N.J.'s newest agricultural fair nets 50,000 visitors Freedom Fest Fair filled with food, farm animals, fireworks, fun BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer The annual Freedom Fest, held for the first time at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold, was a huge success, according to co-Chairman Nick Demauro. "The community really embraced it," Demauro said. The fair, which was much larger in its fifth year than in previous years, was held July 10-14 and garnered an estimated 50,000 visitors, according to Demauro. The festival is an annual mission and fundraiser of the Allentown Presbyterian Church, with its proceeds going to local organizations such as the Allentown Presbyterian Church, St. John's Catholic Church, St. James Church, the GiveBack Foundation, the Hope Fire Company, the Allentown First Aid Squad, Adoptive Parents of Central Jersey and the Upper Freehold PTA. According to Demauro, organizers are not yet sure how much the event made this year, since they are still finalizing the numbers. For Demauro, the highlights of the event included all the family participation as well as the newly added horse and agricultural shows. "We truly are an agricultural fair, and we did a good job promoting this area of the state," he said. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Monmouth County Board of Agriculture designated the fair this year as New Jersey's newest agricultural fair after the festival partnered with the Horse Park's annual Stars and Stripes Invitational livestock show. Robins Bruins, leader of the Monmouth Livestock 4-H Club, said she was delighted with how many members of the public ventured into the arena Friday and Saturday to view the exhibitors at the Stars and Stripes Livestock 4-H Show. Livestock exhibitors came from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, she said. "It is essential that we make the public aware of the livestock industry and the link between local farmers and producers," Bruins said. Bruins described the mission of the Stars and Stripes 4-H Livestock Show as preparing those who own livestock for future county fairs and national competitions. PHOTOSBY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Clockwise from top, riders go topsy-turvy on the spin-out at the Freedom Fest Fair held at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold on July 13. Brenda Key, aka "Little Fawn" of the Black Foot Nation Indian Tribe of North Dakota, played a part in the Wild West Show at the fair. Young squealers quickly exit a pool during a pig race. Chris Luciano and son Tommy, 7, of Hamilton, enjoy a whirl on the carousel. "Monmouth County 4-Hers who participated in the Stars and Stripes will use [their] new skills to be better prepared for the Monmouth County Fair," she said. Bruins also commented that Freedom Fest Fair's educational exhibits and nationally renowned speakers emphasized show-ring principles. Demauro said organizers hope to make the festival an annual event at the Horse Park. He said the event's committee will submit a request for the Horse Park for July 8-13 of next year. "The final decision is [with] the Horse Park's board of trustees," Demauro said. "We believe they are pleased with the event." Demauro called the Horse Park a jewel for the community. "I was very pleased that many area residents had the opportunity to see this fine facility and enjoy its beauty," he said. Demauro recalled assisting a Hamilton woman back to her car on Wednesday night. She and her husband, who had also gone to a concert at the festival on Tuesday night, shared their take on the event. "When he [the woman's husband] walked around, the fair made him remember his youth and the New Jersey State Fair in Hamilton," Demauro said. "So, he wanted to take his wife back to see it." Demauro said the couple told him the Freedom Fest Fair was one of the nicest fairs they had ever been to. When asked if he would have done anything differently, Demauro said he has "a mile-long" list to go over because it was the festival's first year in a new venue and organizers had trouble deciding on the positioning of events. "The biggest thing I want to increase," he said, "is the horse fair and craft section."