Greene County fair to get under way Friday
WAYNESBURG – One of the area’s longest-running events, the Greene County Fair, promises to provide a week of fun and festivities that celebrates the importance agriculture and farming in the area. This year’s fair will be held beginning Friday and continuing through Saturday, Aug. 12, at the county fairgrounds. The theme of this year’s fair is “Everyone’s Goin'”.
“The fair board takes pride in continuing the long-running festivities that county folks look forward to each and every year, and bringing in some exciting new events to the fair as well,” said Debbie Stephenson, secretary/treasurer of the Greene County Fair Board. “The fair has always appealed to men, women, and children of all ages, because there is so much to offer them each year. There’s something for everyone, and this year’s fair will continue that tradition.”
Although this year’s fair will continue to provide the traditional fun, agriculture, rides, games, and exhibits that fairgoers have come to expect each year at the fairgrounds, Stephenson said those who attend this year’s fair will see a few schedule changes for many of its popular events and activities, as well as some new attractions, throughout the nine days of fair festivities.
Schedule changes include the “Kids Pedal Power Contest,” which was held for the first time at the fair last year. The small-scale tractor-pull event will feature two classes: boys and girls ages 3-10, and boys and girls ages 11 and older. The event will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday in front of the grandstands. Children wishing to participate must register at the grandstand prior to the event.
The lawn and garden and farm stock tractor-pulls will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday in front of the grandstands. Registration opens at 4 p.m. that day.
The Ruff Creek Band will bring its high-energy music to the fair at 9 p.m. Saturday in the Arena Barn. Sponsored by Stryker’s Bar and Grill, the popular country-rock band will perform many of their own original songs as well as classic songs.
Other new musical performances added this year are “Daughters of Grace,” who will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday; and the Washington String Orchestra, which will perform at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Returning to the fair this year is the Stonee Ridge Band, which will perform at the Arena Barn on at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11.
Other schedule changes pertain to the entries for animals and home and garden exhibits.
This year, all home and garden exhibit entries must be registered with the home and garden department between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. Animals must be registered and brought in to the fairgrounds between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday.
The fair also will host a variety of home/garden activities, including wool and hay judging at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, home canning demonstrations at 7 p.m. Monday, table design demonstrations at 7 p.m. Tuesday, floral design demonstrations at 7 p.m. Wednesday, wall design demonstrations at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, and a Master Gardeners’ demonstration at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11. All of these events will be held on the bottom level of the 4-H Building.
A new event this year is the live judging of baking contests, including categories such as Hershey and angel food cake, apple pie and the Lesaffre yeast contest.
Activities on Sunday include the draft horse halter show at the infield horse ring at 9 a.m., team penning at 1 p.m., draft horse hitch classes in front of the grandstands at 1 p.m. and the horse and pony pull at 5:30 p.m. in front of the grandstands.
Other scheduled activities include: Harness racing, Monday through Wednesday at noon each day; the 4-H Rabbit Show at 9 a.m. Tuesday; the 4-H and Open Dairy Cattle Show at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday; the 4-H Open and Beef Cattle Show at 9 a.m. Wednesday; and the 4-H and Open Sheep Show at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10.
The schedules for the 4-H Market Steer and Market Lamb Shows will be similar to last year’s schedules. The Market Steer Show will be held on Tuesday and the Market Lamb Show will be held on Wednesday. Both shows begin at 6:30 p.m. The 4-H Market Lamb and Steer Sale will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10.
Other events to watch for during the fair include the Demolition Derby, which will be held on two nights, Friday and Aug. 11, starting both days starting at 7 p.m.
Also, the Imperial Stunt Drivers stunt show return at p.m. Monday; and the Rawhide Rodeo Company’s professionally sanctioned bull riding event, featuring the added special attraction of trick riding/roping by S.L. Pemberton, will perform on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. both days.
Truck pulls will return to the fair beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. There will be more truck and tractor pull action beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12.
This year’s fair also will feature two unique attractions throughout the week. Dennis Beach’s Custom Wood Carvings will offer three to four shows daily, and the “KidBuck$” Game Show will offer three shows daily. These events will be featured Tuesday through Saturday, Aug. 12.
General admission price to the fair each day is $8. Everyone coming through the gates must have a ticket. Admission is free all day Sunday and rides are open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. All rides on this day are only $6.
Aug. 10 is Senior Citizen Day; seniors will be admitted free with proper ID until 5 p.m. Gates are open on that day from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and rides are open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On all of the other fair days, gates are open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and rides are open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Preceding the Greene County Fair was the annual Fair Queen Contest, which was held on Aug. 3 at the fairgrounds. As of press time, the 2006 Greene County Fair Queen had not been announced.
Nicole Finnegan, 19, daughter of Tom Finnegan of Wind Ridge and Deborah Finnegan of Graysville, was crowned last year’s queen.