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Siegel works each summer with a tight-knit parking crew of six at the Dutchess County Fair.
Since he's under 18, Siegel works an eight-hour shift each day for a week, which he calls "a nice week of work."
"I make enough money while working outdoors and staying in shape for the cross-country season coming up," Siegel said.
He says he also enjoys seeing familiar faces and helping people find a space to leave their vehicles before entering the fairgrounds.
Siegel says he will return to park cars at the fair next summer, when he'll legally be allowed to work a 12-hour shift.
Jeanne Vorndran and Bob Frey, who are in charge of parking each year at the Dutchess County Fair, have worked together each summer for the past 19 years.
"It's a big team," said Frey. "It can't be done with individuals. It has to be done with teamwork.
"For a lot of the kids, it's their first job and they don't know what's expected of them," he continued. "The job consists of a lot of different things that can happen - people lock keys in the car or kids in the car, and with the car running. It's a challenge and fun for the kids because it's something completely different from what they're used to."
Frey said during the average eight-hour shift, parking crew members will park anywhere from 8,000 to more than 10,000 cars.
Fairgrounds General Manager Bob Grems praised the "the unsung heroes" who work at the fair.
"They don't get the accolades in the parking lot, but they are absolutely committed to excellence," said Grems. "We couldn't run the fair without them. On Wednesday night, they parked 12,000 cars during our record run here."
The Dutchess County Fair also motivates some opportunistic younger children to make a few extra bucks.
Lizetta Fraleigh, 13, and her brother, Ronald, 12, have set up their lemonade stand at the corner of North Parsonage and Livingston streets every year for the past three years.
At 50 cents per cup, the Fraleighs' lemonade might be the best deal in Rhinebeck during fair week.
Ronald says he enjoys dividing the responsibilities of the business with his sister - making the lemonade, keeping it cold in the refrigerator, carrying it out to the stand, counting their money and cleaning up afterwards.
"Weekends are best," Lizetta said. "Profits all depend on how much traffic there is."
The brother-sister team works the lemonade stand during other special events at the fairgrounds throughout the summer, weather permitting.
Yards away, another crew of young entrepreneurs could be heard yelling, "Water! Water! Ice-cold water! Only a dollar!"
Also in business for three years now, this duo consists of Grace Levine, 8, and Julia Fesser, 9, who returns to Rhinebeck from Madrid, Spain each year to visit family and friends and make some spending money with her friend.
Julia's older brother Nicolas Fesser, 13, also returns to Rhinebeck each year and joins in fair fun while parking cars with buddy, Will Fox, 13, his friend since second grade.
Nick and Will enjoy the work, even in the heat, because they get to see their friends coming and going from the fair.
