La Plata, MD – So far, it looks like Mother Nature is setting the stage for fantastic weather as the Charles County Fair prepares to kick off its 93rd year of opening county fairs in Southern Maryland.
This year’s fair, which opens Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Charles County Fairgrounds in La Plata, has a new president and a few new wrinkles.
“The fair has been a part of my life my entire life,” Charles County Fair President J.T. Hindle said. “My sister Louisa and I, both of us have been involved in the fair for a long, long time.”
Hindle’s father, Ray Hindle, was president of the fair 50 years ago.
A new Memorial Walkway is something to honor people and family of Charles County, a walkway being assembled brick by brick.
The fair board is charging $100 a brick and said purchasers can add a family member’s name who has passed away.
The Charles County Fair seal is inlaid into the walkway.
“It can be in memory or in honor of someone,” Hindle noted. “I’m really proud of the walkway.”
Another addition to this year’s fair will be the return of the 4-H Horse Show Sunday at 8 a.m., which for the past few years was held separately from the county fair.
“Now it will be part of the fair,” he said.
Hindle stressed that despite agriculture’s waning influence in Southern Maryland, the county fairs are the farmers’ showcase.
“We’re an agricultural fair,” he said proudly. “It’s still here with our exhibits.”
Folks bring cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, rabbits—all the critters fit for the fair, he noted.
“People with gardens submit vegetables, canned goods, baked goods, farm crops like hay and pumpkins,” Hindle added.
Unlike last year, when the state of Maryland excluded chickens or ducks from the fair due to fears of an Avian flu outbreak, this year’s fair will have chickens, chicks, ducklings and geese of all shapes and sizes.
“There are no restrictions at all,” Hindle stated. “We’ll have eggs, chickens, baby chickens…”
He, like many in the farming community, lament the number of children who think milk comes from the grocery store and not from the farm.
“Adults are like that too,” he said. “Some don’t know the difference between a sheep or a goat. They don’t realize that sheep have wool and goats have hair.”
Shearing and spinning demonstrations help fill in the gaps, he said.
“At some county fairs they actually have milking displays where they actually let kids milk the cow,” Hindle explained.
In addition to some new wrinkles, there will be many programs the Charles County Fair is known for, including the Queen Nicotina Pageant Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
Rides, food and games all round out the four-day event.
Hindle’s only challenge for the 2016 fair is getting through the event without the help of his wife of 46 years who passed away last Christmas.
“I didn’t realize how much she did for me, helping me at the fair,” he admitted. “I sure do miss her.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com