Head out to the fair

T
he 2019 Weston County Fair is in full swing. This year’s fair theme is “A Fair with Roots & Room to Grow,” and kicked off Friday with a parade down Newcastle’s Main Street. Grab your family and friends and head to the fairgrounds to see all the exhibits and partake in the many events this year’s fair offers. 
As of Monday, 1,535 entries by 219 exhibitors had been logged; these totals will keep climbing as the flower and open class entries are tallied.
Seven new events and/or entertainments have been added to the fair schedule for this year, according to Kara Fladstol, fairgrounds manager. Concessionaires total five this year, and the vendor show will stretch to two days. 
New features this year include live results to be posted at https://fairentry.com/Fair/Results/3387, according to Fladstol, and there is also a photo ‘scavenger hunt’ this year for those on Facebook. Each day there is a theme and those who post photos based on that theme are entered into a daily $10 drawing. Winners of the daily drawings are then entered into a grand prize drawing for $100. For instance, on Saturday the theme was “Get Loud,” and participants entered photos of fire trucks in the parade, music, the truck pull, and the talent show.
In many cases, it is dedicated community volunteers that help make the annual Weston County Fair a successful week of fun, competition, and entertainment.
Sadly, one Junior Rodeo cheerleader will be missing from the stands this year. Kathleen Tavegie passed away on July 19 and her voice will be missed, along with her work for causes and organizations in this community.  The News Letter Journal worked with Tavegie on some of her last projects — during National Library week when she placed an ad for the Twentieth Century Club, and again in May when she called to inform us of the local Cowbelles organization’s fourth grade Father of the Year essay project.       
It is the volunteer spirit — like that of Tavegie’s — that needs to be highlighted at fair time. The fair could not happen without all the dedicated volunteers who make everything run smoothly. Hundreds of people will give their time and talents to make the fair possible.
The Weston County Fair will wrap up with the Junior Rodeo on Aug. 3 and 4. Cowboys and cowgirls will compete in Junior Rodeo beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with Heritage and Jackpot team roping following. Cowboy Church service begins at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, and will conclude with the Junior Rodeo at 9 a.m. 
“Without the community’s support and financial donors, we wouldn’t have a fair,” Fladstol said.
So take time to enjoy the fair and to thank those who make it happen.