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Marshall County Fair Brings Families A Little Bit Closer

At 70 years old, the event is a tradition that spans generations

Surrounded in decades tradition, the annual Marshall County Fair features something for the entire family.

As it wraps up today, fairgoers will get one last shot at such things that make a county fair a family event: a pie eating contest, auction of baked goods and cowpatty bingo.

Whether it’s the truck and tractor pull, a fair pageant, stage entertainment or the 4-H club livestock shows and competitions, the fair has a strong tradition that families come to participate in year after year, according to fair President Beth Bertram.

“Our fair is mainly about people and agriculture,” said Bertram. “We have one of the largest agriculture fairs in the state of West Virginia. We have families that come year after year and show their animals.”

Since 1948, the fair has kept families returning to the fairgrounds, which is along Eastern 12th Street in Moundsville.

On a personal note, Bertram said she was extremely proud that her granddaughter, Montgomery Bertram, won the “supreme showmanship” award — the same award that her father won 20 years ago.

“That was kind of an honor for our family, but we have that with all the families,” she said. “It’s very much a generational thing.”

Bertram said many of the families that participate in the fair bring campers and stay at the fairgrounds.

“We have a large campground and most of them bring campers and visit back and forth in the evenings,” she said. “I’m very proud of our group, although they are fiercely competitive when they are in the ring, they’re friends when they walk out of the ring — and that’s the important part.”

Bertram said she is appreciative of everyone who comes to the fair and helps with the sales and livestock auction that support the local 4-H clubs.

“That’s the focal point of the fair,” she said.

Lois Dougherty, of Mount Olivet, said her family has been involved with the fair since she was a 4-H member at age 8. She said her own children went on to exhibit animals at the fair, and now her granddaughter participates in it.

Another family who participates in the fair year in and year out is the Strope family, of St. Clairsville.

Alyssa Strope was busy hanging some of her blue ribbons in a stall areas Friday afternoon at the fairgrounds after winning grand champion market lamb and reserve champion market steer earlier this week. She said she has participated in the fair for the past 13 years.

The fair concludes tonight after a performance by RaeLynn, which begins at 9 p.m. A one-price general admission covers those ages 3 and up.

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