- fair board member Larry Dunkerly.
Volunteers and fair board members were busy Sunday getting the Venango County Fairgounds ready for the August 2 to 8 Round-Up.
Despite the different look and atmosphere this year’s fair will bring, the volunteers said they are excited. They opened and cleaned the vendors’ tents and buildings and worked on the electrical system around the fairgrounds. Fair board member Larry Dunkerly said new wiring next to the Rainy Lynn Hall would provide more outlets for vendors and campers in that area.
Some of the work Sunday was dedicated to clean-up from the truck and tractor pull hosted by the Northwest PA Truck and Tractor Pullers Association Saturday night. Volunteer Sean Matteson said he and other volunteers had been working at the pulls since Thursday, and were there until 1 a.m. on Sunday morning.
The truck and tractor pull had a good turnout. Traffic was backed up a few times throughout the night, according to 10-year-old volunteer Tanner Watson. He said it was his first time volunteering at the fairgrounds, and he hopes he will be able to stop by the Round-Up at some point next week.
Volunteers and fair board members will continue to prep the fairgrounds for the Round-Up over the course of this week, and another work session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The fair's Round-Up week will feature open classes and youth projects, animals shows, barnyard activities, and the annual livestock auction. It will not include 4-H sponsored exhibits or contests due to Penn State's changes in the requirement for 2020. Other changes were made to the schedule in response to social distancing and crowd size guidelines.
“It’s going to be a sad-looking fair, but at least we’re still doing something,” said Dunkle.
Check out the full schedule at: https://www.venangofair.com/index.php/2020-roundup/2019-fair-schedule
The Demo Derby that was postponed last week is scheduled for August 15.