Since its inception, he’s been the captain who’s steered the ship.

From the time it was established in 1999, Robert Silliman has been at the head of the controls of the Carbon County Fair.

After 21 years, Silliman has decided to step down as president of the fair, a move that will become official on Sept. 30.

This year’s fair will be held Aug. 9-14 at the fairgrounds on Little Gap Road in Palmerton.

Though he still plans to remain highly involved, Silliman said the time has come to pass the reins.

But for Silliman, it wasn’t a decision that was made lightly, as the fair has been his passion for over two decades.

Starting at a new location

Silliman noted that the Carbon County Fair was first held on the fairgrounds in Lower Towamensing Township back in 1999.

“I worked with the Palmerton Lions Club, we used to do the food, sold waffles and ice cream out at the Service Team and also at the Mahoning Farmers Market, where they had a 4-H roundup after the original fair in Lehighton did not run,” Silliman said. “That fair did not run since 1992.”

Silliman said he can very vividly recount the setting.

“The kids in 4-H were running a roundup at different places; they also had it out at the Service Team,” he said. “Anyway, I saw the need for the kids to be showcased, to have their projects showcased both from livestock and still exhibit.”

At that point, Silliman said he decided that he would see if the Lions would be interested in forming a co-op, which actually became the fair association, and they started the fair.

Silliman noted that the first fair was held in 2000, as it took about a year or so until they were able to get organized, incorporated and earn nonprofit status.

“The hard part was finding ground to have it on,” he said. “We took a little time, but Ray Tuthill (the former owner of what is now Blue Mountain Resort) offered to permit us to have it there, so we went to work, cleared ground and that’s where we are today yet.”

Silliman noted it was a “big, empty lot of white thorn bushes, stickers. We did a lot of work to clear there.”

“We started with nothing; each of the Lions Clubs (there were 11 involved), we applied for a Horse­head grant, (and) they helped us,” he said. “We started small, and we actually took a chance; we started with nothing, and we’ve grown over the years.”

Silliman said they purchased their own property in 2012, “which we’ve been trying to develop. Everything takes a lot of time to do; time and money.”

He didn’t hesitate when asked what one of his proudest moments was.

“Getting the people in the community to come together for the cause; we’re a total volunteer organization, and it takes a lot of doing,” Silliman said. “We work all year on the fair, lot of planning, lot of money, and yes, there’s some difficult times.

“We actually spend more time with many of our directors and volunteers than we do with our own family. We’ve become a family, so when one hurts, we all hurt.”

Time to step down

Silliman, of Jim Thorpe, explained how he arrived at his decision to step down as president.

“I decided three years ago, and I’ve been looking for a while,” he said. “I truly think for the fair itself, it’s best to move forward, have young ideas, a younger dedicated person.

“As we age, all, not just myself, our ideas may get old, may get stale, so to advance the fair, I just feel it’s the best time. I’m going to be 70, I think it would be the best.

“I still love the fair; I’m not going anywhere. I’m still going to stay on board.”

Originally from Palmerton, Silliman said he’s still involved with the Palmerton Lions Club, and is a member of the Lehighton Lions Club.

“I always call myself a generic Lion,” he quipped. “I help anybody; I enjoy it.”

There was one person in particular whom Silliman said he wished to thank: His wife, Alicia Silliman, whom he has been married to since 2002.

“I could not have done any of this without her support; she’s our treasure, my personal secretary,” he said. “ We started the fair on a notepad with a pencil; she has added technology to everything.”

Silliman said he still has lofty ambitions for the fair.

“I would like to see the new fairground developed, so that’s going to be my big project,” he said. “I’ve always taken care of the vendors; I know each one of them personally, (and) they’ve become friends over the last 20 years, and I love working with people, so whoever takes over the reins, I will be there to help them.”

Silliman said the fair board takes nominations starting this month, and continues the process each month up until the meeting in September.

He said the new officer will take over Oct. 1.

Silliman said there are many accomplishments for the fair to speak of.

“I’m just proud of the fact that we could bring the county together, and we have people from all walks of life on our board, people that have come together,” he said. “There’s been great times, and there’s been difficult times, but the bottom line is we created an event that is more or less like a large coming home ceremony in the summer.

“Everybody gets to see everybody that week, and it does my heart great that we could accomplish something like that to bring the community together to support the cause.”

Silliman didn’t hesitate when asked what he hopes the future holds for the fair.

“That it continues, and that it remains centered around agriculture,” he said. “It’s what it’s all about; the youth in the county, having a place to show their projects and promote agriculture.”