IT WAS absent for more than 65 years. There were no blue ribbons, midways, cotton candy, or prized livestock competitions. Multiple generations missed the experience of a local county fair until two men shared a vision of its return.
Carter Woodruff and the late Maurice Armstrong shared a way of life deeply rooted in agriculture. Each envisioned a return of the county fair, recognizing the importance of connecting the community with the farming work and lives it sustains.
Woodruff said, “The primary [goal] was building upon that agricultural heritage — the rich agrarian history of the past and present. Bedford County is a strong agricultural county; it’s a predominant industry. And we talked about how young people, even in a county like ours, are seeming to lose grasp of our agricultural roots.”
Bedford County’s first fair was a three-day event held in October 1857. The following year a five-day fair was held, and if the results noted in “Who, When, and What – Bedford County Fairs Vol. 1” by Roy Sonny Ferguson are any indication, it was a great success. The Bedford County Agricultural and Mechanical Association handed out awards for everything from apples to worsted sunbonnets.
The last fair location was in the area known today as Fairground Heights, and the fair continued there until a fire destroyed the facilities in 1933. Agricultural education lost its greatest platform until the spark that began with Woodruff and Armstrong’s conversation grew into a flame that ignited the return of the fair to Bedford County in 1998.
Twenty-five years later, the third week of July, the Bedford County Fairgrounds located on Midland Road and Peacock Lane will be a hub of entertainment and education.
Fair exhibition entries and awards will be proudly displayed, and livestock shows will bring the best of the best to town. You may find returning events such as a beekeeping show, truck and tractor pull, antique tractor pull, and a pull for mini rods, outlaws, and garden tractors. Don’t forget the poultry show, country pleasure horse show, sheep show, donkey and mini mule show, goat show, and mule and draft horse show.
Wander the midway and take in the familiar sights and sounds of the thrilling rides and games of chance. As the Ring of Fire and Ferris wheel light up the night sky, follow the sweet aroma to the funnel cakes and cotton candy. Watch the children’s faces light up as they swoosh down the giant slide and take in the magic of the event.
Need a break? Stop at the entertainment stage and enjoy area talent. Country music and cloggers are at home here, and you will be, too.
What about the next 25 years?
Woodruff said, “The goal is to continue our understanding of our rich heritage, now and in the future, in a venue where families can safely experience good things and enjoy themselves.”
Experience it yourself, and join us as we celebrate 25 years of the fair’s return to the community! GN
