Aug 4, 2018 5 min read

WAYNESBURG – Debbie Stephenson has worked the Greene County Fair for 21 years, and during that time she has visited numerous other county fairs throughout the state and nation. What makes Greene County special is its “small town” feel, she said.

“It’s just a nice homey atmosphere,” she said. “It’s a place where families can come and not worry about their children. It’s just like a safe haven for kids.”

This year’s edition of the Greene County Fair will feature all the events and activities people have come to expect of a county fair, Stephenson said, including demolition derbies, truck and tractor pulls, agricultural exhibits, livestock competitions, amusement rides and midway games.

“There are all kinds of things to do,” said Stephenson, who serves as secretary-treasurer of the Greene County Fair Board. “There are things for the kids, things for mom and dad and things for grandma and grandpa.”

The fair will get underway today with a draft horse halter show at 10 a.m. and draft horse hitch show at 12:30 p.m. The fair queen contest will begin at 4 p.m., followed by a vesper church service at 5.

County Commissioner Archie Trader, vice president of the fair board, said the fair, to him, is all about “community.” Trader, who attends the fair each night, said what he likes most about the fair is the people.

“You go to the fair and you get to see people you only get to see once a year,” he said.

The Greene County Fair is also just the right size. It might not be as large as fairs in some more populated counties, he said, “but it has everything that they have basically.”

This year, the fair board has added a second demolition derby to the schedule.

“Normally we have just one on Friday night, but this year we’ve added a second on Wednesday night,” Stephenson said.

People seem to love demolition derbies, Trader said.

“I can’t explain it, but they really bring the people in,” he said.

Free monster truck rides will be back again this year, Tuesday through Saturday, and a country music concert will be presented Thursday night by the Chris Higbee Band.

“They’ve played here before and are very popular,” Stephenson said. “They have a good following.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a county fair without events and activities focusing on local agriculture.

People should check out the home and garden department, Trader said. People can come and see locally-grown fruits and vegetables, the baked and prepared foods as well as the many hand-made items, from clothing to paintings.

People also can come and sit in on the livestock judging contests.

“4-H is a big part of the fair,” Trader said. “It’s always a big help for the kids who come and show their steers or lambs and then sell them,” he said. The money they make is a big help, especially to those heading to college.

The agricultural related events include: Monday, the goat show 9 a.m.; live carcass class, 5:30 p.m. and leadline contest, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, rabbit show, 9 a.m.; open dairy cattle show, 11:30 a.m. and market steer show, 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, open beef cattle show, 9:30 a.m. and market lamb show, 6:30 p.m.: Thursday, open sheep show, 10 a.m.; 4-H and FFA market steer and lamb sale, 6:30 p.m.; Friday, master showman’s contest, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.; tractor driving contest, 9 a.m. and stockmen’s contest, noon.

Grandstand events scheduled for the week include farm stock tractor pulls, 7 p.m. Monday; truck pulls, 7 p.m. Tuesday, featuring street diesel 4x 4s, limited pro-stock diesel 4x4s and pro-stock 4 x 4 trucks; demolition derbies, 7 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; and truck and tractor pulls, 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring super stock 4 x 4 trucks, limited pro/super farm tractors, street semi-trucks and pro/modified 4-wheel drive trucks.

It also wouldn’t be a fair without a barnyard petting zoo and an old favorite, Dennis Beach’s Custom Wood Carving Show, which features wood carving with a chain saw. Harness racing also is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

As Stephenson said, there’s something for everyone.

“We’re just hoping for nice weather, sunshine with a little breeze, and that everybody comes out and enjoys the activities at the fair.”

The admission price to the fair is $8 and covers parking, rides and grandstand events. Seniors 65 and older will get into the fair free Thursday for “Senior Citizen Night.” The fairgrounds also will be open without charge to those who want to stop by for lunch.

“We have several vendors who are open for lunch,” Stephenson said.

For more information on the fair, visit www.greenecountyfair.org.