NORTHAMPTON – Taylor Haas knows a thing or two about horses.

Growing up in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Haas began horseback riding at a young age, eventually going on to compete in and organize several horse hunter and jumper shows. That childhood love of horses is partially what drew Haas to the position of executive director for the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society, the non-profit organization that manages Northampton’s Three County Fair and its respective fairgrounds.  

"I kind of built this affinity for agriculture from my love of horses," Haas said. "I would say what really excited me about this role was the opportunity to support the the horse industry, the equestrian industry, as well as plan for events that support the community of Northampton."

Haas first moved to the Northampton area five years ago, having previously worked in the ski industry in the Lake Tahoe area. After working to help convert the former Yankee Mill Machine to cannabis cultivation facility, Haas took on the executive director role for the agricultural society in June, succeeding James Przypak, who held    the position for six years before leaving to become the CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce in Palmer. 

With the fair now only seven weeks away, Haas has been busy in her new role helping bring together the plans for this year's Three County Fair, the 207th time it has been held since the agricultural society received its charter in 1818. This year's event will feature some new additions, like an expansion of food options such as the wood-fired pizza and a variety of food trucks. But as with previous years, the fair will have several of the usual spectacles such as pie-eating contests, baby barnyard animals and the always popular demolition derby. 

"I don't think there's too many places in the area where you can catch a bus demolition derby," Haas said. "What's really special about the fair is, it's just traditional, what you think of a when it comes to a county fair." 

Following this year's event, Haas has a few ideas of what to bring to the fair for future years. One thing she's got her mind on is using the fairgrounds to host musical performances in the city. Though the Iron Horse Music Hall has reopened, the city's music scene has yet to make a full recovery from the pandemic, with venues like the Calvin Theater remaining closed for the time being. 

"The opportunities are really endless as far as what kind of event we want to plan, whether it be country concerts or blues or a battle of the bands," Haas said. "We're in a pretty special place where we're really accessible from downtown Northampton, not too many fairgrounds are right by a downtown." 

Haas also said she had been taking community input on what they would like to see out of the fairgrounds and the Three County Fair, as well as meeting with Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra to discuss the fairgrounds. 

"We moved here right before COVID happened, so we got a really good taste of Northampton. But then everything shut down," Haas said. "We're finally getting a sense of what Northampton really is about."

In addition to hosting the Three County Fair, the fairgrounds is also host to the Paradise City Arts Festival, which will be held in October. During the winter months, the fairgrounds also hosts several sports such as indoor soccer and pickleball. 

And then of course, there are the horses. Coming soon to the fairgrounds is the New England Morgan Horse Show, one of the country's largest shows for the Morgan breed of horse, which originated in the United States as one of the country's first native breeds. Horses at the show compete in 200 different contests, with the possibility of going behind the scenes to see horses groomed and vendors selling horsewear like saddles and bridles along with horse-themed clothing and jewelry. 

"There's about 1,000 horses that come throughout the event," Haas said. "They are an integral part of the fairgrounds history. And everyone that comes loves coming to Northampton." 

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.