Director’s Statement:

The popular media perception of the US is as a land of violence, wealth and sexy women. With the AMERICAN FAIR documentary, my goal is to depict a different aspect of US culture - people of the earth, with knowledge of land, beast and beauty.

As a boy, my family left the city each summer to camp in the woods by a lake in Maine. There we would spend three months living in a second-hand WWII army surplus wall tent, swimming, making new friends, and searching the night sky for shooting stars. One of the highlights of each summer was a visit to the local country fair. I have many fond memories of farm equipment, ox pulling, country singers, beauty contests and carnival rides.

Last summer (twenty years later), I contacted the York County Agricultural Association and proposed we collaborate on a documentary about their annual country fair. We met on the fairground, at the heart of this fertile region. I presented my ideas to their monthly assembly of cattlemen and dairy farmers. Despite a legendary distrust of people “from away” they invited me to make a documentary about the 140th Acton Fair.

I spent many weeks meeting these farmers, at times working with them in their fields. Though York County is one of the earliest European agricultural settlements in the New World, farming there today is a challenging way to make a living.

At the fair, farmers congregate in the spirit of both co-operation and rivalry. Families show off their finest handicrafts, agricultural produce and livestock. Teamsters compete to see who’s animal has the most strength and who’s daughter the most beauty. Through the voices of farmers and townspeople, vendors and carnival workers, an intimate portrait of a community joining together in celebration of the honest, hard-working agricultural traditions of the region is revealed.

The AMERICAN FAIR doc is my first independently produced, directed and edited project. The original musical score was composed and performed by guitarist Emre Yilmaz. The project is seeking a film festival premier, international sale and distribution. I am currently seeking funding for final color-correction, an improved audio mix and foreign language translation.

Many, many thanks to all of the people who shared their time and patience while helping me learn how to throw hay, shovel gutters, sort ribbons, judge cattle and assemble a Ferris wheel. I had so much fun at the fair. I feel honored to have been part of this year’s work and festivities. Thank you.

Rick Widmer

Director