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STREET ADDRESS Robeson County 455 Caton Rd O.P. Owens Agriculture Center Lumberton, NC 28360 (910) 671-3276 Phone (910) 671-6278 Fax Map & Mailing Information Recent Tweets What makes a fruit or vegetable a superfood? Find out in this month's Produce Lady newsletter from #NC #CoopExt [more] (PDF) |
In case you missed earlier announcements, I would like to use this opportunity to share with you that your Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair was recently selected as the best county agricultural fair in the entire state of North Carolina. This is quite an honor considering that there are more than 40 county fairs in the state. The picture above shows the delegation of members of the Board of Directors of the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair who traveled to Raleigh in early January for the annual convention of the North and South Carolina Association of County Fairs. In addition to receiving the Image Award as the best in the state, they also received the Most Improved County Fair Award, a first place award for Youth Involvement in the Fair, a first place award for Agriculture Exhibits, and an award for Specialty Advertising. This is the sixth time since this award was established that your county fair has won the Image Award. Naturally, all members of the Board of Directors like to claim that we have the best fair in the state. But it is more rewarding to hear many other people in the county, both those volunteers who assist with the fair and many of those who attend the fair, make comments about how good the local fair is and how much they enjoy their visits to the fair. Then, to prove that these are not just idle claims, the panel of judges from across the state agrees that the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair is truly the best in the state. Much of the credit for the success of your local county fair can be attributed to the hundreds of volunteers who assist each year with planning and carrying out the many events, contests, activities, entertainment, and work details that are required to make your fair successful. These volunteers provide the diversity of ideas, skills, and expertise that are needed for success. In addition, they do what they do because they love the county fair, and they enjoy providing a quality educational and entertaining event for everyone in the entire region. The Board of Directors can be congratulated for these awards as well. They are also volunteers, and they too love the fair. None of them receive any compensation for their involvement in the fair, other than all the Pepsi and Mountain Dew they want to drink and an occasional free candy apple or hot dog. They spend the entire year planning the fair, and many of them work countless hours during the week of the fair in addition to working their full-time job. Some of them actually take vacation during the week of the fair so they can devote their full time and energy to the fair. Some of the detailed planning for the upcoming fair began at the state convention by signing entertainment acts and securing supplies, such as ribbons, tickets, insurance, and two-way radios from vendors at the trade show. However, the more intense planning began at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors which was held earlier this month. Officers for the coming year were elected -- Coble Wilson Jr. will serve as President, Buddy Jones as Vice-President, Marie Gibson as Secretary, and Everett Davis as Treasurer. The single most important event that creates the opportunity for success of your county fair is a planning retreat that is held each year. For the past 12 years, in February almost every member of the Board of Directors devote a full weekend to planning the upcoming fair. They start on Friday night and continue through Sunday. They critique the past year's fair and review both positive and negative comments provided by many of those who attended the fair. They review the finances from the past year and determine if there are enough profits to allow for further improvements on the grounds, such as additional restrooms, better lighting and security for those who attend the fair, improvements in the livestock area for the comfort and safety of the animals, and additional paving for walkways and entrances. They also develop the proposed schedule for the coming year, day by day. They include not only those events that have become favorites for those who attend the fair each year but also plan new and different events that will provide the diversity and uniqueness that fairgoers enjoy. They determine which member of the Board of Directors will handle each responsibility and, when necessary, develop committees to more properly plan for major needs, such as entertainment, advertising, and special promotions. This coming year is a special year for your county fair. The fair will celebrate its 60th anniversary. What began as a single day event in 1946 as a farmers festival has been held each year for the past 60 years and has now evolved into what was recently acclaimed as the best county agricultural fair in the state. The fair dates for this year are September 27 through October 7. Get ready for lots of special events and activities at the upcoming fair. Watch for all the advertisements and promotions that will begin several months before the fair and be ready to take advantage of all the special advance ticket packages and free admission tickets that will be made available. The Board of Directors would welcome your suggestions so they can make your county fair as spectacular as possible. Share your ideas with members of the Board as you see them at work, church, or even at the grocery store. Call the president at 734-0083 and tell him what you like and what you don't like. Best of all, go to the fair's website at www.robesoncountyfair.com and send your suggestions by E-mail. Visit the website often to see the updates so you will know what is in store for you. I'll see you at the fair. I'll see you at the best county agricultural fair in the entire state.
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Phone: 910-671-3276
Date Created 06/5/06 |
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