Wednesday, August 10, 2011

'Fairs are hugely important'

Annual event is a celebration of agriculture, husbandry


David Kerns prepares to power-wash the Expowheel ferris wheel at the fairgrounds on Monday. Workers prepared for the Tuesday, August 9 opening of the Augusta County Fair at Expoland in Fishersville on Monday, August 8, 2011.

Aug. 9, 2011

Pat Jarrett/The News Leader

FISHERSVILLE — The day began with a whimper for Ellen Shaver Shank as the Augusta County Fair board member dragged herself out of bed in time to open the Expo grounds gate at 4:15 a.m.
But it ended with a bang, as she and hundreds of others looked skyward for the fireworks at 9 p.m."I believe in the fair," said Shaver Shank, who does everything from administrative tasks to handing out event schedules.More than $100,000 in expenses, months of planning, and thousands of hours of preparation work by hundreds of volunteers culminated on Tuesday when the doors opened for the 17th annual Augusta County Fair."We begin planning for the next fair a week after the fair ends," Shaver Shank said. "There are so many details it boggles your mind, but the community comes together to make it happen."Although the fair has changed over the years — it now offers helicopter rides, laser tag, wine tastings and a circus show — it's as important for its celebration of agriculture and husbandry today as it ever was.read more:http://www.newsleader.com/article/20110810/NEWS01/108100324/-Fairs-hugely-important-

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