The Highland County Fair Is Almost Here

It’s almost fair time in Highland County.   The fair is sponsored by the Monterey Lions Club, the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and the Stonewall, Blue Grass, Bolar and Mill Gap Ruritan Clubs. The fair is an annual highlight and it brings benefits to the community.

Holli McVeigh has more.  She is the Secretary of the Highland County Fair Association.

“The fair is a community celebration,” says McVeigh. “It brings everyone together.  It’s an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of agriculture and sustainability and it allows the youth of the community to show their knowledge and skills of livestock production and it teaches them sportsmanship and responsibility through showing and taking care of their animals.  The fair supports the civic organizations, the Monterey Lions Club, Mill Gap, Bolar, Stonewall and Blue Grass Ruritans along with the Chamber of Commerce.  The organizations, in turn, give back by improving the county through various projects and supporting educational goals through scholarships.  The fair is just an important event to keep such a small community like ours alive.”

You can learn more about the fair and get a full listing of events by picking up a fair guide, which is  available at most stores in Highland.   You can also visit Highland County Fair Virginia on Facebook or visit the website https://highlandcountyfairva.com

“I think a challenge every year, including this one, is having enough volunteers to keep it going,” says McVeigh. “The Fair Board is all volunteers.  Of course, all the civic organizations are volunteers.  So, whether it’s serving food, manning the ticket gate, driving a golf cart, finding entertainment options, running an event like the horse show, it all takes volunteers.  So, it’s really difficult sometimes to get people involved.  Especially if they don’t know, kind of, the ins and outs.  It may be a little intimidating, learning to help with the fair.  Also, fairs are expensive.  Everything cost-wise has gone up.  So, it’s very difficult to, kind of, work within our means while trying to bring new events, new entertainment to the community, to the fair.”

“So, reach out, volunteer to help,” says McVeigh.  “Reach out to see where there’s a need.  Join a Ruritan Club and get involved.  It’s not enough just to go to the meetings monthly.  Take initiative and see what you can do to help with the fair and, therefore, help the community thrive.   There’s always something to do and it takes a village.  This being my first year on the Fair Board, I can tell you from experience I have a new found respect for the people behind the scenes that keep it going.  It’s a lot of work.  Reach out to us, there’s just always something to do.”

The Highland County Fair’s first event is the Horse Show on Saturday, August 26, beginning at 9am at the grandstand at the fairgrounds.

The fair parade is Wednesday, August 30, at 6pm and following that the fairgrounds open.  The fair runs through Saturday, September 2.