- Marla Ballard
The 2024 Jackson County Fall Agricultural Fair with the theme “Picture Perfect” will take place Tuesday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept 14.
The theme will present itself when attendees see the various photo opportunities that have been setup throughout the fairgrounds. Visitors can stand behind a life-sized photo and place their face into a picture of nearly a dozen different scenes to have a friend or family take a photo of them.
This year marks the 88th Annual Fall Agricultural Fair. Nightly entertainment, local vendors, contests, games, exhibits, food, petting zoo, farm animal exhibits, and more are in store. Nightly entertainment begins at approximately 7 p.m. Entertainment schedule: Tuesday, award winning Christian/gospel singer Erica Cookston; Wednesday, Radio Host Brian Anderson, join or watch karaoke; Thursday, enjoy southern rock and classic country with Ryan Cody Cookston; Friday, Wrong 2 Wright Band, previously voted best band in Jackson County; and Saturday, The Muddy Water Band – Jackson County’s 2023 People’s Choice award winner for best local music/band and Josie Music Awards Song of the Year nominee in Outlaw Category for their original song “Like I Used To.”
County fairs are more than just rides and entertainment, they provide an opportunity to showcase and celebrate Alabama agriculture. They encourage people as they participate in livestock, gardening, and artistic competitions. According to Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Commissioner Rick Pate, “Over the last 70 years, U.S. farms have nearly tripled production, while using roughly the same amount of land, energy, and fertilizer. Farmers are efficient, dedicated stewards of the land and committed to feeding the world. The fair is the perfect venue to honor farmers for their contribution to our food supply and rural communities.”
Individual Exhibit Classes have changed over the years to encourage more competition and garner more participation from the community. Exhibits include: Adult and youth classes for agricultural products, flowers and plants, food preservation, needlework and quilting, handicrafts, and woodworking. Saturday night the Jackson County Open Youth Beef Livestock Show will be held at the Ol` Red Cattle Barn at 6 p.m. For registration information visit the Facebook page for Jackson County Fair Association Scottsboro, Al. The Fair Association is a collaboration of members from the American Legion Post 30, VFW Post 6073, and their Auxiliaries. Their sole purpose is to promote and hold a Spring Carnival and Fall Fair. The Fair Board is made up of four Officers and five Directors who are elected by the general membership of the Fair Association.
“We would love to have more entries in our Individual Exhibits, an agricultural fair needs the community’s backing,” said exhibit director, Brenda Brandon. “Come earn a blue ribbon and a cash prize at the county fair. Youths are welcome to enter, last year we had a 16-year-old who made homemade fudge and won first place.”
Brandon said photography, paintings, drawings, children’s clothing, tie-dye T-shirts, cookies, cakes, pies, canned goods, and more, that are all homemade products, can be entered in the fair’s individual exhibits. Participants are welcome to enter one item per category.
“The more categories you enter the more chances you have of winning cash prizes,” said Brandon.
To become involved email: secretarytreasurer@jcfai.org. Brandon said volunteers are also needed to help work the gates, concession stands, and more.
Veteran Park Fairgrounds are located at 220 Cecil Street, Scottsboro. Gates open 5:30, rides 6-11 p.m. Commercial Building & Flower House opens 5:30-9 p.m. Individual Exhibit Building opens and closes same time as the admission gate.
Children age 5 and under receive free entry. Gates 1–3 will be $5 admission and gate 4 will house $6 debit or credit electronic payments including square pay, tap or dip with card or pay via Google Pay or Apple Pay. There will be $20 daily unlimited ride stamps and individual tickets available. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle. The 2024 Fair Catalog may be viewed online at the Jackson County Fair Association Scottsboro, Al Facebook page.
