Political Signs

Fair News

Neshoba Democrat: Fair turns into 'mudfest' after two-inch rain

Neshoba Democrat: Large crowd welcomes Thacker Mountain to Fair

Neshoba Democrat: Brandi Covington crowned new Miss Neshoba County

Neshoba Democrat: Farmers Market accommodates Fair with racetrack infield stand

Clarion Ledger: Wicker, Musgrove vie for votes at Neshoba

Neshoba Democrat: Hot air and red mud at Neshoba Fair speeches

Meridian Star: A fair salute for veterans

Neshoba Democrat: 70 cited in under-age drinking sting at Fair

The Meridian Star: The Neshoba County Fair: A novel tradition

Clarion Ledger: Peavey creates Neshoba County Fair guitar for charity auction

WTOK: Our Town Philadelphia: Honoring Veterans

More Blogging

Sid Salter has one of the best views of the political speaking at the square. But he would be quick to point out that politics is part of the Fair, but not the most important part. He is blogging daily. Multiple times a day. Read his blog here: Sid's Blog.

Deep Fried Kudzu: Neshoba County Fair This Week, The Voice, Sweet Tea, and a New Variant

Slabbed: Hot as hell but a lot more fun - the Neshoba County Fair

The Star Blog: Meridian Day at the Fair

Pictures

Rebekah Staples makes a selection from the Fair flea market.



Chief Justice Jim Smith and Senator Roger Wicker are the top campaigners so far at the Fair

John Rounsaville of Madison completes the Heart o' Dixie Triathlon

Sid Salter speaks during the Thacker Mountain Radio production Saturday night

"Wicker for Senate" water is a hot product off of Founder's Square

Fair News

Clarion Ledger - Sid Salter - For many, the Fair's what's left of home (This column captures the Fair and is a good read for those who wonder what its all about, or who know and want to see that others share that knowledge.)

Clarion Ledger - Sid Salter - Speeches, but no debate as 2008 elections enter the home stretch
Madison Herald - 'Shobie' Fair brings fond memories

Meridian Star - Different cabins, same fun

Meridian Star - Neshoba County Fair: 'Mardi gras in the dirt'

Meridian Star - Parents: Fair 'kid friendly'

Sid Salter Fair Blogging

Sid blogs daily from the Fair. Catch up on the goings on with some of his recent posts:

Blogging from the C-L's Neshoba County Fair bureau office

Neshoba notebook: Scrugg’s T-shirt

Saturday afternoon: Wayne Weidie returns

Saturday night: On top of Thacker Mountain…

Sunday morning: Heaven and hell…

Monday: Hospitality cabin

Weekend politics: Smith, Wicker putting in the sweat equity…

Welcome to the Fair

The Neshoba County Journal welcomes folks to the Fair in yesterday's editorial:

Hundreds of visitors will begin pouring into town this week for the 119th edition of the Neshoba County Fair - and with that "119th edition" the official welcomes of the late Norman A. Johnson Jr., and Dr. Rudolph Posey and their "grand ole Neshoba County Fair" boom in the minds of many above a certain age. For a lot of Fairgoers, this week marks a homecoming. Neshoba County is no longer physically home, but how good it is to be able to come "home" to a familiar place and people who seem always to genuinely care. Folks have been known to do crazy things like quit a job in order to attend the Fair. College kids have traversed multiple states in the dead of night to get here. To be sure, as much as the Fair is an abiding constant in the lives of so many, the only thing certain is change. Inevitably, declining health and other circumstances - even death - will rob us this Fair of dear friends and family and the rich conversation - and often their food - that accompanies them. Wednesday and Thursday will continue the hearty tradition of political speaking that has been a staple of the Fair for about 113 years with about 25 speeches scheduled. In a first, the famed Thacker Mountain radio program will broadcast live from Founders Square featuring, among others, Charlie Mars, whom we claim as one of our own just as we do the Mannings. The most important political speeches are likely to be in the race for the U.S. Senate. Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat, and Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican, will speak Wednesday at 10:20 and 10:30 a.m., respectively. The race for senate is expected to be a highly contested one and these speeches should prove to be the starting point for a hot and heavy race the rest of the way. To our visitors, we extend a hearty welcome and hope that you will return soon. To all, enjoy the Fair!

Blogging to the Fair

Folks are blogging about the Fair.

Straight from the Horse's Mouth won't be making the drive from Austin to Philadelphia this year, but she writes about the Fair, her cabin, and a great list of suggestions of things to do at her blog: Red Clay Hills Are Calling My Name

The 'Ssippi Scoop says, "it's termed 'Mississippi's Biggest House Party' when in fact it should be called 'Mississippi's Biggest Porch Party'." A Bama girl who married into a cabin on Sunset Strip, she describes the Fair well:

So picture this, acres and acres of campers and cabins piled in on top of each other, with each person's porch on the front and back of their cabin touching the next person's porches. A huge horse race track with cabins circling it. A big midway with carnival rides and fair food booths. A big concert stage set up at the arena. Horse stables and barns. All of this in one HUGE location where the ENTIRE county moves from their houses for one whole week in July out to what they call the fair grounds. I've never seen anything like this in my life, nor do I expect you to unless you live here or visit me during the fair.

And then here are a few pics from cebell: When We Left God's Country

Neshoba County Fair Tales

There is a new fictional book out which takes place mostly at the Neshoba County Fair.

Neshoba County Fair Tales by Don Williams (Self-published, $19.95) - Tongue-in-cheek tall tales from the Jackson author about the event affectionately known as "Mississippi's Giant Houseparty." (Clarion Ledger)

The action takes place in the early 1960s and is a Huck Finn / Tom Sawyer type story of two high school boys from Decatur and their quest for money and girls at the Fair. I read it but don't recommend it.

Neshoba County Fair starts tomorrow

'Miss.'s Giant Houseparty' - Neshoba County Fair, in its 119th year, offers a variety of entertainment for the family (Clarion Ledger)

Sertoma Club readies for Heart O' Dixie Triathlon (Neshoba Democrat)

Charlie Mars to debut on Thacker at Neshoba Fair (Neshoba Democrat)

Fair in 9 days

This Neshoba Democrat article says it all: the entertainment line up, the political speakers, the races, the midway, the exhibit hall, get ready for another year: Neshoba Fair starts July 25th

Political Speaking Line-up Announced

The line-up for the political speeches at this year's Fair has been announced on the newly renovated Neshoba County Fair web-page.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 , 2008
8:50am - Honorable Mark Duncan (D), District Attorney, 8th Circuit Court District, State of MS.
9:00am - Honorable Marcus Gordon, 8th Circuit Court Judge, State of MS
9:10am - Honorable Vernon Cotton, 8th Circuit Court Judge, State of MS
9:20am - Honorable C. Scott Bounds (D), State Representative, District 44 MS House of Representatives
9:30am - Honorable Giles Ward (R), State Senator, District 18 Mississippi State Senate
9:40am - Honorable Lynn Posey (D), Public Service Commissioner, Central District State of Mississippi
9:50am - Honorable Dick Hall (R), Commissioner of Transportation, Central District, State of Mississippi
10:00am - Honorable Stacey Pickering (R), State Auditor, State of Mississippi
10:10am - Honorable Jim Hood (D), Attorney General, State of Mississippi
10:20am - Ronnie Musgrove (D), Candidate for United States Senate, State of Mississippi
10:30am - Honorable Roger Wicker (R), Candidate for United States Senate, State of Mississippi
10:40am - Shawn O’ Hara (I), Candidate for United States Senate, State of Mississippi
10:50am - Erik Fleming (D), Candidate for United States Senate, State of Mississippi
11:00am - Honorable Thad Cochran (R), Candidate for United States Senate, State of Mississippi

THURSDAY, JULY 31 , 2008
9:00am - Honorable Brandon Presley (D), Public Service Commissioner,Northern District, State of Mississippi
9:10am - Jim Kitchens, Candidate for Justice, Mississippi Supreme Court District 1, Place 3
9:20am - Honorable Jim Smith, Candidate for Justice, Mississippi Supreme Court District 1, Place 3
9:30am - Joel Gill (D), Candidate for US House of Representatives, Third Congressional District, State of Mississippi
9:40am - Gregg Harper (R), Candidate for US House of Representatives, Third Congressional District, State of Mississippi
9:50am - Honorable Mike Chaney (R), Commissioner of Insurance, State of Mississippi
10:00am - Honorable Tate Reeves (R), State Treasurer, State of Mississippi
10:10am - Honorable Delbert Hoseman (R), Secretary of State, State of Mississippi
10:20am - Honorable Lester Spell, DVM (R), Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, State of Mississippi
10:30am - Honorable Phil Bryant (R), Lt. Governor, State of Mississippi
10:40am - Honorable Haley Barbour (R), Governor, State of Mississippi

For a full schedule of events click here.