It is the state of Virginia's biggest agricultural county fair, featuring exhibitions and events devoted to the presentation and promotion of farm life and food production. The fair is held annually, just south of Harrisonburg, Virginia at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on US Rt. 11. The fairgrounds account for 111 acres of land, a 21,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) exhibit hall for display of local creative arts, homemaking skills and commercial exhibits, an 85,000 square feet (7,900 m2) barn complex with a capacity of 1,100 head of hogs, sheep, beef cattle, dairy cattle and goats, a building for horticulture, and farm crop displays, the Virginia Poultry Industry Center, a building for poultry/rabbit exhibits, and food booths run by local civic clubs. There is also a grandstand, which seats 4,000 people, plus another 2,500 at ground level. The barn complex is approximately of space under-roof. There is parking on the grounds for over 7,000 cars.
The fairgrounds are used throughout the year for a variety of events including; fundraising activities, livestock breed shows, trade shows, exhibitions and community events.[2]
The fair is a 22-time winner for Outstanding Program for Competitive Agricultural Exhibitions as judged by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.[3]Volunteers contribute over 13,000 hours of labor each year to ensure the success of the fair.[2]
The Rockingham County Fair Association is a non-profit organization that manages the Rockingham County Fair. A board of directors is elected by the membership composed of 51 civic and service clubs from Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
History of the Fairedit
The first Rockingham County Fair was held at the Linville Ball Park, August 31 - September 3, 1949. Many, smaller fairs were held before 1949 at Ed's Park at Rawley Springs, and in Harrisonburg on the Whitesel-Sit lot and at the present location of Memorial Stadium. From 1950-1951, the fair was four days long, from 1952–1963, five days long, and from 1964 to 2019 & since 2021, the fair has run for six days.[2]
The fair has been held at the present site on US Rt. 11 since 1980.
No fair was held in 2020.
Referencesedit
^Cooke, Anne. "Blue Ribbons for Fairest of Rural County Fairs." Los Angeles Times 25 July 1993: L7. Print.
^ abc"Rockingham County Fair History." Rockingham County Fair Association Annual Meeting. Harrisonburg, VA, 2010. 3-5.
rockingham, county, fair, been, dubbed, angeles, times, best, rural, county, fairs, united, states, usual, showcases, that, include, tractor, pulls, demolition, derby, amusement, rides, antique, auto, show, flea, market, country, western, concerts, local, spec. The Rockingham County Fair has been dubbed by the Los Angeles Times as one of the best rural county fairs in the United States for the usual showcases that include tractor pulls a demolition derby amusement rides an antique auto show a flea market and country western concerts Local specialties brought to the fair are quince and crab apple jellies gingerbread peanut brittle canned huckleberries and sauerkraut 1 It is the state of Virginia s biggest agricultural county fair featuring exhibitions and events devoted to the presentation and promotion of farm life and food production The fair is held annually just south of Harrisonburg Virginia at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on US Rt 11 The fairgrounds account for 111 acres of land a 21 000 square foot 2 000 m2 exhibit hall for display of local creative arts homemaking skills and commercial exhibits an 85 000 square feet 7 900 m2 barn complex with a capacity of 1 100 head of hogs sheep beef cattle dairy cattle and goats a building for horticulture and farm crop displays the Virginia Poultry Industry Center a building for poultry rabbit exhibits and food booths run by local civic clubs There is also a grandstand which seats 4 000 people plus another 2 500 at ground level The barn complex is approximately of space under roof There is parking on the grounds for over 7 000 cars The fairgrounds are used throughout the year for a variety of events including fundraising activities livestock breed shows trade shows exhibitions and community events 2 The fair is a 22 time winner for Outstanding Program for Competitive Agricultural Exhibitions as judged by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions 3 Volunteers contribute over 13 000 hours of labor each year to ensure the success of the fair 2 The Rockingham County Fair Association is a non profit organization that manages the Rockingham County Fair A board of directors is elected by the membership composed of 51 civic and service clubs from Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg Virginia History of the Fair editThe first Rockingham County Fair was held at the Linville Ball Park August 31 September 3 1949 Many smaller fairs were held before 1949 at Ed s Park at Rawley Springs and in Harrisonburg on the Whitesel Sit lot and at the present location of Memorial Stadium From 1950 1951 the fair was four days long from 1952 1963 five days long and from 1964 to 2019 amp since 2021 the fair has run for six days 2 The fair has been held at the present site on US Rt 11 since 1980 No fair was held in 2020 References edit Cooke Anne Blue Ribbons for Fairest of Rural County Fairs Los Angeles Times 25 July 1993 L7 Print a b c Rockingham County Fair History Rockingham County Fair Association Annual Meeting Harrisonburg VA 2010 3 5 Agricultural Awards IAFE Awards and Contests International Association of Fairs and Expositions 2010 Web 1 Apr 2011 lt http www fairsandexpos com resources awards gt External links editOfficial Website Twitter page Facebook page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rockingham County Fair amp oldid 1077717612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
