ELK CREEK — It’s never too early to start planning to enter your vegetables, baked and preserved goods, photography, art, quilts, flowers, crafts and more in the 2024 Grayson County Agriculture Fair.
As you work on your creations, or begin to plan for your gardens, fair organizers encourage you to consider entering this year’s contests.
The annual Grayson County Agricultural Fair will be held Aug. 9-10, in conjunction with the annual Youth Livestock Show. The combined events will be held at Bottomley’s Farm and Evergreens, located at 10278 Elk Creek Pkwy.
Fair exhibits and competitions will be open to the public both days, and you do not need to be a resident of Grayson county to enter the competitions.
“The goal of the fair is to provide a community-wide event that showcases the importance of agriculture in Grayson County’s past, present and future,” said Laurie Ellis, an organizer of the fair.
For complete information about the fair, including all the various competition categories, visit graysoncountyvafair.com.
Do you have a good dog; one who will do tricks or wear a costume? Enter your furry friend in the fair’s dog show, which has become a big hit for young and old alike. There will be obedience, showmanship, trick and costume competitions for youth and adults. The dog show will be held a little earlier than other events, on Aug. 8.
The fair also includes a honey show to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and to highlight the large community of local beekeepers. The Mountain Empire Beekeepers association estimates that there are over 100 beekeepers in Wythe, Carroll, Grayson, Bland, Smyth, Pulaski and Washington counties.
Mickey Cunningham, a local beekeeper, organizes the honey show. He said he hopes the show will also improve the quality of honey produced locally and give beekeepers a fun and competitive forum to show off their skills.
A youth poster contest is another fun event at the fair that all school-aged kids are encouraged to enter. Entries will be judged within elementary, middle school and high school competition categories. All posters will be on display at the fair, and first-, second- and third-place prizes and ribbons will be awarded. First place in each age category takes home $50 and a blue ribbon, thanks to sponsor Grayson LandCare.
There will also be a variety of fun activities for youth and adults alike. Haybale throwing, a petting zoo, pony rides, a corn hole tournament and cow patty bingo were among the favorites last year and are in the planning stages again.
The fair is seeking exhibits, vendors and sponsors that complement the agricultural theme and are of interest to area farmers and consumers. For a $200 sponsorship, the sponsor’s name will be advertised on fair social media and printed on the annual fair T-shirt. For a $1,000 sponsorship, the sponsor’s banner will additionally be on display throughout the fair and on the fair website.
Contact Laurie Ellis for more information about sponsorship, being a vendor, or any other information about the Grayson County Agricultural Fair, via email at lellis@graysoncountyva.gov or by calling 276-773-2471, Ext. 146.
For more details about or to register for the Youth Livestock Show, contact Kevin Spurlin at 276-773-2491 or spurlink@vt.edu.
