Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A Bullish Opening of Patrick County Fair

I've heard of grand entrances...but this takes the cake! After cutting the ribbon to officially open the 57th annual Patrick County Agricultural Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd, at Rotary Fairgrounds in Stuart, Janice Wilkins, President of the sponsoring Stuart Rotary Club, climbed atop a longhorn bull named Hollywood and rode the stately steer through the gate and entered the fairgrounds in grand styles. What a start to what promises to be the best Patrick County Agricultural Fair in the storied history of this event which has become a beloved family tradition. And that's NO BULL!

Listen to "The Great Day in the Morning Show" each day this week (6-10 a.m.) for the latest information on the fair. Then bring the family and join your friends for what "Mr. Patrick County Agricultural Fair" Henry Ayers calls "Old Home Week" in Patrick County. Perhaps, the most wonderful thing about the fair is the opportunity it affords for reunions of families and friends, many of whom may see each other only during this annual event. Exemplary of the gatherings that are a tradition of the fair was a reunion of the Ayers family on the opening night. Henry and Brenda's son and his family came home to attend the fair as they do every year. That same scenario is played out night after night, year after year...every year at the Patrick County Agricultural Fair.

Among the dignitaries on hand for opening night were former Virginia Governor and native Patrick Countian Gerald Baliles who reminisced the fair's enormous impact upon the culture of Patrick County. Also on hand were members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, the Stuart Town Council, Del. Ward Armstrong and his opponent in the November election Ed Creed, and State Sen. Roscoe Reynolds.

Hope to see you at this week's Patrick County Agricultural Fair. The thrills, the chill, the exhibits, the the food, the entertainment, the rides, the ferris wheel, the reunions, the gatherings of old frinds, the smiles, the tradition. It's a classic! It's the 57th annual Patrick County Agricultural Fair, proudly sponsored by the Stuart Rotary Club. See you there!