The Heart of the Fair
Fair week is an exciting summer tradition. The rides, the scent of fried dough in the air, and the lights and laughter during a summer evening create a lively atmosphere. However, beyond the games and rides of the midway, there is something more profound that represents the true heart of the fair: the food competitions.
In the July/August issue of Life in the Finger Lakes magazine, I had the opportunity to write about one of my favorite parts of our county fair, the pie contest held at historic Floral Hall in Wayne County. Built in 1856, Floral Hall continues to host exhibits and competitions that evoke a simpler time. There’s no glitter, no fanfare. Just handmade pies, braided loaves, and preserved peaches proudly lined up to be judged by taste, texture, and tradition.
The Wayne County pie contest has been running for 34 years. It’s fiercely competitive, neighborly, and packed with suspense (no names on those pie tins, just numbers and a whole lot of anticipation). I spoke with longtime contest organizer Pam Ferranti and multiple-time past winner Cairy Place about what keeps them coming back year after year. Spoiler: it’s not just the ribbons.
This assignment was especially close to my heart because I’ve entered the contest myself—and this year, I took home a sixth-place ribbon for my Maple Bourbon Peach Pecan Pie. The recipe is included in the article if you’d like to bake up a slice of late-summer joy yourself.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or someone who loves a good slice of pie and a better story, I hope you’ll pick up the issue and give it a read. There’s something beautiful about watching local traditions unfold, one crimped crust at a time.
You can find the July/August issue of Life in the Finger Lakes on newsstands now, or better yet, subscribe because getting something besides bills in the mail is magical, too.
