The opening day crowds at the Waterford Community Fair hint that the 75- year- old event will likely see its usual 40 thousand visitors again this year.
It's a fair that started from humble beginnings, and has grown into a major operation.
"We used to have the fair in the middle of Waterford on the ball diamond," said Fair Director David Rutkowski, "and now we're here with 17 permanent buildings and thousands of people coming in, so the fair has grown tremendously."
Aside from the usual summer fair festivities, the Waterford Fair boasts and impressive agricultural component. Kids start showing livestock at eight years old.
It's the tradition that started community fairs like this one decades ago. People came to show their livestock, and then auction them off.
For the Glover sisters, it's a family affair.
"My dad was involved with it as a kid and he just loved it so we just thought we'd do, it and it's been fun," said Alicia Glover. She and her sister Victoria are showing pigs for the first time this year.
"It starts out like a project for the kids but then your whole family gets involved and then you're doing it all together and it's just like a great bonding experience for all of you," said Victoria.
Showing animals isn't as easy as it looks. There are several kinds of competitions, and a lot of prep time goes in before getting in front of the judges.
"We did showmanship and fitting," said Alicia. "Showmanship was just making sure you know how to work with your hog and walk around with it... and fitting is just making sure you shaved it well, and you had it all looking pretty."
And then there's the dirty work. According to Victoria, "cleaning out the pig pen, that's the worst part."
As the fair continues to expand, it's nice to know that some traditions will always be the same.
For more information on the fair, click here.
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