Come to the County Fair!

A mid-September chill is in the air. That's a pretty good sign that it's time for the Patrick County Agricultural Fair, a rich tradition in our county that dates back more than half-a-century. Since I was a child who looked forward with wonder and anticipation each year to the coming of the fair, I remember that the fair always seems to bring with it chillier weather. This rite of fall almost always demands that we pull out those sweathers and jackets that have been mothballed during the hot weather of summer.

The Patrick County Fair is truly a autumn tradition that is well worth our support as a community. Many other counties no longer offer their citizens a county fair. Thanks to teamwork and the partnership of many groups and individuals in our community working with the sponsoring Stuart Rotary Club, our fair continues to thrive and to grow. That's why it is important for us all to support our fair and to ensure that many generations to come have the opportunity to enjoy the those chilly nights at the fair. It is much more than funnel cakes, cotton candy, chill bumps, ferris wheels, steak sandwiches, and blue ribbon quality exhibits. It is a part of who we are and the wholesome family values that we support in this community. The fair gives many of us an opportunity to renew friendships and acquaintances that tend to get neglected in the haste of our busy everyday lives. So this week, take a little break from the ordinary, load up the family, and come and make new friends and renew old friendships at the Patrick County Agricultural Fair. For a daily update of activities going on at the fair each night...start your day with me from 6-10 a.m. on "The Great Day in the Morning Show" in the "Heart of Patrick County," 1270 WHEO.

I am proud to be a member and an officer (President Elect) of the Stuart Rotary Club which sponsors the fair each year and puts all proceeds back into the community for such projects as local student scholarships, recreation and education through our club-owned facilities at Rotary Field, and other Rotary projects that make our community a better place in which to live. The Stuart Rotary Club also provides financial assistance to a variety of other community organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Hospice of Patrick County, the Caring Hearts Free Clinic, the Patrick County Music Association, Citizens Against Family Violence, and many others. For example, this past week, the Rotary Club board of which I am a member voted to provide donate money to help ship schools supplies donated by many individuals and organizations in the community at the requiest of Brian Stone, the son of Patrick County Deputy and Mrs. Ward Stone who is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzaniz in Africa. The Stuart Rotary Club also supports international efforts through Rotary International to bring clean drinking water to underdeveloped countries and to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. As a proud Stuart Rotarian, I cordially invite everyone to enjoy this labor of love of our respected club, the 55th annual Patrick County Agricultural Fair...Tue., Sept. 18th through Sat., Sept. 22nd at Rotary Field in Stuart. By the way, don't forget that sweather or jacket!

See you at the fair....
Richard

P.S. Congratulations to Denise Leigh Pendleton, the newly crowned Miss Patrick County Agricultural Fair 2007, and to Lashawnda Mae Weatherspoon, the new Junior Miss Patrick County Agricultural Fair. Enjoy their beauty and smiles as they greet you at the fair!