Pearl of Sandwich

Apart from a few brief pauses for world wars and pandemics, The Sandwich Fair has been held every year in early October in Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. It previously advertised itself as the Granite State’s oldest one-day agricultural fair; now that it has expanded to a three-day event, it’s billed as a celebration of the area’s farming roots and youth involvement in 4-H. 

For the 110th iteration, we drove up from Manhattan in a Subaru, which was part of a deliberate attempt to blend in. The porta-potty line near the entrance served as a nice demographic cross-section of the attendees: families, farmers, college kids, tractor enthusiasts. Our first step was carnival games while George went to get a fried Oreo for lunch. 

Next up was the Granite State Disc Dogs. Shania Twain played on a loudspeaker while a trainer and her border collie waltzed into the center of a dirt-packed horse arena. After a bit of choreography, she hurled a frisbee into the corner, which the border collie tracked down, snagged out of the air, and returned to the owner with a bit of flair. The crowd roared. 

Nearby was the Vegetable Barn, which featured local agricultural behemoths and beauties. In the adult division, first place in the Royal Hybrid Sunflower category was awarded to Johanna of Freedom, NH. Then came the Pig Wrangling event. 

We sat on metal bleachers and watched a teenager introduce his swine to the crowd, then direct it around the pen with a stick. To move a pig to the left, it seemed, all it took was a thwack to the right. 

“I don’t understand the point. Isn’t it a bit cruel?” asked my brother. 

“Maybe we would appreciate it if we didn’t live in the city.” responded George. 

On our way back to the parking field, we passed the US Forestry Services Trailer. My brother asked the ranger a couple of questions about controlled burns while George and I ducked inside. 

Featured prominently on the wall was a New York City Subway poster from 1976. Smokey Bear and Abe Lincoln sat side by side beneath the inscription: “THANKS FOR MAKING AMERICA GREAT.”

“Iconic.” 

“Smoky Bear is, more specifically, a queer icon.” replied George. 

From the artist: "Pearl of Sandwich" is concerned with the ways we’d rather gather and the experiences that are universally usual.