LEWISBURG (WVDN) – There are two things we can count on in late August: summer rains and the State Fair, and on Thursday morning, we got both.
Luckily, the rains cleared up by noon, and folks began to crowd the fairgrounds for the first day of the 97th annual fair, which runs from Aug. 11-20.
The Greenbrier East High School music department continued to direct traffic in the parking lot – they’ve been doing it for years as one of their biggest fundraisers – while farmers of all ages gathered in the livestock barns to prepare their animals for the show ring.
After a confirmed case of swine flu at the Jackson County Fair last week, the State Fair has closed the swine barns to the public out of an abundance of caution, but other barns are open for families to check out everything from draft horses to bunnies. State Fair officials check in every animal that attends the fair, and they assure the public that the fairgrounds are a safe place to gather.
Excited guests were lined up for lunch at all their yearly favorite food stands.
“We’re so glad to be back,” said the owner of Gillette’s Pizza.
As of 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon, there was no line at the Son’s-Sational Cinnamon Rolls stand, but that won’t last long. The popular dessert stand often has a line stretching past the grandstand.
With a week chock full of concerts, rides, games, and animals, the Greenbrier Valley is ready for some Mountain Grown Fun.
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| Greenbrier East High School student Delanie Voiles shears a sheep outside the livestock barns on Thursday. |
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| This mini Rex rabbit, owned by Ashlin Dunbar of Beckley, rests in the rabbit barn. While the swine barn will remain closed to the public for the duration of the fair, all other livestock barns are open. |
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| Greenbrier East choir member Ali Wills and band director Jim Allder take a break from directing traffic in the fair parking lot. The music department directs traffic every year, and the money raised for doing the job contributes to music, travel expenses, and equipment for the department. |
