Don, our visiting friend Barbara and I made the excursion to Blandford on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend for one very good reason–to check out their annual agricultural fair, and more specifically, its Old Tyme Fiddle Contest. Now I'm not a big fiddling aficionado, but it's music that attracts me like some strange bluegrass siren when it comes wafting through my car radio speakers. And I have attended fiddling contests in the past (okay, so maybe I am a closet fiddling junkie). But whatever the reason, I felt compelled to check out what Blandford's fiddle contest had to offer. So on this fine day, armed with our trusty book of Western MA road maps, we took to the back roads of Hampden County in search of adventure. And on the way, we discovered that Blandford had more to offer than an annual fair.

One of the "hill towns" that form the border between the Pioneer Valley and Berkshire County, this town of 1,214 residents is located on 53 square miles and is 21 miles west of Springfield. Chester lies to its north, Huntington to the northeast, Russell to its east, Granville and Tolland to its south, and Otis and Becket to the west. Because of its proximity to Connecticut's Housatonic Valley, the town was a stop on the early travel route from Springfield to Albany, an important military highway from New York during the revolution. Originally cut up into lots and sold to Scotch-Irish Presbyterians moving west from Hopkinton, the town was attractive for its rich farmland, which became the basis for the local economy. Though there were some early attempts to set up factories, the major emphasis in the 19th century was dairy farming. And despite becoming a favored summer resort for area families, Blandford has remained in modern times a community of dairy farms and orchards.

One thing you notice right away when driving into Blandford is its lack of businesses. The center of town does have a general store (called the Blandford General Store, oddly enough), though, and besides the usual dry goods found in such establishments, there's also a very fine meat and baked goods counter. Owners Carla and Craig, who have owned the place for more than six years, have made sure their customers won't be protein or sugar-deprived. And there's a pickle barrel, too, a reminder of days gone by. There are even a couple of chairs on the narrow front porch for sitting back and talking.

But the real gem of Blandford (besides its yearly fair) is its ski area. Owned and operated by the Springfield Ski Club since 1936, the Blandford Ski Area is a great place for families to ski or ride together. With 26 trails, 80% snowmaking, three double chairlifts, it's well equipped. Don't go there expecting thrills — the vertical drop is only 465' and there are only a smattering of expert trails. Do go, however, for the superb learn to ski (or snowboard) program. There are classes for all ages, including the Ski With Me program (ages 4 - 5), the Jr. Mountain Rangers (ages 6 - 8). And where else can you get a 60-minute adult private lesson for only $40?

I contacted Jay Pagluica, Marketing Director for the ski area for the past five years. " We love the family atmosphere of the club," he told me. "Many of our members learned to ski here as kids and are now teaching THEIR kids to ski or snowboard at Blandford." And why not? Membership for the full season is $199. With single day lift tickets at some of the southern Vermont areas now going for $60 (which is obscene, but don't get me started), Blandford Ski Area is the bargain of the decade. Guests can ski, too, for just $28 for a full day weekend ticket (less for children). And there's even night skiing on Friday nights in January and February.

Have I whetted your appetite for winter fun? Check out their website at www.skiblandford.org. It's chock full of info and is also one of the most attractive, well organized ski area sites I've seen.

But what about the fair? Yes, we did get to the Blandford Fair. And it was one of the best country fairs I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Small in size, with just the right mix of agricultural exhibits, food booths and cheesy carnival games, the Blandford Fair is definitely worth a visit (of course, you'll have to wait until next Labor Day weekend). And the jewel of the Fair was indeed the daylong fiddle contest (you were wondering when I'd get back to that, weren't you?). Top-notch fiddlers from all over New England take the Blandford Fair stage each year. Our favorite was a pretty, longhaired young girl (she must have been about 11) who not only played her reels and jigs magnificently, but when her hair blew across her bow, she just lifted it out, and with a little smile, kept right on playing. That's the Blandford way.

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