UNION, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – The 66th Annual Monroe County Farmer’s Day event will kick off on Friday, June 4, 2021, in downtown Union. The two-day event is being hosted by Travel Monroe, a service dedicated to the tourism opportunities in and surrounding Monroe Couty.
Farmer’s Day committee member Allison Tomlinson detailed the event’s schedule, which officially kicks off Friday evening.
Friday morning, Union’s local library will host a model car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tomlinson says guests can expect free food and a lot of great entries to browse through before the real celebration begins.
The Danley Band out of Beckley will initiate Farmer’s Day on Friday with the city’s traditional street dance, which will take place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Participants will gather in the parking lot of a local grocery store and form a dancefloor where they will spend the evening relaxing with friends and family.
Saturday will begin at 8 a.m. with a horseshow, followed by live music at 9 a.m. and the city’s beloved Farmer’s Day parade at 11 a.m.
Visitors will see food vendors, local businesses, and various activity booths set up along Main Street throughout the day, and the county’s historical society will be open during the weekend to educate people on historical artifacts and displays that demonstrate period living in Monroe County.
As Saturday comes to a close, the city will draw and announce the winner of the Farmer’s Day raffle, which, according to Tomlinson, should have a $10,000 grand prize cash payout.
The evening will conclude with a firework show at 10 p.m.
This year’s theme is “It’s a Barn Good Life,” which Tomblinson says is perfect considering last year’s Farmer’s Day was canceled due to COVID-19, leaving many residents disappointed.
“We carried the theme from last year,” she said. “We decided that, even through the pandemic, we were just going to celebrate living in a community that we love and recognize what we do because we are living a pretty good life.”
She continued, stating that the event gives residents and visitors alike the opportunity to celebrate Monroe County’s agricultural history.
“We are excited to be able to have this return to our town. It’s laid back, it’s family fun for all ages, it’s affordable, and it’s a nice day trip to Union. It gives people that hometown feel and charm that Union exudes, and that is enough to have someone want to come and get that feel for that small town flare.
“We are all connected to Farmer’s Day. For many, it’s the unofficial start to summer. For farmers, it’s the start of the hay harvest and other activities on the farm. It’s just a celebration of the early parts of the growing season.”
While Farmer’s Day is a busy time for the City of Union, Tomblinson says it also allows residents to slow down and enjoy the little things.
“We as a county, we are always eager to lend a helping hand and work hard and diligently in the task and profession that we chose, but we don’t always take the time to slow down and acknowledge that hard work. Farmer’s Day is about honoring the current and previous generations, enjoying the county’s landscape and embracing the people and the network of this community.”
More information on the raffle and event schedule can be found by visiting the Monroe County Farmer’s Day website, here. More current information on the event can be found on the Union Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page or by calling 304-667-2584.