Greene County Fair begins today
Sadie Keller, 8, of Waynesburg, quenches her thirst, while Erin Harbarger, 5, of Rogersville, relaxes in an available nook at the Greene County Fair last year.
Youngsters enjoyed spinning around on a midway ride last year at the Greene County Fair.
Home and garden judging is always an anticipated event at the Greene County Fair.
Two youngsters found that eating ice cream in the grandstand at the Greene County Fair last year was a good way to escape the heat.
This week marks another chapter in the rich tradition of the Greene County Fair in Waynesburg.
Debbie Stephenson, the fair’s secretary-treasurer, said the success of the annual weeklong event, which opens today and runs through Aug. 10, historically has been its consistency.
But one change that members of the community can look forward to is the addition of mules and burros to the draft horse halter show Sunday. Other than the new additions to some showing events, most of the fair attractions will stay the same. “Generally, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” she said.
The theme this year is “Harvest your dreams, they may come true.” Stephenson said that this dream can vary from person-to-person. “It depends on each individual’s expectations and what they are looking for within the fair,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the tractor pulls and shows and all the way down to the cotton candy. The fair draws many different types of people.”
Stephenson said she hopes for clear and sunny days during the week of the fair. “The weather is always a big factor in any fair,” said Stephenson. “Good weather always translates into good crowds.” But, she said, “We don’t want it too hot because that keeps people home in their air conditioning.”
So, what is it that brings people to a county fair, no matter what the weather? “It’s gas, tires and noise,” Stephenson said, referring to the demolition derby and truck and tractor pulls scheduled throughout the week.
Yet, a fair is not a fair without animals and there will be plenty of them during the week, kicking off with the 4-H and open goat show Monday and the 4-H rabbit show and 4-H open dairy cattle show Tuesday.
Year after year, the 4-H market lamb and steer show, followed by the market sale, remain among the most popular events of the year. The market steer show will be Tuesday, the lamb show Wednesday and the market sale Thursday.
Stephenson emphasized admission is still just $8 and that is what sets this fair apart from other local fairs.
“We are one of the cheaper fairs for gate admission,” she said. “It’s easy for people to purchase tickets for one price than charge several different prices.”
Held only weeks before the school season starts up, and fall quickly returns, the fair is a last hurrah for many members of the community to come together and spend time with one another. “The last couple of years I think people have decided to stay closer to home and take more day trips than longer ones,” Stephenson said. “And that translates to having more families come to the fair.”
Some other fair highlights during the week will include wool and hay show judging and Daughters of Grace today.
Monday will feature the lawn and garden tractor pulls, wool queen conntest, leadline contest and a performance by Rustic Highway band.
Tractor pulls will be held Tuesday and farm stock tractor pulls and Ruff Creek band will be on Wednesday.
On Thursday, there will be harness racing, horse and pony pulls and a performance by The Chris Higbee band.
Friday will feature a tractor driving competition and a championship demolition derby.
The fair will wrap up Saturday with more truck and tractor pulls
Some multiple day attractions include Dennis Beach’s Custom Wood Carving Show, which features wood carving by the use of a chain saw. Beach will be performing his show Tuesday through Saturday.
The free monster truck rides will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and the barnyard petting zoo will in operation also Tuesday through Saturday.