CAPTION: Ron Henrich wrapped up his first year supervising the Sandwich Fair’s concessions and displays area as the 129th annual event concluded on Sunday. (Photo by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media).

The 129th Sandwich Fair had a near-perfect finale this week.

Bright blue skies and pleasant late summer temperatures drew thousands to this unique slice of Americana and old-fashioned family fun.

But even as visitors strolled through the sprawling fairgrounds on Sunday, Ron Henrich, first year concessions and displays boss, was already thinking about 2017.

“I’m in here finishing up the contracts for 2017,” said Henrich, sitting in a quiet office adjacent to the Fair’s tiny, vintage Round Office headquarters. “A lot of the folks that live out of state they come in and reserve their spots for next year before they leave with a signature and a down payment.

“I have two left out of all of them.”

Officials hoped a big final day would push five-day attendance past the hoped-for 180,000 at the Granddaddy of Illinois county fairs and last of the state’s summer fair season.

“Normally with good weather we average right around 180,000 to 185,000,” said Henrich. “We’ve done our part and we need the weather to do the other part. Today is beautiful, yesterday we had a little sprinkle in the morning and it turned out beautiful. Wednesday was the heat. I’m a firm believer that 95 degrees and humidity will beat us up as bad as a rainstorm

or thunderstorms.”

The Sandwich Fair features carnival rides and midway games, plus demolition derbies, country music and a variety of food choices — attractions common to other summer festivals. And officials keep tinkering with the mix and formula.

“We feel it’s the largest county fair in the state Illinois and we’re proud of it,” Henrich said. “We (had) a lot of new additions this year, we brought in some new food vendors, our carnival people changed the setup with a kiddie land with the rides all together. … And right across the street is our new hospitality building. It had been a tent for years and everything in there is free.”

But what sets Sandwich apart is a steadfast devotion to agricultural roots.

“The big thing we don’t want to forget about is that we’re an agricultural fair,” Henrich said. “Rabbits, chicken, dairy, beef, swine, sheep, goats, the whole ball of wax. … We have old engines, antique engines, the FFA (Future Farmers of America) petting zoo and on and on.”The fair dates back to 1888 when a local agricultural group purchased 20

INSIDE CAPTION: The carnival and Midway were popular draws (above) but so where the hundreds of animals (center) up for display and judging at the Sandwich Fair, which concluded on Sun-day. Chickens and roosters (bottom) get checked out by a judge in a poultry shed. Photos by Christine Hibbert and Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

acres of land and held the first Sandwich Fair that September and has since been a Labor Day week staple.

The fairgrounds feature towering oaks and elms, making for a picturesque backdrop. And vintage buildings remain devoted to cattle, horses and home life.

Henrich, who also serves as a member of the fair’s 13-member board, has a long connection dating back to his childhood.

“As a kid I actually started down in the swine barn,” he said. “Then I helped out quite a bit in the home arts building and from there we went to event tickets for all the stage acts. My wife (still) takes care of the office end of it.”

And the payoff is easy to find.

“It’s very family oriented. We’ve got a variety of all ages — from young to old,” Henrich said. “Just seeing the smiling faces. There’s a lot of them today.”