Bedford County Fair a family tradition
Generations return to county year after year to show livestock
Trending
For some, the Bedford County Fair is seven days of carnival rides, fair food, petting zoos, souvenirs and making family memories on a summer day. For others, it's about working hard to prepare their animals for show, setting up equipment, arranging their home for the week in campers and carrying on agricultural traditions that have been passed down for generations. During the week, families work together to show their livestock and create unforgettable experiences.
Over the last 65 years, the family at Green Slopes Farm, a Guernsey dairy farm, have proudly exhibited their cattle at the fair. Now this year, the fourth-generation members of the family are continuing the tradition.
"We don't know any different," Alicia McDonald from Green Slopes Farm said. "From the time we were born, we were at the back of the fair and that's why we continue, we want to keep the family tradition going."
For this year's fair, the McDonald family brought 30 head of cattle. Landon Oldham, a young cousin of the family, has been showing for five years and said he loves being around animals and having the opportunity to share the animals with the community.
While each family member has their own responsibilities at the fair, McDonald said it's about helping each other prepare the animals to be successful. She said there are showmen who are eight to 20 years old who all lend each other a hand.
"Teamwork makes the dream work," McDonald said.
In addition to family members, the McDonald family leases livestock to young kids who don't come from farms and want to show cattle. McDonald said they have been doing this for 50 years as it started with her father, Galen McDonald.
To prepare cattle and other animals for showing, showmen wash, clip, feed and complete health checks on their animals. McDonald said managing the animals teaches the kids responsibility as they are up early in the morning and go to bed late.
"They don't have time to get in trouble because they're working," she said.
There are more than 12,000 animals at this week's fair, including both beef and dairy cattle, meat and dairy goats, sheep, swine, rabbits and horses. Every day this week, Bill Hoover, president of the fair board, said showmen of all ages will be showing different animals before the livestock auction on Saturday.
During the livestock shows, both the showmen and women are judged separately from their animals. The showman gets judged on how well they show off and control the animal, making it look its best in the show ring, while the animal gets judged based on its muscle tone and build for its specific breed.
On Tuesday, cattle shown by Addison Dodson, 16, received first, second and third place during their respective shows. Dodson, who has been showing cattle for three years, camps out at the fair all week with her family. She said she looks forward to the fair all year because she gets to learn and teach younger kids.
"I love to learn about this stuff," she said. "There are a lot of other great showmen and cows."
Carson Robertson, 9, has also been showing for three years and camps at the fair all week. He said his favorite part about the fair is getting to have fun.
"We're an agriculture community. We're proud of that and the kids learn from that," Hoover said.
At the end of the fair, Hoover said the top livestock in each meat category heads to auction. It's a tradition that brings out a great crowd of bidders early Saturday morning looking to snag the area's best beef, swine, goat and lamb.
In addition to the livestock shows, the fair is packed with things to do. The midway rides, games and food vendors are favorites of both exhibitors and fairgoers alike. There are also grandstand shows like the Bull Ride Mania, the demolition derby, stock car races and truck and tractor pulls, as well as the 4-H and draft horse shows. Live entertainment is featured throughout the day and night, as well.
For the 152nd fair, some new additions were added in Jordan Hall, including the Bedford County Liberty Bell and the Bedford County student art project to celebrate America250. Students from school districts from across Bedford County created five mobiles, which are hanging from the ceiling in the building, to represent the celebration of America's 250th birthday. On the mobiles, Hoover said, students wrote what the celebration meant to them.
The mobiles will remain on display in Jordan Hall after the fair for anyone who didn't make it to the display during fair week.
The fair continues through Saturday, Aug. 1. As families come to enjoy the fair and work together, Hoover said it shows the roots of the country and the community in Bedford County.
"The fair is a place for families, friends and fun," Hoover said.
For more information about the fair, visit https://www.bedford-fair.com/.
Mirror Staff Writer Jayla Nartatez is at 814-946-7535.