×

County fair offers something for all

Area residents will have the chance once again to connect what was good from days gone by with what is good about today when the opening ceremonies for the 147th-annual Jefferson County Fair are held Monday evening.

A traditional rite of mid-August, the fair, which will run through next Sunday, once again will bring friends and family together for a celebration of hard work and to recognize a job well done by everyone from farmers to students of agrarian sciences.

In this day of extreme specialization of everything in our daily lives, it’s reassuring to know that the fair will offer something for just about everyone who visits Friendship Park.

There’s the midway, of course, with its collection of rides and fair food. But the fair offers so much more. It’s a chance for area residents to demonstrate their talents in baking, canning, sewing, knitting, animal breeding and showing. There will be competitions, including karaoke and cheerleading events.

If you enjoy a car show or watching tractor and truck pulls or an old-fashioned demolition derby, the fair has them. If you’re just looking to sit back and relax by enjoying a pleasant late-summer evening listening to live music, the fair offers that.

If you enjoy the action at a livestock auction or watching the annual parade, the fair will have you covered.

It truly is a chance to see the best our area has to offer, to enjoy the excitement shown by children who are enjoying a midway ride or to see the pride of area 4-H members as they show off their projects.

While a common complaint is that the world is changing too quickly in so many ways, the county fair remains a constant, a connection between 2018 and the 1870s.

That success is possible only through the efforts of the organizers and volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure the fair continues to grow.

We invite you to plan a trip to Smithfield this week and enjoy some old-fashioned fun at the Jefferson County Fair.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today