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V O L . X X X N O. X V I I I A U G U S T 1 9 , 2 0 2 4 22 F O C U S GREATER BANGOR / NORTHERN MAINE » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E e view down Fort Fairfield's Main Street shows truly impressive tractors, some costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Shortly after the parade ended, an Amish gentle- man named Mose used a pair of draft horses to disc harrow his land, also in Fort Fairfield. e contrast between very old and very new and very expensive ver- sus very inexpensive couldn't be more stark. is is part of the charm in the County where the very old and very new meld seamlessly with the common denomi- nators of farm, family, hard work, tradition and grit. "e festival is a great opportunity for folks to come up and experience what the County is all about," says Timothy Goff, Fort Fairfield's town manager. "Friendly folks, celebrating our agricultural roots, having some fun competing in events like mashed potato wrestling against our friends and neighbors, enjoying some music in great weather while having some food and a beer. "It really is a tremendous event that injects life into our community, helps our economy and is a major fun- draising opportunity for numerous nonprofit organi- zations. I think events like this help make the County more accessible to folks who are looking for a chance to experience a part of the country that is truly unique." F r e d J . F i e l d , a f r e q u e n t M a i n e b i z c o n t r i b u t o r, i s a C u m b e r l a n d - b a s e d p h o t o g r a p h e r. Peggy Ward in star-spangled attire said she liked "the local flair and farm equipment" in the parade. She came to the parade and festival from Virginia. The McCrum float honors the family potato tradition started six generations ago in 1886 in Mars Hill. Mose, an Amish farmer in Fort Fairfield used his draft horses to disc harrow his garden in a scene reminiscent of farming in the late 1800s. Potato blossoms stretch toward a distant mountain in this view from Fort Fairfield.

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