76th Annual Wicomico Farm & Home Show: August 16 – 18

On August 16th -18th, 2012, Winterplace Park (the same venue that Pork in the Park calls home annually) will be buzzing with locals excited about celebrating the area’s rich agricultural presence. Salisbury-area residents will celebrate their heritage, culture, and community at a wholesome event filled with family fun, great entertainment, friendly competition, and educational experiences fit for the whole family.

 

The Wicomico Farm and Home Show features more than 20 different departments in which entries could be made; more than 45 departmental areas if you count specific sub-categories. Departments include areas like baking, candy, woodworking, poultry, rabbits, flowers, fruits and nuts, home arts, art, hobbies, original work, photography, livestock, food preservation, and more. Some areas are classified as ‘junior’ contests and are intended for children. 

 

All exhibits displayed, other than livestock, have been grown or made by exhibitors and have not been entered in any other previous Farm and Home Show. All entries in the competitions were received by August 1st. All items will be on display at the Farm and Home Show. Winning items will be tagged with ribbons; blue, red, green, and purple. Animals shown include sheep, swine, cattle, goats, rabbits, and chickens.

 

“There were 300 more entries in all adult divisions this year compared to last year,” said Elise Koch Jett, a Director of Wicomico Farm and Home Show.

 

“The contests are absolutely free to enter. There’s no admission fee to enter the show. There’s no parking fee either. Everything is free,” Jett added.

 

The Wicomico Farm and Home show is completely free – all because the board, composed of Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairs, spend all year planning and raising funds to cover the cost of composing the event.

 

Scheduled basket bingos take place in the fall and winter and all monies raised during the events are used for funds. Raffles and auctions will take place at this year’s event as a way to help generate funds for the Farm and Home Show, too. 

 

“The benefit auction is a way for the show to generate money to help pay for general costs of an event. The money raised is used to cover the costs of renting a facility, the costs of setting everything up, the costs of prize ribbons, and more,” said Jett.

 

A few really neat prizes will be raffled off at this year’s Wicomico Farm and Home Show: pedal tractors. Two children’s-sized tractors, fully equipped with pedals, will be given to those with winning raffle tickets. The winner of the raffle will have their choice of an International pedal tractor, a John Deere pedal tractor, or a Conestoga pull wagon. Tickets for the raffle will be sold for $1/ticket, $5/6 tickets and can be purchased from any Show Board Member. Board Members will be walking around the show Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and will have tickets in hand.

 

“New this year, and open to all, is the Barn Dance. The dance is sponsored by the Wicomico Livestock Club and will be held on Friday night from 9 to 11:30,” said Wicomico Farm and Home Show President, Susan Arnold.

 

Local folk group, The Bo Dickerson Band, will be performing live on Friday night as well. The band takes stage at 6 pm, immediately before the Benefit Auction and then again after the auction.

 

There are many other activities and events planned that folks look forward to all year long. 

 

A chicken and cornbread contest lures in those who enjoy cooking these Eastern Shore delicacies. 

 

“Among our competitions are the Wet Corn Bread and the Fried Chicken contest on Thursday evening at 6:30 pm, before the Cake Auction,” said Arnold.

 

The wet corn bread, fried chicken, and cake auctions all draw quite a crowd and the bidding can get tough. Competition corn bread must be wet, ‘corn pone’ style bread found only on the Eastern Shore. Bread must be baked in an 8” by 8” pan. It can be served hot, warm, or cold. Pan fried chicken is judged as white meat or dark meat; 4 pieces of each must be entered. Each of the entries is judged on presentation, texture, and taste.

 

Winning recipes from years past can be found in the 3rd issue of the Wicomico Farm and Home Show Cookbook. The book, sold by Iva Mae Gravenor of Salisbury, is brimming with 75-years of baking and cooking traditions. There are over 800 recipes in the book! Books are for sale at the show for $18 each. 

 

A classic car show will take place on Saturday morning. 50 vehicles will be marked with dash plaques and 10 sponsor-choice trophies will be distributed to winning cars. Another vehicular must see? The 5th annual Antique Tractor Pull.

 

“I love the tractor pulls,” said Jett, “It’s my favorite part of the show. It’s just something about these old tractors.”

 

The tractor pull is scheduled to start at 4 pm on Saturday afternoon. All tractors must be built in 1961 or older. Tractors are allowed to run one tire-size larger than stock. A max speed of 3.5 MPH is set. Awards will be presented at 6 pm.

 

2012 Wicomico Farm and Home Show Schedule of Events:

9 am Judging of entries

4 pm Show opens to the public

5 pm Sheep show

6 pm Swine show

6:30 pm Chicken and cornbread contest

7 pm Cake auction

9 pm Show closes

12 noon Show opens

12 noon Beef cattle show

2 pm Dairy goat show

6 pm Dairy cattle show

6 – 7 pm Bo Dickerson Band music

7 – 8 pm Benefit auction

8 – 9 pm Bo Dickerson Band music

9 pm Show closes

9 – 11:30 pm Barn Dance, music by DJ Jones, all are welcome

9:30 am Show opens

9:30 -10 am Car show registration

10 am – 1 pm Car show

10 am – 2 pm Children’s activities

11 am Meat goat show

2 pm Pedal tractor contest

2 – 6 pm Station Street Sounds DJ

2 -4 pm Various contests

2 – 4 pm Antique tractor pull registration

4 pm – ? Antique tractor pull

6 pm Awards presentation

7 pm Show closes