SNOW HILL -- Locals and visitors alike will
have the chance to celebrate the area's agricultural roots this weekend at the
Worcester County Fair.
The fair, to be held at Byrd Park in Snow
Hill, will showcase local agriculture as well as a variety of crafts and other
exhibits.
"It's a chance to show off what
Worcester County is all about," said organizer Earl Ludy.
The event kicked off Friday, Aug. 10, in
downtown Snow Hill. The fair's horse show began at 8 a.m., although the rest of
the fair didn't open until 11 a.m.
From then until 2 p.m., Worcester County
Health Department officials will work with fair organizers to present Safe Kids
Day, which will consist of a variety of vendors and educational exhibits aimed
at providing families with safety information.
"That's a huge thing," Ludy said.
"Twenty organizations come in just for that."
The rest of Friday was filled with chain saw
carving demonstrations, a cake auction and lots of livestock. Ludy is expecting
a wide range of livestock this year, from cows, sheep and pigs to exotic
poultry.
"We cover the gamut," he said.
Livestock showing is a part of the Worcester
County Fair that's grown immensely in recent years, he said. Six years ago,
Ludy recalls seeing two goats at the fair. This year, there will be near 70. As
for swine, a class that had just two pigs in it several years ago is expected
to feature 20 of the animals this year.
Ludy believes the increased interest in
livestock showing has come from the growth of 4-H in the area. Regular fair
participants have also gotten older and can handle more animals, he said.
"Now we've got a nice selection,"
Ludy said.
That selection will provide visitors to the
fair with plenty to look at and plenty to learn from, he said.
"It gives them a chance to see the
animals and how they're handled and talk to the kids," he said.
Aside from the livestock, the fair will
feature a variety of other activities throughout the weekend. Saturday includes
a demonstration from the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team as well as a classic car
and truck show. Kids can participate in a number of contests, from watermelon
eating to limbo.
On Sunday, there will be demonstrations from
the Salisbury Kennel Club and examples of Native American dancing and
storytelling. There will also be a vintage motorcycle show featuring bikes more
than 20 years old.
"We try to do things that are family-oriented
so families will come out and enjoy it," organizer Cindy Morris said.
"It's a lot of fun."
410-213-9442, ext. 19
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