The St. Lawrence County Fair kicked off Tuesday afternoon. With rides, food and vendors galore, everyone can find something to do. But it's another part of the fair that shouldn't be forgotten. As organizers told our Cara Thomas, it's the reason the fair even exists.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. -- Everyone who comes to the St. Lawrence County Fair has a favorite part. For many, it's the rides, the food and the vendors. But on the other side of the fairground, it's a whole other world.

St. Lawrence County Fair President Don Peck said, "It's hard to have a fair without a carnival. So the carnival and concessions are one part of the fair, the agricultural part is the other part of the fair. That's the main arm of the fair I believe."

Farmers, members of FFA and 4-H come to the fair every year to show their stuff. Whether it's showing their animals, a project they've been working on, or an oral presentation, they say they're excited for a bit of friendly competition.

4-H member Greta Joos said, "I'd say I look forward most to showing my horses in the horse show. Because I show at home too, but here there's, it's just a different feeling than the ones at home."

Organizers say the shows and competitions are different because of sentimental reasons. They say they've made memories here that they'll never forget.

Patrick Ames, a 4-H Team Leader, said, "The county fairs are a wonderful place for youth to be in the summer time. For a lot of people here it's a family event. They get to see people they don't get to see anywhere else but here. So it's almost like a large reunion."

"I was a 4-Her once. I know what fair week meant to me. And once you get older you look back at those memories you had at the Gouverneur St. Lawrence County Fair and that's what these kids are looking at today," said Peck.

The entire week is jam packed with events, including a parade and ending with a demolition derby. And the festivities will end Sunday night.

For a full list of events at the St. Lawrence County Fair, go to gouverneurfair.net.