County Fair Welcomes Visitors on Opening Day
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Monday, July 23, 2007
About 300 visitors braved the heat Sunday afternoon to kick off the opening day of the 72nd annual Loudoun County Fair.
Photo Gallery
2007 Miss Loudoun County Fair
Miss Loudoun County Fair contestants (left to right) Leah MacSwain, Lisa Schneider, Lindsey Kibler, Allison Hinke and Carly Griffith. (Susa Lim)
First runner-up Allison Hinke (left) and 2007 Miss Loudoun County Fair Carly Griffith. (Susa Lim)
2006 Miss Loudoun County Fair Alex Beard (left), first runner-up Allison Hinke (center), 2007 Miss Loudoun County Fair Carly Griffith. (Susa Lim)
Though the carnival rides weren’t fully assembled -- some still were on trailer beds -- and the animal pens stood empty, fair visitors were treated to two equine competitions and a pageant. All events were dominated by a high number of female participants.
Five Loudoun County teenagers dressed in formalwear competed in The Miss Loudoun County Fair Pageant, held in a hay-filled barn house. It was the first year a 4-H membership wasn’t necessary to compete.
“We had low participation because of the 4-H requirement,” said pageant organizer Kim Monroe, who is hoping for more participation next year. “However, this year all of the contestants are 4-H members.”
The pageant has averaged five competitors in past years, Monroe said. All of the contestants have had experience caring for and showing livestock, and most likely will present their animals in separate competitions at the fair, she said.
Seventeen-year-old Carly Griffith, a second-time contestant in the pageant, will show her rabbit on Thursday. She said the two competitions couldn’t be more different.
Photo Gallery
Loudoun County Fair Equine Jumping Competition
Jennifer Strickland, 21, and horse Mellie, practicing a jump over a fence in the Gambler's Choice jumping competition. (Susa Lim)
Kimberly Strickland, 11, and horse Dewey, jump over a wooden fence at the Gambler's Choice jumping competiton at the 2007 Loudoun County Fair. (Susa Lim)
Kimberly Strickland, 11, receiving direction from 4-H alum Caroline Adams, 26, before the jumping event starts. (Susa Lim)
“Showing the rabbits is more time-consuming because you have to work with your animals throughout the year,” Carly said before being crowned Miss Loudoun County Fair 2007. “It [showing rabbits] takes more time as opposed to competing for Miss Loudoun.”
Carly received a $500 scholarship and will present ribbons to winners of various contests during the weeklong fair. She also will pose for pictures with winners of the animal auctions. The high school senior said she plans to save her money and put it toward a college fund. She also wants to spend some on her 4-H animals.
For decades, the fair was billed as an agricultural exhibition where farmers and their children could show livestock to receive ribbons and prizes. Over the years, planners incorporated carnival rides and non-agricultural events to attract more attendees.
Organizers expect close to 22,000 visitors to stomp through the fairgrounds in the coming week. Contests range from eating contests to a greased pig scramble.
At the outdoor equestrian events Sunday evening, about 20 girls and women -- all members and alums of 4-H -- competed in the jumping event, which was one of two planned contests.
Riders had to steer their galloping horses or ponies to clear about 15 wooden fences, adorned with local advertisements, with some fences as tall as 2 feet. The higher the hurdle, the more points the jump was worth. The fence worth the highest amount was 500 points.
Fair events are scheduled through Saturday at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds west of Leesburg.
Find additional coverage of the Loudoun County Fair each day this week at LoudounExtra.com.
Tagged: loudoun county fair
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