MEGAN KIDBY
Scallion Editor
The tranquil town of Fredonia comes alive with vibrant colors, joyous laughter and the unmistakable scent of freshly-harvested produce during the annual Farm Festival held from Aug. 25 through the 27.
Now in its 54th year, this much-anticipated event showcased the heart and soul of the town’s agriculture while bringing together residents and college-goers in a delightful display of community spirit.
At the heart of this festival is the dedicated individual who was the driving force behind its success: Mark Mackey. Mackey is the residential technology coordinator at SUNY Fredonia and was the festival chairman of the event. When talking about the festival, he expressed both pride and concern about the event’s future. “The biggest highlight for me is seeing the thousands of festival-goers enjoying themselves,” Mackey stated. “We do this festival for them. Every festival, all we hear is how much everyone loves it.”
Mackey highlighted the challenges faced in organizing the event, particularly the village board of trustees. “Every year I have to fight with them about something. There hasn’t been one year that there wasn’t a conflict with them. They just don’t understand everything that the festival brings to the village.”
Mackey also acknowledged that the Fredonia Farm Festival may not happen next year. “I decided to resign from doing the festival because I’m tired of fighting with the village. As of right now, no one is stepping up to take it over. The reason is, they know how much work it is…it’s a huge ask for someone to take over. So I’m not sure if there will be another one next year or not.”
To hear this news is sad, considering the amount of positive reception the festival received from students.
One student, Emily Colledge, a transfer music therapy major, spoke about the experience emphatically. “I would definitely go to the festival again…the music and getting to be outside was great fun,” she said.
Another student, Morgan Brown, a freshman music education major, commented about the experience by saying, “Everyone was so friendly, I loved the booths that had the wheels you could spin!”
As Fredonia looks towards the future, the fate of the beloved Farm Festival hangs in the balance.
The possibility of the Farm Festival not happening undoubtedly weighs heavily on the hearts of the townspeople, as they contemplate the possibility of a year without the celebration that has bound their community for over half a century.