Fair Goers Enjoy a Family Tradition
The 176th Fair Runs Thorugh Sunday
Belmont County has been celebrating the fair this week with livestock shows, entertainment, food and rides.
But the fair isn’t over yet. Friday ended the night with the Ohio State Tractor Pullers Association Tractor & Truck Pull. Saturday will feature an open beef show, Belmont County Truck & Tractor Pull, line dancing and the junior fair square dance and more. While Sunday features entertainment, Power Wheels Derby followed by Demolition Derby and more.
Belmont County Agricultural Society treasurer Melissa Campbell said the board was looking forward to celebrating community, watching people visit the fair for its 176th anniversary, enjoying friends and family and learning about agriculture.
Campbell added the board strives to offer a facility people can visit, enjoy and easily maneuver around the fairgrounds.
She emphasized how great it is to see youth participating in junior fair events, as the responsibility they learn from handling their 4-H projects is important.
This year, the fair board brought back the Old McDonald Farm, which has a couple llamas, poultry animals and a goat named Skittles who makes his way around the fairgrounds.
Campbell said she thinks people should visit the Belmont County Fair. She added she’s surprised by the number of people in the county who do not go to the fair.
“We hear people say they don’t feel that there’s anything that’s worth the admission price to be here,” she said. “But I happen to be very proud of this facility. We started with a big, open, empty field. This is our 16th fair here on the new fairgrounds.”
Campbell added when someone comes to the fair with an open mind and positive outlook, that person will have a positive experience.
Although weather slowed down the crowd Thursday, visitors were back on the rides, eating food and looking at animals on Friday.
(Barnesville Area News photos)
While Campbell was busy overseeing the fair, other visitors were there to enjoy what it had to offer.
Terri Malona attended the fair this year because her daughter, Reagan Malona, took market rabbits for showmanship to be judged on them. Reagan placed third in showmanship and placed third and sixth with her pens and classes.
Another mother, Mindy Thornburg, attended the fair because her daughters, Vonn and Vaya Thornburg, had market projects and beef feeders. Vonn received reserve champion and champion junior showman. Vaya won champion medium weight hog.
Rather than taking animals to be judged, some visitors enjoyed strolling around to view them, including Jessica Moore who brought her grandson, Quincy Moore, to the fair for the first time. As he strolled around his face would light up, and he would get excited looking at the animals, Jessica said. She added he just wanted to play with them.
The 176th Belmont County fair will conclude Sunday evening.
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