Exhibitor, workers, countdown to State Fair of West Virginia

FAIRLEA, WV (WVNS) — The countdown to the State Fair of West Virginia continues.
As Opening Day draws closer, folks are hard at work on the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea.
Workers from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture were setting up the West Virginia Country Store on Monday, August 5, 2024.

“We have 37 vendors from around the state, that are West Virginia grown, and so we bring all of the vendors and sell their products for them, here at the State Fair,” explained WVDA Assistant Director of Business Development Maggie Blankenship.

One 18-year-old exhibitor said she would bring her goats and hogs to the fair for the tenth year, when the fair opened on Thursday, August 8, 2024.

“My dad decided it would be best for me to start with goats, and from there I decided to start showing hogs, as well,” said Hailey Elmore, as she explained how she began exhibiting livestock as a child. “Honestly, it’s something I look forward to every year, and I work hard to be here and to be able to exhibit these animals.”

The Country Store sells homemade jams and jellies, barbecue sauces and other items from West Virginians.

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