Celebrating traditions of mountain crafters and entertainers

The 2012 Mountain State Fair will be held from Sept. 7-16 at the Western N.C. Agricultural Center in Fletcher.
The Mountain State Fair celebrates the traditions and heritage of mountain crafters and entertainers, featuring a clogging competition, a daily Mountain Music Festival and handmade items from local crafters.
Two additions to this year’s lineup are the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo and demonstrations of lumberjack skills at the Haywood Community College timber sports team. The rodeo will be held Monday, Sept. 10 through Thursday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Stampede Corral. The timber sports team will demonstrate lumberjack skills at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 9.
Among the popular returning acts are the Kenya Safari Acrobats, the Hogway Speedway Racing Pigs, chainsaw artist Dan Smathers and Dixie Starlight Express, a choreographed precision equestrian team.
Three stages will be dedicated to local and regional talent. The Bojangles Music Stage will feature Nikki Talley, Nuthin Fancy, Leigh Glass Band, Old North State, Kayla McKinney, Buddy K Big Band, Michelle Lee, Sharkadelics, Tom Fish, The Vinyl Brothers Big Band and more. Bands perform throughout the day.
The Heritage Music Stage will feature bluegrass and traditional Appalachian music nightly at 7 p.m., and  the Pepsi Music Stage features daily performances by musician Leon Jacobs Jr.
With the return of the popular Mooternity Ward exhibit, some fairgoers will get to witness the miracle of a live calf birth. A team of agriculture students and veterinarians will be on hand to assist expectant cows with deliveries. Videos explaining the birth also stream throughout the day for fairgoers who are not on hand for a live birth.
The fair will also offer livestock shows, including children and adults in competition with their best farm animals in McGough Arena, the livestock arena and at the livestock barns throughout the fair.
For more information, go to www.mountainfair.org or call 828-687-1414.
– article submitted