The fair is coming! In about one short month, the county fair will be here, and the Robeson County Fairgrounds will be bustling with activity. Don't you want to be a part of the fun?

The county fair is for fun and entertainment, and it is also educational. But one of the best things about a county fair is that everyone in the community can and should get involved. At most county fairs, the exhibit halls are overflowing with items the people from the communities have entered. A lot of folks take the competition at county fairs very serious.

I would like to urge you to start making plans now to get involved with the upcoming fair. Don't just sit there, start getting your stuff ready.

You have probably already heard that many changes have been made for the upcoming fair. Some of these changes will affect those people who want to enter things in the fair.

The name of the fair has been changed from the Robeson County Fair to the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair, and parking lots, midway areas, and exhibit areas have been enlarged to better serve more people from a larger area. Many surrounding counties do not have a county fair. People from those counties have never had the opportunity to participate in exhibits, contests, and events that are a part of a good county fair. Now, residents from all adjoining counties can be a part of this regional fair by entering items for exhibit and competition.

Exhibit areas of county agricultural fairs are one of the favorite places for most people to visit. They want to see the crafts, pretty flowers, unusual vegetables, assorted jams and jellies, baked goods, quilts, paintings, and garments. You should be entering your handiwork in the county fair for others to see. Even more importantly, you should be working with your children or grandchildren to enter some of their hobbies or handiwork in the county fair. I'm sure you would enjoy receiving a blue ribbon and a check for the prize money from your exhibits, but I would bet that a youngster would be ten times more excited than you.

It is not difficult to enter items in the county fair. Contrary to what a lot of people think, it does not cost anything to enter items in the fair. All you have to do is bring them to the fairgrounds at the proper time.

If you have entered items in the county fair in the past, you probably know exactly what to do. But if you have never entered anything, you should call my office at 671-3276 and ask for a handbook and premium list. We will be glad to mail you one, or you can stop by our office to pick it up.

There are categories for just about anything you can imagine. You can enter any kind of fruits, vegetables, nuts, houseplants, cut flowers, field crops, and even eggs, honey, herbs, or peanuts. If you are a seamstress, there are categories for clothing, needlepoint, embroidery, crochet, stitchery, knitting, and cross stitch.

If you love to bake, there categories for cookies, cakes, pies, and breads. If you are into canning, you can enter your canned fruits, vegetables, preserves, jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, or fruit butter. No matter what your hobby, there is a category for you including ceramics, leather work, pottery, woodworking, carving, painting, and about anything else that would keep your hands busy. There are separate categories for youth and adults in each class, so the young people do not have to compete against those with more experience.

The Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair will be longer this year than in past years. Instead of beginning on a Monday, it will begin on a Friday and last 9 days. The dates for this year are October 3 - 11. Since the fair starts on Friday, all exhibits must be entered and ready for judging a little earlier than usual.

Virtually all items can be taken to the Robeson County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 27, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. or on Sunday, September 28, from 1 until 6 p.m.

Items that are more perishable, such as fruits, vegetables, potted plants, and hanging baskets, can be entered on Wednesday, October 1, or Thursday, October 2, from 1 until 6 p.m. Very perishable items, such as baked goods, cut flowers, and decorated cakes, should be entered on the last day, Thursday.

All young children and almost all adults are involved in hobbies or special interest that can be entered in the county fair. The fair is a month away. I am giving you advance notice so you will have time to get your stuff ready. If you are too bashful to enter anything in the fair, at least consider the valuable lesson your children or grandchildren can learn from this opportunity. If not for yourself, at least take the time to help them enter something in the fair. You'll be glad you did.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 12/08/03