PROCTORVILLE - Rome resident Missy Gorby is looking forward to the Lawrence County Fair. In fact, she has never missed it.

"I'll be 36 (last week), and I haven't missed a day of the fair," she said with a smile as she talked about the annual event that returns Saturday and concludes July 16.

Gorby said she was a member of 4-H for 10 years. She showed the club's mule at the fair for five years. Although they no longer have mule shows, Gorby said the fair still has a horse show and the horse pull for people to enjoy.

The fair is also a great time to visit with people that you do not get to see throughout the year, she said.

"It's the one time of the year you get to see people from the other end of the county that you never get to see any other time of the year," Gorby said.

As residents are gearing up for the fair festivities, local businesses are also preparing for the additional crowds of people that the fair will bring to the area.

The Corner Mart, formerly Charlie's Market in Rome, has expanded its staff for the annual event.

Manager Coral Bennett Anderson said that, since the weather will be hot, store employees are hoping that both those who travel with the fair and those who are attending it will come by and cool off with an old fashioned milkshake and enjoy some of their home-cooked meals.

"We're hoping people will come in and enjoy some of our homemade meals," Anderson said.

Larry Auxier, Rome Food Fair assistant manager,

said that the store orders extra products in preparation for the event - and that includes extra ice. The store also hires a sheriff's deputy to patrol the parking lot to prevent people from parking there during the popular

events such as the demolition derby and concerts.

Food Fair's deli will also be preparing food for people to pick up while at the fair.

"Our deli will be preparing grab-and-go meals for the fair," he said.

Whether business or spectator, many people are looking forward to cows, pigs, sun and fun.