Rayma Ashby

Rayma Ashby is our MAAF treasurer and lives in Litchfield. She reminisces about traveling to Maine fairs as a little girl with her grandfather and sister. More recently Rayma has taken an active role in the Litchfield Fair, initially in the role of secretary which included ordering trophies, ribbons, and fair paperwork. More recently Rayma has been the designer and overseer of Wheeler’s Wee Farm. Modeled after hands-on programs for children that she observed in other fairs, Rayma created an agricultural adventure guaranteed to delight and educate fairgoers of all ages. The apple orchard welcomes you and hands you a small basket, then you are introduced to the “seacoast” of Maine where a touch tank of sea stars, cucumbers, etc awaits.

Next, walk to the lobster man who shares stories of traps and buoys. Chickens are on the pathway, planting your own vegetables, grains, a cow with milk, logging, etc. Each stop includes an item for the wee farmer to place in the basket. It is very similar to the children’s agricultural walk at Northern Maine Fair. Payment to the wee farmer for all the produce is a special coin (wooden nickel) that can be exchanged for your choice of delicious treat. Originally funded through monies donated in memory of Alice Wheeler to be used to create an agricultural program for children, Wheeler’s Wee Farm is staffed by volunteers young and old and the treats are donated by local businesses.

What does Rayma like the most about fairs? “Maine’s agricultural fairs give families a chance to come together and enjoy agriculture. The fair experience can be a showcase of agriculture that a lot of people don’t get now…..like it once was.”