On the heels of the sold out Lynyrd Skynryd concert at the fairgrounds last month - the Fair Association's first major rock show - the 50th annual Warren County Fair will kick off with its traditional country legend in the form of Merle Haggard on Sunday night.

"We always have a big country star for the fair," said Warren County Fair Association vice president Tom Eshelman last week. "We still have general admission tickets available for that show."

Warren County Fair Association president Joye Wood said Monday night at the fair will be extra special, this year, with a couple of unique events.

The first of these will be a groundbreaking for the new Warren County 4-H livestock barn at 6:30 p.m.

Wood said the 50th anniversary celebration would be at 7 p.m., following the Junior and Miss Warren County Fair Pageant.

A special "Queen's Tent" with food and gifts for the 20 or so former Miss Warren County Fair winners expected to attend will be set up near the stage.

 "I do know we have the 1959 queen attending," Wood said. "[Michal Ann Neal-Smith of Fredericksburg] has been in touch with us from the beginning and she's going to help us with the pageant."

Wood said a lot of former pageant winners are still local, but they've had calls from as far away as Florida.

"Turns out the one from Florida can't come because she works for NASA, and they have a shuttle launch coming up," Wood said. "It's nice to know the girls have gone on to success."

Wood said the former fair will be introduced on stage.
"Hopefully they'll have their crowns," Wood said. "A lot of them have been excited to come back."

If it's dark enough, Wood said they might be able to put on a PowerPoint show with photos from previous pageants.
"It was good to hear from them. We're going to keep a database of all the queens we've heard from. Some of them can't remember what year they won," Wood said. "We just got calls from the 1974 and 1975 winners. "

Wood said special 50th anniversary pins will be on sale for $3 and a paperback history of the Warren County Fair will be available for $10 (See page B1).

Eshelman said he wants to make sure everyone knows that the traditional "family matinee" at the fair has been moved to Tuesday evening.

"On Family Night, kids under 12 get in free, that's the night to come," Eshelman said. "There will be lawnmower races, a boxing exhibition and midget wrestling. It'll be fun."

For the first time, Eshelman said, the fair midway is not going to be open on Saturday during the day.

Gates at the fair will open at noon on Saturday, Aug. 11, with $10 admission for adults and $5 for kids under 12. The rides will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

"Saturday used to be the time, but it's so hot during the day on Saturday and attendance was low, so we're going to try having it in the evening during the week," Eshelman said.

Wristbands for unlimited riding from 6-10 p.m. will be available for $15 Monday through Wednesday.

There will still be events during the day at the fairgrounds on the weekends.

The first Fair event will be the third annual Rotary Club of Front Royal VHSA Benefit Horse Show that gets started at 8 a.m. Aug. 4.

Another Saturday event that Fair organizers hope will be a big success is the Virginia's Best Pound Cake Recipe Contest on Aug. 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the Wonder Building.

The winner of the Warren County contest will get $25 and a gift bag from the Virginia Egg Council, sponsor of the event, according to Wood.

"We've had some phone calls on it already this year," Wood said. "This contest doesn't have separate categories for youth and adults the way they did for the Hershey's competition."

The winner will be eligible to compete at the State Fair in Richmond for a $400 first prize.

Second and third prize in Warren County will be $20 and $15.

Later that night, the last of the 2007 fair, will be
special, Eshelman said.

"We'll have a big double-header that includes a truck and tractor pull and country music star Julie Roberts," Eshelman said.

The Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby, featured on Monday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m., is growing in popularity every year Eshelman said.

The "Extreme Motorcycle Globe "will make its fair debut Monday night.

"That's a Vegas show you've got to come out and see," Eshelman said. "There are two show's per night and it's pretty cool."

Eshelman said the popular "Hansen's Aerial Thrill Show" is back again this year.

"Wednesday is our oldies night, featuring the Del Vikings," Eshelman said. "There will also be the Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show that night."

And of course, on Friday evening, we'll have the annual 4-H livestock auction, Eshelman said.

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