At the County Fair: Country Traditions With New Additions
By Hope Cather
When a group of the Clarke County Ruritans had their first fair meeting in late 2023, ideas were flying around the room. From the beginning, it was evident that everyone was enthusiastic to include some new additions. It was also evident that everyone wanted to respect long-time country traditions and continue to bring the hometown feel to the fair. This group of diverse volunteers followed their priorities and: Oh! What a fair this is going to be! Let’s all be grateful to the many volunteers who pull this off every year.
The music is back! Souled Out, Blue Ridge Thunder, and Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band will grace our stage during fair week. The pig scramble is back, too. One of Clarke’s great families helped make it happen, and Monday night will be full of pigs and kids.
After many years, we will hear bingo numbers called at the fairgrounds. Sheriff Sumption will be calling, and prizes will be flowing. If cornhole tournaments are your thing, the bags start flying Saturday morning — and there are great payouts.
Old fashioned children’s games will be held Wednesday and Saturday; both days have discounted rides. Wednesday children get in free. Everyone wants our community children to remember their county fair for years to come. The pageants are going to be full of area children and teens showcasing their beauty both inside and out. Stop by Sunday evening to see Virginia’s 2024 Rodeo Princess get crowned.
The livestock education program is full of shows, farm animals to see, and games that are open to both our 4-H children and community children. It’s a wonderful chance for children to check out our barn area and investigate the programs there. So much is going on there now with renovated buildings and expanded programs. All community children are welcome to jump into barn area programs this year — so they can be showing at the fair in 2025. Large animals and small, owned animals and borrowed; an area can be found that fits your family.
The track area is going to be so full of energy every night during the fair week. Nobody loves revving engines and action more than Ruritan President Brad Broy, and he has big plans in place for everyone’s entertainment. The third year of Dirt Drag Racing is back with trucks, speed, and plenty of dust on Tuesday night to thrill everyone. One Demolition Derby is not enough for this county. There are going to be several on Thursday night with plenty of crashing and banging. Becoming more popular every year, garden tractor pulling gets real and messy. One will see this action is a lot better than mowing the lawn. A children’s pedal pull takes place on Sunday. It’s free to come to watch, and could be a great way to start interested children out.
In true Clarke County Fair tradition though, over-the-top action goes down Friday and Saturday night. Horses, cowboys, and bulls will fill the arena Friday night, with Miss National Rodeo 2024 presiding over the rodeo. Horses will be back on Saturday night, but they will be under the hoods of the powerful trucks and tractors participating in the East Coast Pro Pulling Event. The energy is unbelievable watching the machines tear up the track competing to see who can pull the most weight.
The schedule is full and there’s more than you can imagine to do while at the fair. To top off its greatness, the fair food is like no other around and the evening chicken barbeque dinners are famous.
Make sure you go through the schedule and plan to attend as many days as you can. The www.clarkecountfair.org website is full of information, and the Facebook account is updated constantly.
