Getting Ready for the Acton Fair

Mark Yerkes and Lawrence Furbish rebuilding the Rotary booth

Photo: Renée Morin

By Lawrence Furbish

The 160th version of the Acton Fair runs Aug. 22 to 25, and that means you will soon be able to get your yearly fix of the unique and highly prized Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club chicken livers. In preparation, members of the Rotary Club are renovating and upgrading the booth where these lovely little delicacies are prepared.

The history of the booth and project is interesting. Many years ago, the York County Poultry Growers Association built the booth and began selling split barbecued chickens, a popular item at county fairs. After a time, the membership of the association dwindled, and the work became too much. One of the members, Dave Gardner, who also happened to be a Rotarian, convinced the Rotary Club to begin selling grilled chicken livers. Who would have guessed how popular they would become?

A secret recipe was developed that involves sautéing onions in butter on a large gas-fired flat grill and then adding the livers coated with flour and some special spices. As they are cooked, they are moved around the grill and cut into bite-sized pieces. The smell is fabulous, and passers-by are usually intrigued. Livers aren’t necessarily for everyone, but people who love them tell us, “I come to the fair just to get some livers.” Many buy multiple servings to bring home to family and friends or to freeze and enjoy during long winter evenings.

There are obviously lots of other reasons to come to the fair, including animal exhibits, horse and tractor pulls, a baking contest, a midway, and the not-to-be-missed women’s skillet throw. You can learn all about them by visiting the Fair’s website http://actonfair.net/