Almost a rite of passage for young and old alike, the Lawrence County Fair showcases the best of Appalachia and southern Ohio.

The annual event is drawing closer to it kickoff of July 5. And organizers are hard at work to put together the biggest and best fair ever.

With national country acts, local musical talent, new carnival-type attractions and the old standbys that include three demolition derbies and a horse pull, the event looks poised to meet those lofty expectations.

That doesn’t even take into account how the fair injects significant amount of revenue into the local economy through drawing visitors, local vendors and helping 4-H youth raise money for school and to help with the family business.

You don’t have to be a farmer or even a country boy or girl to enjoy the county fair.

At its heart, the event is just about providing positive activity for Lawrence County’s children, bringing the community closer together and renewing the focus on what makes small-town America so special.

Those are principles we should all be able to support.