Maryland State Fair Assistant General Manager Andy Cashman has been to the fair every year since he was born.
“My mother even told me that when she was pregnant with me, she went to the fair,” the 47-year-old said. “I?m pretty sure I?ve never even missed one.”
When he was 10, Cashman informed his sister that he wanted to be in charge of the state fair.
“Even before I married my wife, which was 20 years ago, I told her that one day, I would love to have this job,” he said. “And it?s been a dream job for me.”
The 126th Maryland State Fair opens Friday and runs through Sept. 3. Although Cashman said attendance has decreased since kids started going back to school before Labor Day, he still expects about 500,000 people to attend. Fair visitors will enjoy 4-H exhibits, carnival rides, livestock shows, live music and more.
The newest attraction at the fair this year is a paintball area.
“I was visiting a fair in Arkansas, and this fellow was set up with a paintball stand, and people were just lined up,” Cashman said. “I thought it was a neat idea, something different we could do.”
Lineboro resident and 4-H member Breanna Lippy, 15, will show her pig and lamb at the fair.
“I really look forward to showing [my animals] and seeing my friends show,” said Lippy, who attends North Carroll High School in Carroll County. “I like to go to the cow palace and look at their animals, and just visiting friends that I don?t get to see year-round.”
Darlington resident Henry Holloway has shown hogs at the fair for 40 years, following a family tradition.
“My father showed them before me, and my children are participating now,” he said. “I think the best part of the fair is showing animals and seeing how you do against others in the state. It?s a lot of fun.”
But the fair isn?t just about showing livestock.
“A lot of my friends have never been to the fair and they think that it?s just about animals,” Lippy said.” But … it?s also about baking, crafts, drawing, photography, riding the rides and everything else like that.”
