The 77th Annual Boone County Fair opened on August 4, 2010 with the VFW Post 5378 doing the honors. Along with the VFW color guard, there were also ominous looking clouds moving in. These clouds resulted in booming thunderstorms just as they finished the opening ceremony. After the storm was over the Shepherd Brothers took the stage, just as their show ended the storms brew up again, cancelling the rest of the evening. Those in attendance were looking forward to an evening of gospel music.

The Shepherd Brothers have been together for about 29 years and include members Brad Britton, Terry Shepherd, Danny Mullins, Shirley Shepherd, Butch Shepherd, and Mike. Due to the storm I was unable to obtain Mikes last name. They are from Parkersburg, West Virginia.

The rest of the line-up for the evening was to have been the Seth Bunting, Logan Darnell and Weekend Grass.

Seth Bunting, 12, of Danville, is the son of Mike and Jeri Bunting and has been singing gospel music for 6 years. His first time singing came at the Lick Creek Community Church. Seth has performed for the Relay for Life of Madison and Sissonville, Coal Festival in Madison and The Boone County Fair. Seth has also done some theatre work. He has worked with the Aracoma Store, Charleston Light Opera Guild (CLOG), and Stage in Madison. To book this talented young man call 304-369-1354.

Logan Darnell is the son of Misty Abraham of Danville. Logan has been singing gospel most of his life also. He started at the age of 5 at Spruce Laurel Freewill Baptist Church. He has also sang at 4-H events, National Day of Prayer, West Virginia State Fair in 2009, Relay for Life in Madison as well as Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. To book this talented young man call 304-369-4801.

The final group of the evening was to have been Weekend Grass. They have been together for 12 years and they are three-time winners of the band competition at Mountaineer Opry House in Milton West Virginia. Their members are Richard Williams, Randy and Loretta Triplett of Clay County, and Allen Dotson from Danville.)

Thursday Night was Rick K and the Allnighters. Rick K. formed the group fifteen years ago in Morgantown, West Virginia. His show band has performed for the NBA, NFL pre-game shows, Texas Motor Speedway, various state fairs and they have recently completed their third album entitled “Get A Job.” Members of the group are Rick K., Steve Moore, Dustin McCray, Paul Allen, Bobby Menear, Bill Stockwell and Chip Thompson.

Friday’s events included a petting zoo from Honey Hill Farm out of Williamston, Kentucky. They had miniature ponies as well as a miniature donkey. The also had Silky Chickens, goats, sheep, alpacas, miniature Brahma bull, ducks and Holland Lops Rabbits and pony rides for the kids. They have a web site also if you would like to check it out it is honeyhillfarm.net and they can be contacted at 859-654-8015 to book them. This was their first event in West Virginia.

The entertainment for the evening was Buckstone and Cledus T. Judd.

Buckstone is a small group from Charleston, West Virginia that has local ties to Boone County. Their members are Tom Kirk, Drums and Vocals, Jamie Adkins, Guitar and Vocals and Diane Burton on Bass. They are also on myspace, facebook and have a web site: buckstonewv.com per band member Diane Burton. To book them contact Tom Kirk at 304-541-0136.

Cledus T. Judd took the state at 9 p.m., Friday night. It was amazing to watch him walk through the crowds with his daughter Caitlyn and ride rides with her, and no one seemed to recognize him. Well, with a weight loss of 100 lbs. it was even hard for me to recognize him. When I asked him about the weight loss he replied,

“He didn’t want to be unhealthy for his 5 year old daughter and his 16 year old step-son. He wants to be healthy for them. His parody Indian In-Laws started his career back in 1995. He has been performing mostly in comedy clubs where he gets more interaction with the crowds. Be on the look out for a new CD by Cledus either this fall or next spring.

Saturday was a big day for the Boone County Fair. The parade kicked off the days events at noon, led off by “Chance” of the VFW Post 5378 and his friend on their motorcycles, followed by fire trucks from Danville, Madison, and Van. Tri-River Transit Authority had one of the buses there; Appalachian Tire had one of their trucks with some of the cuties contestants who tossed candy to those watching along the parade route, as well as personal vehicles carrying some contestants. The parade also had Smokey Bear and Clementine the Clown along with Scott High School Marching Band under the direction of Gene Mills. Nick Joe Rahall called me the morning of the parade to wish us his best and to apologize for not being able to attend this year’s activity.

Immediately following the parade, the 23rd Annual Cuties Contest started at the fairgrounds. All first place contestants are in the running for the grand prize of $200 and to be the Grand Marshall in next year’s parade:

Winners in the Cuties Contest were:

0-11 Month Girls:

1st Place: Rilynn Jace Dalton

2nd Place: Paityn Pritcherd

3rd Place: Samantha Sigmon

0-11 Month Boys:

Aiden De’Simone

12-23 Month Girls:

1st Place: Olivia Buchka

2nd Place: Athena Dotson

3rd Place: Ava Leanna Morris

12-23 Month Boys:

1st Place: Jaxon Lee Hager

2nd Place: Elijah Lake Jeffrey

3rd Place: Bryson Tramonteno

24-35 Months Girls:

1st Place: Emma Frye

2nd Place: Madilyn Loftis

2rd Place: Sara Dinges

24-35 Month Boys:

Jason J.W. Ferrell

36-47 Month Girls

1st Place: Brooke Christian

2nd Place: Alyssa Shultz

3rd Place: Breanna Jewel Miller

4-6 Year Old Girls:

1st Place: Gabriella Jefferson

2nd Place: Breonia LeeAnn Cook

3rd Place: Kymberlyn Kirk

The high point winner of this year’s Cuties Contest was Brooke Christian from Chapmanville.

The day’s events also had fun activities for the kids after the Cuties Contest. They got to make their own tie-dye t-shirts, play games and win prizes. The first place winners in the kids day activities won back packs with school supplies in them compliments of the Boone County Fair Board. They were also entertained by Dewayne Hill, a magician who has attended several of the fairs to astound and astonish those in attendance with his magic. In April 2007 Dewayne set a world record by performing 71 card tricks in 60 minutes using only 1 deck of cards. He also performs in Comedy Clubs, schools, colleges, and churches. He has also performed for Ford Motor Company, United Way, Bank One, Kroger, and Tri-State Greyhound Park.

Karaoke is always a hit with fair attendees. This years winners were:

12 and Under

1st Place: Gracie Nichols

2nd Place: Tayler Stowers

3rd Place: Allie Thompson

13-17 Year Olds

1st Place: Chante Dent

2nd Place: Heather Dunlap

18 and Older:

1st Place; Chuck Curry

2nd Place: Sherly Blackburn

3rd Place; Sylvia Stowers

The main musical entertainment was Blackwater Outlaws. Their members are Mitch Varnam, Seth Varnam, Aaron Roberts and Jason Coveyor. They are famous for their song “Covered in Coal” and are preparing to release a new cd in late September or early October. Their new cd has a tribute song for the Upper Big Branch Disaster titled “Coal Miners Hands” that was written by Jason. They performed this song at the fair.

A fair wouldn’t be a fair without an Arts and Crafts display. This years display and winners should be very proud of themselves. The talent that I saw in the displays this year was amazing. From the quilts, to knitting, and from the various categories of photography to the drawings that were done in pencil, acrylics, mixed medium and crayon. Also, the 4-H kids once again had a great display at this year’s fair. Thanks to Robin Bailey what she does with these kids. And a big thanks goes to the Civil Air Patrol who provide the security of the area at night during the fair.