Show goes on at rain-soaked county fair's opening night

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Bertie Vaughn, wife of the late Ken Vaughn, cut the ribbon held by Steve Johnson at the opening ceremonies of the Iredell County Agricultural Fair. This year's fair is dedicated to the memory of and in honor of Ken Vaughn. Credit: Photo By Allison Phillips
Alehandro Santaolaya rides the motorcycles at the opening night of the Iredell County Agricultural Fair. Credit: Photo By Allison Phillips
Kaleb Wright gets ready for a wild ride at the opening night of the Iredell County Agricultural Fair. Credit: Photo By Allison Phillips
Smokey Mountain rides were open between rainstorms during the opening night of the fair. Credit: Photo By Allison Phillips
Elisabeth Ingersoll takes advantage of the many puddles left in between the rain showers at the opening night of the Iredell County Agricultural Fair Monday night. Credit: Photo By Allison Phillips
Carson Goodin enjoys the dragon coaster as Jennifer Minton looks on during the opening night of the Iredell County Agricultural Fair in Troutman. Credit: Photo By Allison Phillips

By: Jim Mcnally | Statesville Record & Landmark
Published: September 05, 2011

Tiaras and evening gowns, gourds and green beans, Democrats and Republicans, cows and other creatures, lots of spinning rides and an aroma of funnel cake and grazing hay were all on display as the Iredell County Agricultural Fair opened to sparse crowd a on a rain-soaked Monday night in Troutman.
The ribbon-cutting was moved inside because the day-long showers were still falling at the 7 p.m. start time.
But things were already happening at the fair by then.
Kayla Reavis and Amber Welch were sitting side-by-side, being friendly, prior to their showdown in the first ever Iredell County Agricultural Fair Queen Pageant.
Reavis, a senior at West Iredell High School, said she entered the event because she enjoys looking pretty.
“I like getting dressed up,” said Reavis, who would later be crowned the winner of her division. “And I also like the adrenaline of going out in front of people.”
Mooresville’s Debbie Miller, who earlier this year won the Mrs. North Carolina contest, was also on hand, giving some advice to those who sought it.
Miller, 45, said she does not like the bad rap beauty pageants have gotten in some circles.
“I like to dispel the notion that they are just superficial things based entirely on people's looks,” she said. “I like to think of them as opportunities for women to give greater voice to their causes and their beliefs.”
Miller said she uses her position to promote awareness of heart disease in women.
“It’s the number one killer,” she said. “More than breast cancer or any other disease.”
But when entering a beauty contest, it doesn’t hurt to be easy on the eyes, Miller admitted.
On the other side of the arena wall, Elissa Houchins, 14, was working on a beautification process of another sort.
Under the guidance of her mother, Allison Houchins, young Elissa was taking a set of industrial-sized clippers and putting the finishing touches on View-La Alexander-7, a 2-year-old cow who goes by “Seven” around the Mountain View Farm where she lives.
“That was me 40 years ago,” said Allison as Elissa explained that Seven has the chance to win because of her table-like qualities.
“You don’t want the legs or feet to go too far in or too far out,” she said. “You want them to be right underneath, like a table.”
Added Allision, “If a cow doesn’t have good, strong feet and legs she won’t be able to support herself right and it’s the dog-food factory for her. I know that sound cruel, but dairy farming is a business.”
Indeed, it’s Iredell County’s primary business. And Iredell is the top dairy farming county in North Carolina.
Fairs themselves are the business of Bill Clark.
And Clark, owner of the Smokey Mountains Amusement, Inc. – the supplier of the fair’s rides, games and food-stands – didn’t like what he saw in the night sky or the week’s weather forecast.
“We need this one bad,” Clark said. “We’ve had a tough year and we were hoping for some big crowds this week. We haven’t had the best weather but it’s been mostly the economy. Money is tight everywhere but I’m hoping people will come out and have some fun this week.”
Gates for the Iredell County Agricultural Fair open nightly at 5 p.m. The fair runs through Saturday.

Show goes on at rain-soaked county fair's opening night

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