Throwback to the County Fair – Progress Index

The Social Butterfly recalls a trip to the Clarke County Fair last year, before the pandemic hit

Moments before I bellied-up to my laptop to write this weeks column, something coincidental happened.

A friends post popped up on my Facebook feed with a similar subject matter to what I was just about to start writing about. On May 21, Brenda White shared a heartfelt lengthy explanation of why the Chesterfield County Fair is canceled this year.

I could sit here all day and never get this message 100% right enough to satisfy everyone; but, I'll try my best. As the General Manager for the Chesterfield County Fair, I take pride in all that's done in making this one of the premiere fairs in this area, wrote Brenda. That being said - the sadness that comes with having to make the decision to cancel for 2020 is overwhelming.

The 107th annual Chesterfield County Fair was to take place August 28 through September 5, 2020. Per Brenda, the fair has only been canceled two times previously...once in 1918 due to the Spanish flu pandemic and in an unknown year during World War I.

We had to think about the health and safety of everyone - my family and YOUR family. Think about trying to social distance at a fair......standing in the ticket line, each person 6' apart. Standing in line to get food, ride rides, etc. And, only allowing x number of people inside the grounds at one time, wrote Brenda. Trying to keep things disinfected - rides, golf carts, bathrooms, food areas, grandstand seating, etc. - would only mean we'd have to hire a tremendous amount of people. That would mean prices would rise and with so many people out of work - that's just not fair to them.

Brenda also pointed out to the community that the opening phases of Virginia had not been set in stone yet, so she and the fair committee could not depend on having large groups able to congregate.

Brenda and I met when she invited me over for a question and answer get-together to go over the 200-page ChesterFest Guidebook I wrote after chairing the event for the first three years. She and her co-chair were grateful for the tool that I took upon myself to create for future coordinators. As of now, the 19th annual ChesterFest will be hosted this September by the Chester Community Association on Saturday the 26th in the Village Green near the library.

I know what its like to chair a huge event, and I also know how hard it is to make the difficult decision to cancel one. It feels absolutely terrible! Sometimes...as much as we want the show to go on...it just cant!

I had no earthly idea that my butterfly topic previously submitted to my editor would be this timely.

In light of whats happened, I dedicate this Social Butterfly to Brenda, the board and members of the Chesterfield County Fair Association, volunteers, vendors, and everyone who helps pull it all together to create memories for the community to cherish year-after-year.

On August 14 last year, I attended the 65th annual Clarke County Fair [CCF] in Berryville, VA.

Located 150 miles away from my place, it takes around two-and-a-half hours to get to the fairgrounds. I remember the drive being more scenic the closer we arrived to our destination.

As far as fairs go, the CCF was a bit on the tiny side compared to our grand Chesterfield County Fair. In all fairness, I visited on a Wednesday; however, even on a weekday, it provided me with plenty of activities to keep me entertained.

At this time, the CCF website has the 66th annual fair scheduled for August 9 through August 15, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, two truck & tractor pulls they host on the fairgrounds have already been canceled this year.

The Clarke County fair has been around for 65 years and doesnt plan on slowing down any time soon, boasts fair management. Filled with community, family legacies, animal shows, and some great barbecue chicken, you wont want to miss being a part of the great things our fair has to offer.

For their communitys sake, I surely hope this beastly pandemic has crawled up in a corner and croaked, but if youre interested in checking it out this August, watch for updates on their website.

I cant take you to the fair to explore everything with your five senses, but I can provide you with two of them: sight and hearing.

Visit http://www.progress-index.com to view more photos and watch the video montage of various animals I captured doing their thing including a baby chick that had just been hatched. And, if you tap into your imagination, you just may be able to touch, feel, and taste for yourself.

On second thought, tasting feathers and fur may not be your cup of tea. Enjoy experiencing the fair through my eyes!

Kristi K. Higgins, aka The Social Butterfly, can be reached at khiggins@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @KHigginsPI.

Link:

Throwback to the County Fair - Progress Index