Faces behind the Blue Hill Fair
Eleven stories from fair workers, how they got here, and what they are doing
By John Epstein and Jessi Hardy
Another successful Blue Hill Fair has come and gone. This year, the team at The Rising Tide took a look at the people who make the fair go round—the cooks, the game attendants, the craft booths and more.
G.W. Martin, The Bloomin Onion
G.W. Martin, who farms and cuts wood in Montville, has been cooking at the bright yellow and white Bloomin Onion concession for the last 44 years.
“I helped Jeff Richardson for 40 years until he passed away,” Martin said. “Blue Hill is the only fair I work, but we love coming here because we have so many friends.”
On Friday morning, his wife and three children pitch in to help deep-fry the huge Spanish onions, which blossom like flowers in the hot oil.
Pictured are G.W., his son Whit, and daughters Bridget and Ora. Photo by John Epstein.
Jessie and Jim Howard, Discerning Designs by Jessie
Wife-and-husband team, Jessie and Jim Howard, sell handmade jewelry made from natural, semi-precious stones.
“I do the designs,” Jessie said.
“I just keep out of the way,” Jim said.
“This is our only state fair, but we do craft fairs all over Maine throughout the summer,” said Jessie.
They also participate in craft fairs in Tennessee and North Carolina. And Jim said they live in Florida from May to November.
“We’re originally from Dover-Foxcroft,” said Jim, “and will be celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary on September 24th.”
Photo by John Epstein.
Abby White-Owl, Star Darts booth
Abby White-Owl, of the Blackfoot Nation and Hartford, Connecticut, has been working fairs in Maine for 39 years.
“I first started when I was 15, helping out at the Fryeburg Fair,” she said.
Ever since, she’s been working state fairs all over Maine and New Hampshire.
For the last eight years, White-Owl has operated the Star Darts booth, which gives a contestant – usually a child -- a chance to hit a star with a dart and win a large stuffed animal. But even if the children fail to hit a star, they still get a smaller stuffed toy.
“I love the job,” said White-Owl. “It lets me travel on someone else’s dime, and I get to visit members of my family along the way.”
Photo by John Epstein
Dustin Tracy, Horse Pull Contest
After wrangling his team of Belgian draft horses on Friday morning, Dustin Tracy took a lunch break in the shade next to the stalls where the horses rested. He was getting them ready for the horse pulling contests that happen on Saturday.
“They usually pull twice their weight, and since these horses each weigh around 1,500 lbs., that’s about 6,000 lbs. total,” Tracy said. “I have another team that’s bigger – 2,000 lbs. each.”
Tracy, who lives in Hancock, has been working with Belgian draft horses in fair competitions since 2018. He goes to state fairs all over Maine, including Windsor, Bangor, Union and Fryeburg. He also competes in Vermont.
“We usually do pretty well,” Tracy said.
Photo by John Epstein
Chrissy Holt, concessions
All by herself, Chrissy Holt operates a whimsical concession selling masks, wacky puppets, and stuffed animals.
“I travel to fairs all over the state – Skowhegan, Dover-Foxcroft, Fryeburg, to name a few,” Holt said. “It’s hard work.”
While the days are long – 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Holt said she really enjoys the camaraderie she has with the other people who work at the fair.
“It’s a family…we’re with each other all day and into the night. It’s like we never leave,” she said. “But I don’t recommend this work if you have a family: It’s hard to be on the road with the kiddos.”
Photo by John Epstein.
Brian Foster, Skee Ball
Born just outside of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Brian Foster said he has had a lot of different jobs in life – roofing and construction, to name a couple – but for the last three years, he has been working along the Eastern Seaboard for Cushing Amusements, the company that supplies the rides and games at the Blue Hill Fair.
Foster runs the Skee Ball game.
“It’s long hours, but it's easy money,” Foster said.
“We work long hours, but I get to work with a bunch of happy people,” he said. “The kids all have a smile on their faces – why shouldn’t I keep one on mine? My own kids are grown and doing well,” he said, “and I’m on the road having fun.”
Photo by John Epstein.
Keith Behr, True Honey Teas
Keith Behr, a Maryland resident and former member of the Secret Service for 28 years, started True Honey Teas.
After traveling the world and witnessing poverty, he pivoted to his current mission: operating True Honey Teas to fund direct assistance to those he meets who are striving to improve their lives.
"I'm not about freehandouts, by any means, but if I see that somebody's struggling and they're really trying to get out of a hole, I love to do that. I have a government retirement check coming in, and I'm very blessed to be able to do this. So that's my favorite part about doing these."
Despite the rain on Thursday, Behr stood ready. The aromas from his tea station offer a warm, inviting anchor in the otherwise gray afternoon.
Photo by Jessi Hardy.
William Wolf, Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
William Wolf of Lubec, travels the fair circuit selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs and lemonade to earn extra funds for fishing equipment.
He stepped in to cover for a long-time friend who couldn't make the event this year, embracing the unexpected opportunity to make a little extra money.
“I'm here, basically covering for a long-time friend of his that always works up here with him, but he couldn't make it this year. So I had a vehicle, and we just clicked overnight, and we said, ‘Well, bring up the stuff and set up a lemonade stand, some hot sausages, sweet sausages, and make people happy, and that's what it's about,’” Wolf said.
Wolf, right. Photo by Jessi Hardy
Caissie Roberts, SewFetch Dog Company
Caissie Roberts of Marshfield, travels to various events across the state with her homemade dog collars, leashes, and keychains.
Her favorite part of the job remains the constant opportunity to connect over shared love for pets.
"So I tell everybody my favorite part of my job is that I get to talk to people about their dogs. I get to meet their dogs. I get to see pictures of dogs, and so naturally, this is just the funnest thing ever because people often bring their dogs," Roberts said.
Photo by Jessi Hardy
Tammy Bonomo, Beach Bum
Tammy Bonomo is an East Coast itinerant artisan who spends her weeks traveling from Maine to Florida to set up shop. Specializing in custom stamped rings and permanent jewelry, she lives a nomadic lifestyle that keeps her on the road for weeks at a time.
Tammy kept her display pristine—a glimmering contrast to the damp, gray surroundings of the Thursday rain. She remained at her station, polishing silver, waiting for the fairgoers who came out for dollar day.
“Because the people are amazing. I love the vibe. And it pays the bills,” Bonomo said.
Photo by Jessi Hardy.
Lorena Bandala, the Duckie Game
Lorena Bandala, who grew up in Maine but now lives in Mexico, travels to more than 30 events annually.
On this gray day, the colorful rubber ducks in her game bobbed silently in the water, largely undisturbed by the crowd.
She sees her work as a way to provide a momentary, bright lift to the people who wander into her booth.
“My biggest thing is, and why I enjoy it so much, is to see the families and the kids, the smiles, them having a good time.”
Photo by Jessi Hardy.
