ROME TOWNSHIP – Scores of people pounded tent stakes, taped up banners and wiped down food booths Sunday at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.

Monday, July 10, 2000

ROME TOWNSHIP – Scores of people pounded tent stakes, taped up banners and wiped down food booths Sunday at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.

"We’re setting up, answering people’s questions, putting out trash cans, getting everything ready," said Doug Clark, county fair board president.

Clark and other fair board volunteers rode around on golf carts, organizing for the week-long fair.

"Things are going fairly smooth for a setup day," he said.

Despite temperatures soaring into the 90s and Sunday’s high humidity, Clark predicted everything to be up and running today – the first official fair day.

The fair board is worried about this week’s weather, but it should hold out, he said.

"The weather I heard last said it should be a good week," Clark said, adding that many might have to take precautions from the heat.

Still, fair board members expect a record number of visitors to this year’s county fair.

Clark always thinks there will be a record crowd but this year’s fair boasts something different – three demolition derbies and the country music offerings of Exile, a popular band.

"With those and the top of the line rides we have really high hopes of drawing a large number of people," he said.

Many of the rides are brand new and that just adds to the quality entertainment the fair affords anyone in the Tri-State, Clark said.

Add a new 4-H food booth, all the livestock shows and 4-H events to the mix and people will love being at the fairgrounds, he said.

"It’s just going to be a good fair," he said. "Anybody can put a carnival on but it takes 4-H and FFA kids to put a fair on."

Junior fair board member Natalie Wall could not agree more.

"I’m looking forward to working with the junior fair board, seeing friends," Miss Wall said as she helped keep track of animals weighed-in Sunday.

"It’s fun and not a lot of work because there are so many members," she said.

Miss Wall always come to fair and has a lot of fun, otherwise she wouldn’t be on the junior fair board, she said.

Miss Wall also expects a great fair this year because junior fair board members are dedicated to making it a great fair.

The livestock competitions will feature dozens upon dozens of lambs, pigs, steer, rabbits and chickens, even though the numbers of animals have decreased slightly, she said.

"It will still be a good competition," she added. "We have some good animals and good showmanship."