Rhinebeck NY – It’s long days for the many vendors that attend the Dutchess County Fair especially the food vendors. At the end of the night, while many vendors button up their booths and quietly exit the grounds to get a few hours of sleep, the food concessionaires are not quite done with their day.  They work until the late hours of the night where they cook, clean and prep for the following day.   One can only imagine how exhausting it must be.

At this year’s Fair, many of the food concessionaires found the time to collect over $8000 dollars to support and donate to several organizations and causes.

“I don’t think people realize how much the Fair & Amusement industry folks care and give back.  We are very fortunate to be surrounded by such generous people,” stated Andy Imperati, President/CEO. “I’d like to especially thank Vincent Nelson, of Vinnie’s Fine Foods for spearheading this project.”

The vendors purchased the Grand Champion Hog at the Dutchess County Youth Livestock Sale with the processed meat being donated to Red Hook Responds along with a $1000 donation.

An additional $2000 donation will go to the Dutchess County 4-H Scholarship Program with the rest being carried over to next year’s sale.

Thank you to the following for their generosity: