‘tis the season ... for a fair

Haven’t had your share of farm animals lately? Well, never fear, it’s fair season again in central Virginia. It’s the time of year when pies and livestock are judged, when carnival lights and live music waft through the air and people kick up the dust to line up for amusement rides.
Orange County began the season last Thursday and concluded on Sunday. The next county to strut its agricultural stuff is Albemarle County, from today through Sunday. Augusta County follows the leaders from Tuesday through Aug. 9, with Rockingham County bringing up the rear from Aug. 10 to 16.
Entertainers scheduled to perform include The Beach Boys and Sara Evans at Rockingham; Harmony Hill Bank, Grandstaff, Faithful Men and Glen Shelton in Augusta; and Albemarle is hosting High on the Mountain, Hard Driving Grass, Bootsie Daniels Band, Big G Rock, Miranda Townsend, Pickin’ Shack, Tommy Wood and Sonrise.
Got a hankerin’ for competition? Each venue will host its own beef, sheep, swine and goat showmanship contests in addition to contests for the more suburban visitors. 
Albemarle will host a frogs and toads contest and lawnmower races. And for your sweet tooth, don’t miss out on the chiffon cake contest there.
Augusta will have motocross, truck and tractor pulls, a flower show and a dog show. The yearly competition for Miss Augusta County will draw contestants from infants to young adults.
Rockingham will hold its beauty contest too, plus a greatest grandparents contest and kiss-a-cow charity contest.
Suuueeee! Here pig, pig, pig!
That’s right. It’ll be pig calling, turkey gobblin’ and husband callin’ at Albemarle. See who calls the most husbands, or rather, turkeys.
So gather up the young-uns, put on your best pair of overalls and tennis shoes and git, skip, run or gallop on over to one or all of the local fairs. There’s sure to be something for everyone, even if it only turns out to be just some dust shaken from your shoe.

Augusta County Fair Schedule of Events
n Saturday at 2 p.m. — Beauty Pageant at Expo Hall

n Tuesday — Opening Day!
8 a.m. — 4 p.m. — Commercial exhibits received
8 a.m. — 11 a.m. — All exhibits will be received (except flower show)
8 a.m.  — 12 p.m. — Sheep, Dairy, Beef, Hog entries received
10 a.m.  — 4 p.m. — Stockman’s Contest
Daily (after 4 p.m.) — Great American Timber Shows          
6 p.m. — Midway opens
6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 9 p.m. — Fast Action Motor Sports Racing
7 p.m. — Hog Show
7 p.m. — Motocross
9 p.m. — Fireworks

n Aug. 6 — Youth Day
9 a.m. — Open Purebred & Commercial Sheep Show & Showmanship
4 p.m. — Sheep Leadline, followed by: Market lamb Show & Showmanship Show
Daily (after 4 p.m.) — Great American Timber shows
5:30 p.m., 6:15 p.m. , 7 p.m. — Children’s Show “Agricadabra”
5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. , 8 p.m. —  Great American Disc Dog Show
6 p.m. Midway opens — Rosedale Attractions
6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 9 p.m. — Fast Action Motor Sports Racing
“Miniature Nascar” at the Fair —  Free to the public
7 p.m. ($5 admission) — R & R Productions Demolition Derby
7:45 p.m. — Wildlife show presented by Wildlife Center of Virginia

n Aug. 7 — Gospel Night
8 a.m. -noon — Goat Show entries received    
1 p.m. — Beef Showmanship & Beef Show, followed by Market Steer Show
Daily (after 4 p.m.) — Great American Timber shows and Chainsaw Chix shows
5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. , 8 p.m. —  Great American Disc Dog Show
6 p.m. — Midway opens – Rosedale Attractions
6 p.m. — Cloggers
6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 9 p.m. — Fast Action Motor Sports Racing
“Miniature Nascar” at the Fair –  Free to the public
7 p.m. — Gospel featuring: The Faithful Men and Harmony Hill (Christian Bluegrass Band)           
7 p.m.  —  Stock Diesel 4 x 4, Farm, & Tweaked Farm Tractor Pull
7 p.m. — Dairy Show

n Aug. 8                
3 p.m. — Goat Show, following Goat Show: Market Goat Show
5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. , 8 p.m. —  Great American Disc Dog Show    
Daily (after 4 p.m.) — Great American Timber shows and Chainsaw Chix shows
6 p.m. — Midway opens – Rosedale Attractions
6 p.m. — Livestock Costume Class

For additional schedule items, visit http://www.augustacountyfair.com.

6:15 p.m. — Blue Grass
7 p.m. —Street Truck & Tractor Pull
6:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m. — Fast Action Motor Sports Racing Tournament
“Miniature Nascar” at the Fair –  Free to the public
8 p.m. — Grandstaff

Aug. 9 — Kids Day Matinee
8 a.m. — Jackpot Lamb, Steer & Goat entries received
9 a.m. — Horse Show
9 a.m. — Kids Fishing at Wildlife Display
All Day Antique Farm Tractor & SVTPA                    
10 a.m. — Open Progressive Steer Show                                                                                                  
10 a.m. — Great American Disc Dog Show
10 a.m. — Youth Supreme Showmanship
Noon — Jackpot Lamb Show, followed by: Jackpot Wether Goat Show
1 p.m. — Midway opens – Rosedale Attractions
2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m. — Fast Action Motor Sports Racing Tournament
“Miniature Nascar” at the Fair – Free to the Public
Daily (after 4 p.m.) — Great American Timber shows
6 p.m. — Pen of Three Feeder Steer Competition & Sale
6 pm — 4-H FFA Market Goat Sale
8 p.m. – midnight — The WORX Band
9 p.m. — Livestock Exhibits released
8:30 p.m. — Fast Action Motorsports Racing Tournament
Final Tournament and Grand Championship
9 p.m. — Exhibits released