Blog

When we first read news reports of a new illness on another continent during the winter, we could not imagine the impact it would have on everyday life. We have lost a few fair seasons over time. World Wars, relocation, and even a budget crisis have suspended our annual event. To my knowledge, this is the first year it was called off for a virus. I guess if you are around farming long enough, you will see everything.

We are not alone in this condition. At least 72 county fairs and festivals have made the hard choice to suspend or severely curtail their events this year, and 36 others just haven’t reached that decision point yet. We wish them the very best, but acknowledge that 2020 is just a tough year.

Fairs are a social event, but it looks like a social media event will be about as good as it gets for this summer. We will still be conducting a pageant to select a Fair Queen for 2020. We will be celebrating agriculture during Fair Week on Facebook, so snap some pictures of those prize fruits and vegetables before you enjoy them, and of your arts & crafts projects to share with us in July! Other opportunities will be announced closer to the time. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to celebrating agriculture with you in the future!

Scott Lemmon, President
New Carlisle Fair Association

The excitement is building!  The catalog and exhibitor letters are in the mail.  We are thrilled to present our 26th year Cumberland Ag Expo on the outskirts of Newville.  Fairgoers may see some new ponds covering acres of farmland on the way to the show. It has been a wetter than typical season. As much as we hate to see droughts, an overabundance of rain can be just as challenging.  We will count down the weeks ahead, and stand by to answer any questions you may have as first time exhibitors.  You can email us at info@cumberlandagexpo.com and we will get back to you.  For a quicker response, visit us on Facebook and send us a message there.  We will reach out to the person or committee that has your answer and get the information to you.

The year, Saturday kicks off the celebration with the first ribbons awarded at the SFC Randall Shughart Memorial 5K Mile Run on the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.  Net proceeds go to help a graduating senior with college or other continuing educational expenses.  Big Spring Bulldog, class of 2017,  Lars Weyant was our last recipient.  Help us give back to more deserving students in the community, while honoring the selfless legacy of SFC Shughart, class of 1976.  Register by July 10th at cvraceseries.us for the shirt and an early bird discount.

I will highlight a different aspect of the event here for those of you new to us.  Look through the fair catalog and decide what you may enter.  Heck, you might be pleasantly surprised and win a ribbon and the award $$ that comes with it.  We would love to have you be part of the show!

The excitement is building!  The catalog and exhibitor letters are in the mail.  We are thrilled to present our 25th year Cumberland Ag Expo on the outskirts of Newville.  Fairgoers will travel past many reminders of the agricultural heritage of Cumberland County on your way to the show.  Dairy herds, cornfields, garden plots and produce stands fill the landscape bringing food directly or indirectly to our tables.  We will count down the weeks ahead, and stand by to answer any questions you may have as first time exhibitors.  You can email us at info@cumberlandagexpo.com and we will get back to you.  For a quicker response, visit us on Facebook and send us a message there.  We will reach out to the person or committee that has your answer and get the information to you.

The year, Saturday kicks off the celebration with the first four blue ribbons awarded at the SFC Randall Shughart Memorial 5 Mile Run on the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.  Net proceeds go to help a graduating senior with college or other continuing educational expenses.  Big Spring Bulldog, class of 2017,  Lars Weyant was our last recipient.  Help us give back to more deserving students in the community, while honoring the selfless legacy of SFC Shughart, class of 1976.  Register by July 10th at cvraceseries.us for the shirt and an early bird discount.

Also, if you see a parade of tractors on the road after the race, you probably caught the Jim Garman Tractor Trot in progress.  This event is just a good time for the drivers and wagon riders, as they take a slow tour of the countryside from the fairgrounds to the destination farm, and back to the fairgrounds for lunch.  Let us know if you need information for that.  If you have a tractor, they would love for you to join in.

I will highlight a different aspect of the event here for those of you new to us.  Look through the fair catalog and decide what you may enter.  Heck, you might be pleasantly surprised and win a ribbon and the award $$ that comes with it.  We would love to have you be part of the show!