The Grayson County Agricultural Fair announces its schedule
If you’re nostalgic for old-time county fair contests or just want to have some, good downhome fun, make sure you mark your calendar for Grayson County’s Agricultural Fair, this August 8-9 at Bottomley’s Evergreen and Farms, located at 10278 Elk Creek Parkway, Elk Creek. This year, the Fair is expanding hours to include a full day of fun on Saturday in addition to Friday. Entrance to the Fair is free.
Fair exhibits, concessions, and competitions, including the livestock show, will open to the public on Friday, August 8th from 11am to 8pm and Saturday August 9th from 9am to 6pm.
The Fair Schedule is as follows:
Friday, August 8:
10:00 a.m. – Stockman’s Contest
11:00 a.m. – Concessions, vendors, and exhibitors open
12:00 p.m. – Egg Toss
4:00 p.m. – Hog Show
6:00 p.m. – Goat Show and Open Breed Poultry Show
6:00 p.m. – Cornhole Tournament – Teens and Adults
6:30 p.m. – Pinewood Derby
7:00 p.m. – Dairy Show
Saturday, August 9:
7:30-9:00 a.m.- Honey Show entries accepted
9:00 a.m. – Fair Opens to the Public
9:30, 10:30, 11:30- Learn about new developments in Chestnut breeding research and watch the new oxalic testing method
10:00 a.m. – Beef Cattle Show
11:00 a.m. – Appalachian Hoedowners Clogging Team Performance
11:00 a.m. – Blow-up Costumes Race
12:00 noon – Hay Bale Decorating Contest winners and Youth Poster Contest winners announced
12:30 p.m. – Sheep Show
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Live Local Musicians Perform
2:00 p.m. – Ag Olympics
3:00 p.m. – Pen of Three Pullet Show (4-H project)
4:00 p.m. – Dog Show
Did you create arts and crafts this past winter, or during this summer? Do you have a garden brimming with vegetables and flowers? Do have a great photograph you took while on vacation? Did you preserve the summer bounty? Why not enter the Fair competitions? We want to see your creations! Fair competition categories include vegetables, baked and preserved goods, photography, art, flowers, honey, plants, and crafts, including quilts. All categories have classes for adults as well as youth. Entries will be accepted on Wednesday August 6 from 3pm to 7pm at the Fair site. The only exception to this is for entries for the formal Honey Show, which will only be accepted Saturday morning from 7:30-9 am. Entry Forms as well as a complete rules document and detailed reference guides for all the competitions are available at the Fair website at: www.graysoncountyvafair.com/blank-4. You don’t need to be a Grayson County Resident to enter.
New this year! The Fair is hosting a Pinewood Derby on Friday evening, August 8 at 6:30 pm (sign-up at the Fair by 5:30 pm). Official Scout rules will be followed, including cars not exceeding a weight of 5 ounces. Bring your own car to see it perform against others in this double elimination tournament. If you need a car, Amazon or hobby stores sell kits for around $10. There will be three age categories and cash prizes will be awarded for winners. Email Allison Brown at allisonb23@vt.edu with any questions.
The popular Cornhole Tournament will take place Friday evening at 6:00pm, and promises to be fun for any and all skill levels (teens and adults). The tournament offers a $100 prize to the winning team. Teams will need to pay a $5 entry fee and sign-up in advance by emailing allisonb23@vt.edu by Thursday August 7th, or sign-up at the Fair information booth by Friday at 4pm.
Live, local music was a big hit last year and will be expanded this year, going on from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday. Bands include Garret Wyatt & Friends, The Biscuit Eaters, Chris Testerman & Friends, and the Peach Bottom Benders. The Appalachian Hoedowners Clogging Team will also provide lively entertainment, Saturday at 11am.
“Ag Olympics” will be fun to watch and even more fun to compete in, giving young and older farm hands a chance to show off their common farm skills in teams of two. Skills include driving a T-post, carrying buckets of water, cow milking and more. Each team will be made up one member under age 13- and one-member age 14 or older. The “Blow-Up Costume Race” will have individuals run a barrel racing clover pattern around three barrels in blow-up costumes (to be provided). Fastest time wins! There will be different age divisions. The “Egg Toss” is a partner activity where youth toss an egg back and forth while increasing the distance between them each round.
The Dog Show will be held Saturday August 9 at 4pm. The Dog Show offers friendly, furry competition in both youth and adult divisions. Competition categories include a farm dog category in addition to obedience, puppy obedience, costume, and trick categories. Check out the details including an online signup form, score sheets and videos at www.graysoncountyvafair.com/dog-show.
The “Seed Planting Station” will have pots, soil, and a variety of seeds for youth to plant and take home a something to nurture and watch grow. The 4-H Life Science Mobile Learning Lab will also be on site, offering hands on stations and providing opportunities to explore different career paths.
“Bingo Boys” will engage young and old alike. Also known as cow patty bingo, Fairgoers can purchase a “square” for $2 and see where the “cow patties” land! Squares will award varied prizes.
Activities for the youngest children will be expanded for this year’s Fair as well. A “Touch a Truck” outdoor exhibit on Saturday will allow littles to check out their favorite big trucks up close. In addition to the popular bouncy houses and pony rides, there will be a petting zoo and corn pit geared just for kids.
Don’t miss the Dunking Booth! The Dunking Booth will be running throughout the Fair and don’t be surprised if you see some well-known county residents taking a turn in the booth. Chances to dunk will be sold for a nominal fee and all money will benefit the Grayson County Agricultural Fair Foundation.
Interested in trying your hand at beekeeping, or want to learn more about pollinators? The Honey Show is a favorite stop at the Fair. Local beekeepers will be on-hand all day each day to demonstrate their craft, and answer your questions. There are two opportunities to enter your honey this year, the formal Honey Show where the honey is scientifically tested and the honey competition where honey is judged primarily on appearance and taste.
This year’s Fair will offer plenty of confections to satisfy all Fair-goers, including cotton candy, funnel cakes, ice cream, as well as full meals – come hungry! Several food trucks will be offering their goodies throughout the Fair. Plan to get some sweets or a whole meal! Also, local businesses and community services will be on hand to provide information, as well as craft vendors and demonstrators offering homemade products and showing off their skills.
For more details about the Youth Livestock Show, including the show program and online registration, go to: www.graysoncountyvafair.com/livestock-show, or contact Kevin Spurlin at 276-773-2491 or at spurlink@vt.edu.
The goal of the Fair is to provide a community-wide event that showcases the importance of agriculture in Grayson County’s past, present, and future. For complete information about the Grayson County Agricultural Fair, including all the competition categories, please visit the web site. www.graysoncountyvafair.com