One of the things Bob Grems will remember about the 2010 Dutchess County Fair were the nearly 100,000 people who packed the fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 28. The fair”™s general manager predicts it will be one for the fair”™s record books.
He”™ll also remember the generosity of neighbor Michael Jesselson, who made a last-minute arrangement to provide enough of his family”™s adjoining acreage for parking ”“ without asking for any money in return.
“The proactive cooperation between all concerned ”“ the police, the town and Mr. Jesselson ”“ made it possible for us to keep the gates open,” Grems said.
Jesselson”™s attorney, Elizabeth Cassidy from Jacobowitz & Gubits, had the agreement between the owner and the Dutchess County Fair signed, sealed and delivered within a few hours.
“If not for his generosity,” said Grems, “we would have had to turn more than 1,400 people away on Friday and Saturday … thanks to him, that didn’t happen.”
Jesselson is the president of Jesselson Capital Corp., a private investment company based in New York City. His family has owned the adjoining property in Rhinebeck for more than four decades.
“Everyone was terrific,” Jesselson said in a phone interview from his Manhattan office. “And the police were cooperative and very helpful making sure everything ran smoothly. The fair is a wonderful addition to Rhinebeck. We were happy to be good neighbors.”
Grems said: “If you stop and think about the financial boost it is providing to all the local people we hire to put this together; the income for our hotels, and restaurants, craftspeople and artisans and for local farmers, I hope anyone inconvenienced these few days each year realizes this is helping to help our local vendors and farmers stay viable. It is a vital economic driver for the region in good times; so it”™s not hard to understand what it means to everyone involved in this economic climate.”
Grems once taught school but became enchanted with county fairs as a child and eventually went on to pursue learning all there was to learn about them. Life has come full circle now that he”™s general manager of one of the state”™s biggest summer tourism attractions.
As a former board member of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp., Grems said the fair”™s financial contribution to the county and the region has been underestimated ”“ but it won”™t be for long. He and the board of directors are sitting down to put to paper what it means to the region in terms of economic impact. “After New York City and Long Island, the Hudson Valley is the third biggest tourism destination, and this fair, in business since 1919, is a vital and unique part of that picture.”
The final financial tally was not completed at press time. “We did have a few days when attendance was down due to the weather,” said Grems, “but overall, we”™re guesstimating at least 375,000 to 400,000 visitors were here. “We had many visitors who were here gratis, including over 1,300 children who were here on Wednesday, August 25. They came from various organizations and were able to enjoy a day at the fair, all expenses paid. We also don”™t charge for children under 12.”
The fairgrounds are getting ready for the next event Sept. 11-12: the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest, which highlights the region”™s produce, beef, wine, cheese and other products.
