The 2012 West Virginia State Fair

by Roanna Martin

From August 10-18, 2012, Lewisburg, West Virginia bustled with activity as folks from around the state gathered to enjoy “Memories that grow… year after year.” A fair is a great place to go as an outing with your friends or family, and if you are from West Virginia you’re bound to run into someone you know. Celebrations of culture and heritage are a beautiful thing, and much of the entertainment at the Fair showcases these qualities.

I took a weekend away from my studies at WVU where I am in the midst of my dietetic internship to spend some time soaking up the Fair. The first stop on my visit was to the West Virginia building to see the home and garden displays. I was not disappointed- there was a great variety of talent showcased in the building.

These two cakes caught my eye with their intricate detail. I could not decide which one to share, so I decided to share both. The one on the left captures the essence and glamour of a fair, while the one on the right makes my vegetable-loving heart happy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In the same building, there was a great display of baked goods…

And beautifully preserved food in jars…

And a variety of handcrafted items.  These rag rugs caught my eye- particularly the one in the middle which was crafted from old plastic bags.

In the 4-H building, one club had put together a beautiful quilt, capturing the essence of 4-H and the sweet creativity of children.

FFA (Future Farms of America) had a fantastic display as well, with some beautiful pears…

along with an assortment of other homegrown produce and eggs.

The Hundred chapter (located in Wetzel County) put together a very nice display about selling at a farmers’ market.

WVFarm2U had sponsored a booth for cooking demonstrations. Although I didn’t get to actually watch a demonstration, I did catch a bit of pie judging.

There was lots more to see at the fair as well- livestock, horse shows, lots of food, rides for the children, and well… all those other lovely things that fairs have to offer.

I left the fair with a greater appreciation of the diversity and productivity of this beautiful state.