With apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein, I once again borrow (as I do every single year) from the lyrics of the late musical geniuses. "Our County Fair is the Best County Fair. Don't miss it. Don't even be Late."
Early August means only one thing in West Friendship. The biggest event of the year, which celebrates West Friendship's past rural roots and shines bright with the accomplishments of today's 4-H members, is ready to showcase all that is good about agriculture and farming. It's the 66th Annual Howard County Fair, running Aug. 6-13 at the fairgrounds, in West Friendship.
Fair hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Saturday, Aug. 6 is known as Armed Forces Day. Anyone with a valid military ID will receive free admission for themselves, their spouse and any children younger than 18.
Sunday, Aug. 7 marks the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department's 28th annual grand-opening parade at 2 p.m. Baltimore's Marching Ravens will come in at 12:30 p.m. The Miss Howard County Farm Bureau Contest and the popular 4-H mini fashion revue will be held Aug. 7 at 3 p.m.
There is something for everyone at the fair, from agricultural judging of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, rabbits and poultry, to the home arts building stocked with canned goods, fine arts, baked confections, wood working and sewing projects. Live bands and entertainment, as well as a petting zoo, pony rides and the full assortment of midway carnival rides and attractions are on schedule daily and nightly.
For any information on this year's fair, call 410-442-1022 or go to http://www.howardcountyfair.org.
Few are as excited about the Howard County Fair than locals Christie and Charles Fields. The Fields who happen to live just a stone's throw from the fairgrounds will be front row center at the entertainment stage Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. when their son, Richie Fields, performs at the fair. Richie, a rising country music singing star, who was featured in the June 2009 edition of Country Weekly magazine, will leave his summer tour to come home and perform at the fair.
Last year, Fields wowed the members of the Sunshine and Clover 4-H Club when he stopped by the chicken barn and surprised club reporter Rebecca Miller with the news that even though he's a country boy, he'd never held a chicken. The Sunshine 4-H'ers got such a kick out of the famous country singer holding their feathery friends. According to Rebecca, Fields was nothing less than a fantastically good sport.
The Sunshine and Clover 4-H has been preparing for the fair since last winter. During the summer members planned for the club booth at the fair, designed and created their banner and float and prepared for the showing of pigs, cattle, goats, dogs, rabbits, sheep, poultry, baking projects, photography, crafts and more.
Club adult mentors Annie Miller and Brenda Creighton are the superintendents of the open poultry barn. Club leader Heather Spahr will supervise the rabbit barn. Rebecca hastens to encourage any young person who is in attendance at the Howard County Fair to chat with members of this lively 4-H. The kids will be practically living in the rabbit and poultry barns during fair week and members of this 4-H love to share their knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise.
Suzanne Hill who runs the fitness studio, Curves, is accepting donations to the Back to School Supplies drive at the Ten Oaks Shopping Center location. If you would like to donate a new back-to-school items, drop it off at the Curves at 3900 Ten Oaks Road just a few doors down from the Glenelg Post Office. Suzy and the gang at Curves spend the whole year in gathering goods for those in need. Donations will be accepted through Aug.19.
Carole Kramer and the team at Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church are once again preparing for the annual fall book sale. Currently the organizers are seeking donations of books, records, DVDs, CDs and videos for the 16th annual media sale which will be held at the church sometime in early September.
If you would like to donate any media materials, drop the items off at the church, 14551 Burntwoods Road, in Glenwood. Tax contribution forms are available in the plastic bench seat which is next to the side door of the church building. The plastic bench seat is a good place to leave your donated materials as well.