threads that brings the local community and families together to celebrate together in their town and we felt it was important to highlight that unity and share with everyone the great things that North Haven has to offer.”
Although her own children are all grown now, ranging in age from 19 to 26, Jeanne says she always felt that it was important, as a mother and a community member, to get involved and stay involved. She not only has been a fair volunteer for the past decade, but was also active within her children’s schools and sports activities, as well as well as boy scouts, girl scouts, and 4-H because, she says, she felt all of these programs help to promote leadership qualities, working together, volunteering and community.
“My parents were volunteers and it so it has just always been a part of my life to give back,” Jeanne says. “I grew up going to fairs in New Jersey and I got involved with the North Haven Fair through Scouts. It was an opportunity for some of the youth to conduct community service and learn additional leadership skills. I liked the group of people in the Fair Association and their dedication to the fair and its traditions. The rest is history!”
She adds, “Our goal each year is to maintain some of the old family traditions and introduce new family friendly activities.”
She encourages people from all over, not just North Haven, to mark their calendars for this year’s fair, which, in addition to usual agriculture fair activities, also includes a Old McDonald area for children, which has a petting zoo, pony rides, and presentations from Pisgah Mountain Primitives demonstrating cast iron cooking, how to make rope, and steel bending.
There will also be a corn patch area of the fair dedicated to smaller toddlers who are not ready to ride the rides. This area will include an age appropriate corn maze, a tractor climb play area, and an obstacle course.
On Saturday night, the fair will be host to the battle of bands at 6 p.m. The winner of this contest will get to record an album at the NSC Studios in Wallingford.
In addition to the fun goings-on at the fair, the fair association also has plans to put on its first Demolition Derby on the fair grounds on Sunday, Oct. 13, and it will hold its annual Winter Festival, complete with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, on Sunday, Nov. 3.
“There is always a lot going on and a lot to be part of and I am happy to be a part of the local activities that bring families together to create memories that will last a lifetime,” Jeanne says.
For more information about the North Haven Fair, visit www.northhaven-fair.com.