By Wayne Gates
The 2018 Brown County Fair is here.
School is out and the county is gathering in Georgetown for another year at “The Little State Fair.”
Fair Board Member Dennis Broughton said that the Brown County Agricultural Society is looking forward to a big week.
“We’ve got Ricky Skaggs this year on Tuesday night. Bob (Hardyman) did a good job in getting Ricky Skaggs. We’ll see our seating full there,” Broughton said.
“When I talk to people, one of the first things they ask is who is the entertainment this year. When I say ‘Ricky Skaggs’ their eyes light up. He’s very popular.”
Broughton also talked about a major investment that the Senior Fair Board made at the fairgrounds earlier this year.
“The tractor pulls and demolition derby has been really improved with 1200 new seats this year. It’s always crowded back there, so now we’ve got a lot more seating to help people out. That was our major project this year,” he said.
Broughton said that the new seating cost well over $200 thousand.
He added that the work wasn’t done in that area either.
“We have a long term project of improving both sides of that area, so in a few years, hopefully we will be able to add even more seating on that west side,” Broughton said.
As far as events planned for the week of the fair, Broughton said that consistency is the plan once again.
“For most people, you are going to go on vacation the last Monday of September. Monday, you’ll see the parade, Tuesday is the big music show and so on. I love the consistency of our schedule and people have come to rely on it.”
Broughton said that the POW/MIA ceremony on Thursday night is a personal favorite.
“The Vietnam Wall was here two years ago. That was one of our proudest moments. The POW/MIA event on Thursday is always heartwarming and brings a tear to your eye,” he said.
One change this year that Broughton discussed was a rain location for the cheerleading contest on Wednesday night. If the event is rained out, it will be held at Western High School on Oct 20.
Fair Week will start with the parade, which will begin moving through Georgetown from the high school to the fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m. The crowning of the Junior Fair Queen and King is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the Danny Gray Activity Center.
On Tuesday, Bucky Covington will play the main arena at 5:30 p.m., followed by Ricky Skaggs at 7:00 p.m.
The cheerleading competition is scheduled for the main ring at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Senior Recognition program will take place at the Danny Gray Activity Center at 11:30 a.m. The oldest lady, oldest gentleman, most wedding anniversaries and most Brown County Fairs attended will be among those recognized.
Thursday night will see the POW/MIA service at 6:00 p.m. and the first round of the Brown County Fair Talent Show at 7:00 p.m.
The final round of the talent show is scheduled for Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
General admission to the fair, including rides, is $10.00 per person.
“If you want to see people you went to school with, your family or your neighbors, they will be here at the Brown County Fair. “Slow down and enjoy life. That’s what we do here,” said Broughton.