The Carroll County Agricultural Fair is set to take place this week in its new home.

This year’s fair, titled “Experiencing our Treasures Past & Present,” will be held at the new Carroll County Fairgrounds behind the Wholesale Center of the Southwest Virginia Farmers Market from Aug. 27-30. The fair had been held at the Grover King VFW Post 1115 lot in Hillsville the past four years.

Laurel Fork District Supervisor Andy Jackson, also a member of the Carroll County Fair Committee, originally brought up the idea of moving the fair to its new home. He said the move will allow the county freedom in scheduling the fair as well as other events throughout the year.

“I have been on the fair committee since day one and saw the problems we had at the VFW. We certainly didn’t have any problems with the people at the VFW, but the fact that they own the land and have something going on all the time, you had to work around their schedule,” Jackson said. “If they had something scheduled you couldn’t get it. Then when you got done, you had to get it cleaned up fast for somebody else’s event.”

When he was elected as supervisor, Jackson said county officials talked about buying a place for a fairground and a new recreation department. The quickly declining economy made that option no longer feasible, however.

“Then I learned we had this big spot owned by the Virginia Department of Agriculture. It was flat and could be used solely for something like this, which made it ideal for us,” Jackson said. “The property is basically ours, so we don’t have to worry about other events. We can schedule amongst ourselves rather than around somebody else’s schedule.”

Jackson noted that the tractor pull and horse pulls are two of the most popular events at the county fair. Other places host those kind of events throughout the year. Now that the county has its own fairgrounds, it can do the same thing.

“During the year we can have extra ones for folks that want to do that,” Jackson said. “It is a golden opportunity to expand on it.”

Jackson noted that the fair has traditionally been held in mid- to late-September over the past four years. It was moved up this year to meet scheduling demands of a new carnival company, Nicely’s Family Entertainment of Kingsport, Tenn., the county is using this year.

“A fair is not a fair without a carnival. It takes all the different aspects to make it go and be desirable to folks,” Jackson said. “By having the property we could adjust our schedule.”

While the fair is not scheduled to actually begin until Thursday, Aug. 27, Farmers Market Manager Kevin Semones said there is a possibility it could open a night earlier if the carnival company gets set up Aug. 26. The fairgrounds will be open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Kids Agriculture Days, in which children from Carroll and Grayson County Schools and the City of Galax will see demonstrations on livestock, crops, the Civil War, storytelling, and caring for pets and equine.

All exhibits will be open Thursday night at the fair. The Miss Carroll County Beauty Pageant will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Turman Log Homes Stage, while a 4-H Share the Fun event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. There will also be a goat show in the livestock arena from 6 to 9 p.m.

Among Friday’s events are a 4-H FFA Stockman’s contest from 12 to 5 p.m. and beef and dairy shows from 6 to 10 p.m. From 1 to 3 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. there will be Leroy McGrady Forestry Field Day events for 4-H/FFA kids in honor of the late Carroll County agricultural icon. The Java Bluegrass Band will take the Turman Log Homes Stage from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by bluegrass band Exit 109 from 8 to 10 p.m.

“From 6 to 8 p.m. Mrs. Evelyn Beamer will do an adult-type gathering of tales from Carroll County,” Semones said. “It will be like an old general store with people telling stories of how things used to be. She is working hard to get it together and she could probably use help if anybody can.”

Saturday’s events include a motorcycle cruise-in from 2 to 5 p.m., an antique tractor pull from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a horse pull beginning at 7 p.m.

“We think we have a lot of teams coming in for the horse pull,” Semones said. “We think it will be a really good show.”

An angel food cake contest sponsored by the Virginia Egg Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Also scheduled for Saturday is a market lamb show from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., a drug dog demonstration from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., AKC Canine Good Citizens Tests from 12 to 1 p.m., and a Therapy Dog Demo from 1 to 2 p.m. (dog show registration required). A Kid’s Dog Show will be held from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by an Adult Dog Show from 3 to 4 p.m.

“We are trying to do two separate dog shows so more folks are inclined to go,” Semones said “We are trying to make it fair for everybody.”

Semones said varying genres of bands will play on the Turman Stage from 12 to 4 p.m., followed by the Virginia Beauty Band and Dance Contest from 4 to 10 p.m.

Sunday’s events include Family Fun Games from 2 to 4 p.m. and a livestock/horse show from 1 to 7 p.m. Gospel Music is scheduled for the Turman Log Home Stage from 2 to 6 p.m.

“We have got two or three groups scheduled and a couple of church choirs. Hopefully there is something there for everybody,” Semones said. “We are trying to get churches involved this year as well as rescue squads, fire departments or whoever wants to help. We are getting better response from churches. Hopefully we will see more. We would like to make this a community event.”