Raphael's Talent Search has been a tradition at the Dutchess County Fair since 1963. Raphael Mark was a local radio personality at WEOK & WPDH, widely known for his popular radio talk show, Talk Back. Raphael created the Talent Search as a venue for local performers to have a place to showcase their talent. The emphasis of the Talent Search is for everyone involved to have a good time performing in a relaxed, comfortable, but always professional atmosphere. Raphael and his wife Frances raised 7 children and were quite active in the community particularly with youth- oriented programs. They were active in local theater, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and they developed the A.D.A.P.T. program which was a precursor to today's DARE program. Raphael felt that there was a need for local talent to have a place where they could perform in a professional environment while helping to build their self-confidence. Before this time, there were no local talent showcases and therefore there really wasn't a way to be represented in the New York State Fair Talent Search. With encouragement from Fran, Raphael started Raphael's Search for Talent. Since then, many families have grown up with the Talent Search and many past participants now look on as their own children compete. After the passing of Raphael in 1986 and Fran in 2002, Jason Mark and the Mark Family continue the tradition in honor of Raphael and Fran. It is their hope that many more participants, both young and old, will benefit from performing at the Fair. Even if the contestants do not go on to the finals, the Mark family hopes that it will be a fun and memorable experience for all those involved.