Worcester County Fair: August 10 – 12, Snow Hill, MD

The Fair is where agriculture, industry, recreation, and education unite in a cooperative effort to portray the resources and accomplishments of the Worcester County area. Some of Maryland’s, maybe even the entire nation’s, greatest farmers and growers hail from our humble farmlands located on the coast.

 

The Worcester County Fair is held in Byrd Park, settled on the banks of the Pocomoke River. Admission and parking for the event are free; it is suggested that attendees park at the Snow Hill Middle School. Shuttles will pick guests up from the school and drop them off on the fair property.

 

Snow Hill is one of the oldest established towns on the Delmarva Peninsula. It was established in 1686 by English settlers; they hailed from an area known as ‘Snow Hill’ in London, England. Snow Hill, MD became the Worcester County seat in 1742 and the town prospered. Snow Hill was known as the area’s financial capital for its wide array of culture, a large court house, and endless fields of green crops. The town and surrounding land was destroyed during a large fire in 1893. Over the last century, Snow Hill has once again begun prospering. The area is rich in fertile farmland, boasts headquarters for many chicken companies, and is filled with many locally-owned and operated businesses. This combination makes it the perfect place to host the county’s annual fair.

 

Local members of 4-H clubs will be representing their specific youth clubs during the event. 4-H, a program that developed during the industrial revolution, was created in 1914 to help develop rural communities and engage youth in agricultural vocations. 4-H stands for head, heart, hands, and health; all which are needed in farming, gardening, and agricultural practices. 4-H members will be showcasing their hard work in this year’s livestock showings and indoor displays at the Worcester County Fair. Below is a break-down of competition categories: 

 

Livestock: dairy, dairy goats, beef, meat goats, swine, and sheep

 

Other categories: poultry, rabbits, small pets, and horses

 

Indoor exhibits: banners, clothing, cakes, pies, baked goods, preservation, home, woodworking, electric, natural resources, photography, art, posters, crafts, collections, scrapbooks, vegetables, gardening, flowers, and crops

 

Last year’s fair was cut short due to flooding after a rainstorm on Saturday. This year, we’re all hoping for sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. 

 

Additional events have been added to the fair lineup for 2012.

 

“We’ve added a cornhole tournament on Sunday, August 12th at 1 pm. It’s $10 for a two person team. The winning team splits the entry money 50/50 with the Worcester County Fair,” wrote a fair official on their Facebook page recently.

 

Check out the list below for an event schedule, a list of not-to-miss events, and a partial list of vendors: