Competitions
The Washington County Fair educates young people, builds their confidence and teaches leadership skills through the various 4-H, FFA, and Scout programs and competitions. Livestock competition classes included sheep, beef, dairy, goat, rabbit and poultry. A dog show was held on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Many successful livestock competitors go on to the Big E (Eastern States Exposition) held each September in West Springfield, MA. Learn more on this event at www.thebige.com/fair
Demonstrations
Exhibit Halls at the fair display competitions including arts and crafts, clothing, photography, baked goods, food preservation, vegetables, scarecrows, sewing, knitting, cut flowers and grange exhibits. One hall houses a display of antique farm tools while another holds 4-H project posters. The Rhode Island Spinner Guild demonstrated making yarn with their spinning wheels.
Background
Celebrating its 47th anniversary, the fair entertained another 100,000 people from across Rhode Island and Southern New England for five days in mid-August.
The fair is owned and operated by volunteers at the Washington County Pomona Grange, a non-profit community service organization. The individual granges making up the Pomona Grange perform extensive community service in their respective communities. Their work includes knitting hats for newborns at hospitals, donating new dictionaries to elementary schools, giving food to local food banks, donations to local charities and offering scholarships to high school students. The granges support Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, FFA and other agricultural organizations.
This fair is Rhode Island’s largest agricultural event with 4-H livestock competitions, exhibits and a dog show. In 2013, the fair added a new event called Battle of the Fisherman.
For more information on this fair or the 2014 fair schedule, see www.washingtoncountyfair-ri.com or call 401-539-7042. To view photos from the fair see www.washingtoncountyfair-ri.com/photoblog_2013.php