Beginning Friday, Randolph County will celebrate it's heritage and culture through education and traditional events at the Randolph County Fair. All events will take place at 4-H Camp Pioneer in Beverly.

"People should come out and learn more about Randolph County," said Chrissy Harper, Randolph County Fair vice president. "It's a good time for a lot of family fun that's educational."

Friday's events kick off with fourth grade educational day from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will tour the livestock exhibits and be exposed to different aspects of agriculture, Harper explained. At 4:30 p.m. Friday, local 4-H members will show the animals they raised during the year. The day's events conclude with professional bull riding at 7 p.m. and a square dance in the barn at 9:30 p.m.

Bull riding is new to the fair this year, Harper said. Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance and $15 at the gates, which open at 6 p.m.

The kids fishing derby and classic and antique car show begin Saturday's activities at 9 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. fair-goers may visit the craft show, vendors, quilting bee and show, the car show, CEOS Club demonstration, taxidermy demonstrations, photo contest exhibit, blue ribbon 4-H projects, animal 4-H projects and antique tractor exhibit.

Other events scheduled for Saturday: Draft Horse Pull at the arena, 10 a.m.; Farm Olympics for kids at the barn area, 11:30 a.m.; awards announcement in Hammer Hall, 11:30 a.m.; Celebrate West Virginia with Mick Souter in Hammer Hall, noon; lawn mower race behind the barn, 1 p.m.; West Virginia Open Banjo and Fiddle Contest in Hammer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; pumpkin pie eating contest at the barn area, 1:30 p.m.; greased pig contest at the arena, 2:30 p.m.; cow bingo at the basketball court, 4 p.m.; chicken and pork barbecue at the pavilion, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; buyers reception at the ag complex, 5 p.m.; 4-H livestock sale at the barn, 6 p.m.; and music by Nina Sharp at the outdoor stage, 6 p.m.

Livestock available for purchase Saturday include market steers, market hogs, market sheep, meat rabbits, feeder calfs and meat goats.

"Celebrate West Virginia" is a one-man show by Mick Souter, who shares the history and culture of West Virginia through songs played on a banjo, guitar, harmonica and other instruments.

The Open Banjo and Fiddle Contest is open to anyone in the state or region. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. for the event that includes a fiddle, bluegrass banjo and old-time banjo contest. Cash prizes will be awarded for each contest, as well as a senior and youth prize.

Sunday's events start at 9 a.m. A pancake breakfast in the dining hall is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the horse show begins at 10 a.m. in the arena. The Nancy Oats Memorial Trophy will be presented during the horse show.

Cow bingo squares are $5 each or $20 for five squares. A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the winner. Bingo squares may be purchased during the fair or by e-mailing randolphcountyfair@yahoo.com.

Randolph County Fair admission is $5 per person and children 10 and younger are admitted at no charge. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 636-2455 or visit www.randolphcountyfairwv.com.

I love watching the greesed pig contest.

From milking cows to making sauerkraut, Randolph County fourth-graders experienced an agricultural way of life at the Randolph County Fair Friday at 4-H Camp Pioneer in Beverly.

Part of fourth-grade curriculum is West Virginia history, explained Midland Elementary School teacher Fran McLaughlin. The demonstrations her students experienced brought the local culture to life, McLaughlin said during Chelley Depp's presentation of life in historic Beverly.

Kids clamored to turn the crank of an apple press to make apple cider. Derek Fincham and Barbara Hornbeck led the apple cider making process and handed out samples when it was finished. Most seemed to enjoy the homemade apple cider, but its dark color surprised them, Hornbeck explained.

"They're realizing it's hard work," Hornbeck said.

With a 15-gallon crock and heads of fresh cabbage, Arden Swecker and Hannah Fincham shared their knowledge of making sauerkraut the old-fashioned way. Students volunteered to mash the water out of the filled crock and even sampled some fresh cut cabbage.

The fourth-graders saw farm animals housed in the barn then got hands on. Pam Kwasniewski allowed students and teachers to milk one of her cows.

To prepare for today's events, pigs, cows and horses were bathed and rinsed by their owners at the 4-H camp agriculture complex.

The celebration of local heritage continues today through Sunday. The kids fishing derby and classic and antique car show begin today's activities at 9 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. fair-goers may visit the craft show, vendors, quilting bee and show, the car show, CEOS Club demonstration, taxidermy demonstrations, photo contest exhibit, blue ribbon 4-H projects, animal 4-H projects and antique tractor exhibit.

Other events scheduled for today: Draft Horse Pull at the arena, 10 a.m.; Farm Olympics for kids at the barn area, 11:30 a.m.; awards announcement in Hammer Hall, 11:30 a.m.; Celebrate West Virginia with Mick Souter in Hammer Hall, noon; lawn mower race behind the barn, 1 p.m.; West Virginia Open Banjo and Fiddle Contest in Hammer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; pumpkin pie eating contest at the barn area, 1:30 p.m.; greased pig contest at the arena, 2:30 p.m.; cow bingo at the basketball court, 4 p.m.; chicken and pork barbecue at the pavilion, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; buyers reception at the ag complex, 5 p.m.; 4-H livestock sale at the barn, 6 p.m.; and music by Nina Sharp at the outdoor stage, 6 p.m.

Sunday's events start at 9 a.m. A pancake breakfast in the dining hall is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the horse show begins at 10 a.m. in the arena. The Nancy Oats Memorial Trophy will be presented during the horse show.

While cleaning up after the Randolph County Fair Sunday afternoon, fair officials used one word to describe the long weekend of events - "Great."

Fifth Randolph Fair a Success!!!








Daytime and weekend events drew around 750 to 1,000 visitors made the fifth county fair a success, explained Randolph County Fair President Amanda See.

Friday night's bull riding event drew between 1,500 and 2,000 spectators, See estimated. Bull riding was new to the fair this year, but See hopes the event becomes a tradition.

During the weekend, the County Fair accomplished its mission - to educate and promote the county, See explained. All fourth-grades classes in Randolph County attended Educational Day Friday at the fair. See said that with cooperation from the Randolph County Board of Education, students had the opportunity for hands-on learning of local heritage.

"The livestock sale went really well," said Ronnie Helmondollar, WVU Extension Agent for Randolph County. "Support from the community was really good. It's always impressive to see folks come out and support the 4-H youth."

Those who raise the livestock usually use the money from the sale to purchase what they will need for the next year's livestock project or save for a college fund, Helmondollar explained.

Other money raised at the county fair will be used to fund next year's event, See said. The Randolph County Recreation Board and county 4-H clubs also raised money during the fair by selling food and other items, See explained.

Throughout the weekend, the fair made use of the new building at 4-H Camp Pioneer agriculture complex, See said. Photo exhibits and a livestock buyers reception took place in the building.

Volunteers began planning the fair almost immediately after last year's ended, See said.

"We have a fantastic crew of volunteers," See said.

Businesses and others in the community also helped ensure a "great county fair," See explained.

"Each year it keeps getting better," Helmondollar said. "I can't wait until next year."