Guilford Agricultural Society: News & Info

Guilford Fair 2026 – General Info / Press Release

Summer 2026

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Farm Credit East Awards Grant to Farmers Market for Fourth Year

6.9.2026

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Guilford Foundation Grant Acknowledgment

5.26.2026

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The Guilford Foundation and Ascend Bank Award Sponsorship to Farmers Market

5.15.2026

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Guilford Ag Day 2025 — Informational Press Release

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Guilford Fair 2025 — Informational Press Release

UPDATED: 8.26.25

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Farm Credit East Awards Grant to Farmers Market for Third Year

6.24.25

The Guilford Agricultural Society wishes to thank Farm Credit East for the award of $500 to the Guilford Farmers Market enabling us to expand the availability of local produce to a wider population. Their continued support helps us grow, improve, and better serve our community.

The location of the Farmers Market on the Guilford Fairgrounds, from May through October provides a weekly location for a community gathering, with food and local musicians, as well as local producers and crafters. It provides an opportunity for the local community to learn about agricultural products from farmers and growers across Connecticut and beyond.

Thank you to Farm Credit East for investing in local agriculture and small farmers markets. With the help of this grant we are able to keep the weekly Farmers Market growing and thriving year after year.

Guilford Fair 2024 — Simmons: The Guilford Fair is Back!

9.19.24

WTNH/News 8’s Gil Simmons interviews Laurie Skornia and her granddaughter Willow about the upcoming Guilford Fair.

Click here to watch: wtnh.com/video/the-guilford-fair-is-back/10056371/

Guilford Fair 2024 — Nyberg: Guilford Fair celebrates 165 years

9.9.24

WTNH/News 8’s Ann Nyberg interviews Barbara Hammarlund and Mairi Bryan about the upcoming Guilford Fair.

Click here to watch: wtnh.com/on-air/nyberg/nyberg-guilford-fair-celebrates-165-years/

Guilford Fair 2024 — Informational Press Release

7.20.24

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Guilford Foundation Awards Grant to Farmers Market

6.19.24

The Guilford Agricultural Society wishes to thank the Guilford Foundation for the award of $2,000 to the Farmers’ Market at the Guilford Fairgrounds to expand and increase the availability of local produce to a wider population. The awarding of this grant will allow the Guilford Agricultural Society and the Farmers’ Market to extend the number of vendors available on a weekly basis, and so increase the diversity of offerings and appeal to a wider audience. The location of the Farmers’ Market on the Guilford Fairgrounds, just minutes from the Guilford Green, provides a weekly location for a community gathering with food and local musicians, as well as local farms and crafters to showcase their offerings. It provides a unique opportunity to the local community and beyond to learn about how food is raised and grown, how this contributes to sustainable agriculture, and to raise awareness of Guilford’s agricultural history.

Thank you to the Guilford Foundation for awarding this grant and so contributing to the enhancement of Guilford’s quality of life.

Guilford Agricultural Society Builds Two New Barns on the Fairgrounds

3.4.24

The Guilford Agricultural Society would like to express its gratitude to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for approving the 2023 Farm Viability Grant of $49,999 for the building of two new barns on the Guilford Fairgrounds. The construction of these two permanent barns will enhance the ability of the Agricultural Society to expand their activities for agricultural education, 4H sponsorships, and other events year-round.

The mission of the Agricultural Society is to promote public and individual interest in the enjoyment and pursuit of agriculture and encouraging the farming community to develop relevant skills. The two new barns will provide permanent structures enabling year-round programs to assist in the education and training of farmers and expand outreach to the next generation through the 4H programs, so providing hands-on skill development to encourage the pursuit of careers in Connecticut agriculture. The Guilford Agricultural Society actions these goals through the full-time promotion of agriculture’s place in the community.

The barns significantly upgrade the infrastructure on the Fairgrounds, and so improve the ability to extend the Society’s outreach to the Guilford community and beyond. The two permanent structures will replace the tents which have been used in the past for cattle, sheep and goat exhibits at the Guilford Fair.

The two barns were raised in 5 ½ days by the Amish partners of the Agricultural Society, both of whom have worked together for many years. The Amish had also raised all of the other exhibit barns on the Fairgrounds many years ago. The Board of the Guilford Agricultural Society would like to thank the many volunteers who have also made this project possible, including A&W Sanitation in Guilford and Fischer Excavating in Branford, who have provided many essential materials for the construction effort.

Thank you.

Guilford Agricultural Society Receives $30,000 in ARPA Funding

1.15.24

The Guilford Agricultural Society is happy to announce that we have been awarded $30,000 in ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) funding, and are grateful to the Town of Guilford, in partnership with The Guilford Foundation, for managing this allocation in a fair and methodical way. We would like to thank First Selectman Matt Hoey and the Board of Selectman for their vision and generosity in allocating this ARPA funding for nonprofit recovery from COVID-19, and The Guilford Foundation for managing the process, so demonstrating the value that charitable organizations play in the Guilford community.

The Guilford Agricultural Society provides facilities and events on the Guilford Fairgrounds and its Board and volunteers ensure that this precious asset to the community is maintained and improved. Due to the inability to hold the Guilford Fair in 2020, the Agricultural Society needed to use existing capital to upgrade infrastructure on the Fairgrounds to hold future events, including the Fair, in a safe environment. This award will reimburse the Agricultural Society for the use of those funds.

The allocation of $1 million of ARPA funding to nonprofit organizations demonstrates the value and role that these organizations, and their volunteers play in the Guilford community.

We thank the town, First Selectman Matt Hoey, and The Guilford Foundation for the work that was done to review the many requests, and look forward to The Guilford Agricultural Society, the Guilford Fair and other events continuing to be an integral part of the Guilford community.