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Fair season is fast approaching

We are quickly approaching a special time of the year.

Picture lighted midways lined with people eating cotton candy and elephant ears on warm summer evenings, or imagine the smiling faces of hundreds of youngsters awaiting the results of best of show animal contests.

Yes, it’s county fair season here in the Ohio Valley, and it all gets under way Monday with the kickoff of the 170th Harrison County Fair at the fairgrounds in Cadiz. The crowning of the king and queen, prince and princess will be held that day, with highlights throughout the week to include a demolition derby and the junior fair livestock sale.

Next up will be the Carroll County Fair slated July 18-23 in Carrollton. There will be tractor pulls, harness racing, an all star national flat track motorcycle series and an ATV rodeo awaiting visitors, along with dairy, poultry and market hog shows where 4-H members will show off their best work.

The week of Aug. 15-20 will see thousands of people on hand for the 146th installment of the Jefferson County Fair at Friendship Park in Smithfield.

The crowning of the fair royalty is planned on Aug. 14, and a highlight of the fair will be the antique and farm stock pull set for 9 a.m. on Aug. 19. There’s also the grand parade, a Motocross event, the high school cheerleading competition, a lawn mower demolition derby and the popular junior fair livestock sale in the livestock arena.

Area residents usually flock to the fairgrounds to view these events while enjoying a wonderful sampling of fair food and a few spins on the Tilt-A-Whirl or ferris wheel.

And the month of September will feature the Brooke and Hancock County fairs in the Northern Panhandle.

Since its revival in 2002, following a hiatus of more than 20 years, the Brooke County Fair’s schedule has swelled with a variety of live local entertainment, food, demolition derbies, mud bogs and children’s activities led by Brooke County 4-H members. Set for Sept. 8-10 at Brooke Hills Park, this year’s fair again will include amusement rides, a demolition derby, petting zoo, historical re-enactors and a variety of food and live entertainment.

Then it’s time for the Hancock County Oldtime Fair, this year slated for Sept. 15-17 at Tomlinson Run State Park. This unique fair is reflective of more old-fashioned community events, with no large rides and attractions. Instead, it features local food and craft vendors, a variety of contests, live music and exhibits from area organizations. Among the traditional highlights is the Barnyard Olympics and the tractor games.

Yes, it’s that time of the year when our county fairgrounds are homes to hundreds of barnyard animals, and most importantly, their handlers, who have put in countless hours of energy and given unconditional care to those animals.

We realize it is a year-round, monumental task to put on a county fair with a volunteer staff and are appreciative of the many fair boards, 4-H leaders and many, many volunteers who help each county celebrate the farming heritage, artisanship, craftiness in the kitchen, agricultural expertise and just good old-fashioned American fun.

It’s important to remember that county fairs serve as a way of connecting what’s good today with what was good from days gone by, ultimately offering up something for just about everyone.

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