LoudounExtra.com

The Magic of Agriculture

By Sydney Wilmer

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Brad Matchett's magic show running this week at the Loudoun County Fair is about more than pulling rabbits out of hats – he attempts to clone them, too. Or at least create that illusion.

Playing on a bit of scientific humor, Matchett uses his show Agri-cadadbra to educate his young audiences about the true origins of county fairs - agriculture.

Photo: Sydney Wilmer

Brad Matchett is the star and host of Agri-cadabra. Now in his 6th year of performances, he says he uses the show to remind young viewers the agricultural roots of county fairs.

"I use the agricultural thing because that is what fairs started out as," Matchett said. "I have several shows that I perform for kids, and each show has a different agricultural and scientific message."

He stresses that fairs have long been a place to showcase livestock, and rides and funnel cakes are only relatively recent additions to fair programs.

Using a leaf blower to blow up a weather balloon or pretending to clone a rabbit may not seem that educational, he admits, but he can work in a little history at times.

"When I talk about weather balloons and let kids pet these animals, it does help them understand a bit of the origins of fairs."

Matchett travels throughout the country working in various state and county fairs and has just got back from a tour around Chicago and New York. He has been performing with in fairs for the last six years, but doing magic shows for 12 years.

Audiences this week in Loudoun are not surprised to learn he is experienced, either. His slightly aggressive humor style had young participants and parents smiling Wednesday at an 11:30 a.m. performance.

"I had a lot of fun today in the show," Steven Walsh, 9, said. The Woodstock resident acted as one of Matchett's special guests.

"My favorite part was definitely making the bunny reappear," said one young participant. "It was the greatest."

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