Meet the people who make the State Fair happen: carnies

Sep. 14—As the New Mexico State Fair bursts to life with the sweet smell of cotton candy, the sound of loud bells ringing as someone wins a prize at a game and the winds of breezing past rollercoasters brushing against skin, there are those within the heart of the event who often go unnoticed: fair workers, also known as carnies.

They're the reason there are games to play. They're the reason fairgoers can see the Albuquerque skyline from high in the sky on Ferris wheels, and they're the reason people can enjoy a warm funnel cake.

Meet three carnies working this year's State Fair.

Wendell Carpenter, 25

Wendell Carpenter is a New York native. Working fast food wasn't the thrill Carpenter was looking for, and he wanted to find something more fulfilling and interesting. When he met a former carnival worker, Carpenter decided to give life on the road a go.

"I was curious to see how the state fairs got put up, and when I had the chance, I jumped on it," he said. "I was working and doing something I didn't want to do. I jumped on doing tear down and went to Tennessee, and now I'm here."

He's been across the country, traveling from town to town, learning more about the world. Carpenter's gone to Tennessee and Georgia, but New Mexico is the farthest west he's been in his life.

Carpenter operates various rides at state fairs. He was stationed originally at the MusiK Express ride, but switched to registering ride wristbands and tickets at the New York New York Funhouse.

"I feel like I live a carny life," he said, "but it's not a different lifestyle, nothing different."

Though Carpenter isn't sure if he'll work as a carny forever, he's enjoying the ride and seeing where it takes him.

"I prefer doing something like this over manual labor," he said. "I'm trying to see it through all the way to the end and see if I really like it. If I like it, I'll keep going."

Amber Rosado, 26

At 18, Amber Rosado wasn't happy with her life. She was living in a New Jersey shelter as a high school dropout and working three jobs as she struggled to make ends meet, unsure of what to do with her life. After meeting a boy at the fair who gave her a free ride on a rollercoaster, Rosado decided to take a leap of faith and become a carny.

"I said, 'You know what, I'm not doing nothing better,'" she said. "I got up, packed my bags the very next day and I went and joined the carnival, and I've worked with carnivals for seven years now."

Rosado said she walked up to a stand and asked if she could work with the carnival and they let her do fair tear down that night.

"People meet around 10 p.m. and get paid whatever the state's minimum wage is and that's how some people get into the industry," she said. "They realize, Wait, I can get paid to travel? And I'm not doing nothing better with my life, so might as well."

Rosado said the work is busy and the fairs travel for 10 months at a time. Typically, state fair workers go home for Thanksgiving and come back after the Super Bowl, but they have the option to leave after any fair.

The groups divide themselves in half for carnival season and all rejoin for the Tennessee state fair. During fair season, workers are assigned to different sections — rides, games or food — based on what they're good at, and each section has a different pay scale. Currently, Rosado is at the ring the duck game, where she said she does really well.

Rosado enjoys her life on the road, bringing people joy wherever she goes.

"I like making people smile," she said. "I like being the reason people can make a grand memory.

"I never imagined when my parent's asked me growing up what I wanted to be — and I would say I wanted to be a firefighter or a cop or magician — I would have never thought that I would say working for the carnival."

Tomekia Harry, 46

Hailing from Louisiana, Tomekia Harry was in a bad spot in life when she was looking for a job. After experiencing a life of drugs, hardships and 13 years of prison time, all she wanted to do was provide for her family.

"My grandmother was taking care of my kids, and when I got out, my grandmother passes away," she said. "I had to start working so I could take care of my kids."

After going to the state fair in her hometown, Harry decided to ask for a job and left with one that same day. Ten years later, she continues to bring fair fun to people across the country, traveling to 15 different states through the years.

"Since then, my life has been beautiful, nothing but beautiful," she said. "I work hard and I make good money because I love what I do. I never would have been able to travel and go to different states if I didn't have this job."

Harry said she continues to work as a carny because she is able to provide for her children, sending them money back home to take care of things.

"My kids have everything they want and I never have to ask my mother for help," she said. "Sometimes it's hard to be away from family. I was just on the phone with my my 5 year old, and he said, 'Mom, when are you coming home?' And it really hurts. But if I was at home, what would I be doing?"

Though Harry doesn't think she'll stay in the business much longer, saying she only plans to stick around for another year or two, she still finds joy in her job. She currently works at the fishing pond game, which she enjoys.

"I love that the kids get to play and are able to win a prize every time no matter what," Harry said. "I don't like to get people for their money. I like to give them what they deserve and what they won. The kids walking away happy and smiling, that makes me joyful and gives me a smile."