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Rockingham County Fair receives international awards

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The Rockingham County Fair has been selected to receive three Awards of Distinction from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, Mo. The competition involved more than 1,100 fairs around the world.

RCFA_cole_swope_2013The John Deere Excellence in Agriculture Awards will be presented Dec. 10 during the 123rd annual IAFE Convention in Las Vegas.

The Fair didn’t win 1st place in any categories this year, but that’s OK according to Fair officials.  “We are pleased that our organization has been recognized once again by a global organization for our efforts to keep agriculture at the forefront of the Rockingham County Fair,” said Jeff Ishee, GM of the Rockingham County Fair Association. “Winning first place last year was special, but taking second or third place against such esteemed competition is not a bad day.”

Similar-size Fairs who outdid the Rockingham County Fair this year in various categories include the Bonner County Fair in Idaho; the Jinju International Agriculture Fair in South Korea; the Keystone International Livestock Expo in Pennsylvania; and the Clay County Agriculture Fair in Florida.

The Agricultural Awards Program has three main goals: 1) to improve the agricultural education of Fairs; 2) to help Fairs determine ways to be of service to both Fair exhibitors and the Fairgoing public; and 3) to recognize Fairs that provide outstanding agricultural education.

Winning entries for the Rockingham County Fair include:

  • 3rd place – Overall Program for Competitive Agricultural Exhibitors
  • 2nd place – Fair Agriculture Photo
  • 2nd place – Special Agriculture Educational Event (Sunshine Class Goat Show)

“It is a great accomplishment for the Fair and the volunteers who helped pull this off,” said Donnie Liskey, incoming President of the Fair Association. “We are proud that we consistently finish in the top three almost every year.”

“Our commitment to agriculture should be obvious to all over the next year,” said Ishee. “The theme for the Rockingham County Fair in 2014 will be ‘Year of the Farm Family.’”

International award competition is divided into 5 divisions based on Fair attendance.  The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders.  These individuals are selected from the membership of International Association of Fairs and Expositions, which has over 1,100 members around the globe.

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