Last Sunday was the last day of the 64th Richmond County Agriculture Fair, which took place at the Hamlet Fairgrounds.
As is customary, participants in the arts and agriculture spent the day taking down their exhibits from the fairgrounds. Throughout the week, dozens of them will be doing a wide range of activities.
It’s important to a lot of the people who put entries in. They want to know that their pets are safe and cared for. One of our rabbits brought us special food. When they get back, they’re thrilled to see what they won. If they come in first or second.
A member of the Hamlet Lion’s Club named Catherine Lang led the planning of this year’s event. “We also give cash prizes for first through third place, so that gives them a reason to come back and maybe do better next year,”
Lang said that seeing the look in a child’s eye when they get praise for their project is one of her favorite things about running the fair. For some people, it may be the only praise they ever get for doing arts or farming as a child.
“It’s fun.” My kids always bring their stuff. The joy they feel when they find out they won and receive a ribbon and cash that can be used to purchase anything they desire.
Your heart is filled with joy. The fair has been put on by the Hamlet Lions Club for about 50 years. The county fair has always been here… Lang said, “This is our third year back from COVID-19.”
Lang thinks that the 65th Richmond County Argriculture Fair will have many more visitors next year than the one that happened in the early evening. Lang’s family has been planning the county fair for more than three generations.
“People remember how many rides there were at the agriculture fair when they were kids.” Lang said, “They remember walking through the barn and seeing the displays.” “Older people, maybe people my age, remember good times there, and now they’re bringing their kids.”
We’ve been doing it for more than 50 years. The crowds have gotten a little bigger, but it’s taking longer to get the community to help us fill up our show hall and barn. We’ll have to definitely work harder for that… Things were a little hard this year, so it will take some time.
Lang is looking forward to a much-needed break after a week of nonstop work as one of the event managers.
“Definitely going to be nice to take a break and not have to worry about the things I need to do or being out here ready for the crowds.” Lang said, “It will be great to take it easy.”