Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal A volunteer for Woman's Missionary Union (WMU), part of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, handed out free stickers, arm bands, toys, food, water and toiletries at the county fair.

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Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal Dirt Road Archery held a demonstration at the county fair on Thursday.

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Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal Dirt Road Archery demonstrated that even young children can learn to shoot the bow and arrow.

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Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal Rides abound at the county fair and with more to do than in previous years, the fairgrounds saw a larger crowd.

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Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal Peyton Hunt, 17, gets carried over the mud by her boyfriend, John Dunlap, 19, so she doesn't ruin her sandals.

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A little bit of mud didn’t stop a crowd from coming out to the Richmond County Agricultural Fair in Hamlet on Thursday.

Just as the sun began to set, families came out in droves to experience the new assortment of foods and rides.

According to Assistant Fair Manager Rena Shedrick-Marshall, this was the first year Peking Wok had a booth at the fair, and it attracted a long line. Along with the new culinary options, other typical fair foods were available and could be spotted in the hands of many fairgoers, including funnel cakes, french fries, burgers and blooming onions.

At 6:30 p.m., Dirt Road Archery of Hamlet gave a demonstration with their youth, who showed off their archery skills. Archers of all ages participated. For more information on the indoor archery range, call Kim Pruitte at 910-894-3262.

Shedrick-Marshall said this was the first year the fair had someone scheduled to be on stage each day for music and entertainment. She said all were local acts, apart from Michael Knight, who is from South Carolina. Bluegrass could be heard throughout the fairgrounds on Thursday evening.

Inside the Exhibition Building, folks could see handmade quilts, leather, local artwork, homemade canned goods and more. Across the aisle, several informative agricultural booths were on display for fairgoers, such as a booth about Richmond County Soil and Water, and the U.S. Constitution with several posters detailing the rights of Americans. The exhibitions were largely educational, and served to display the work of several groups around the area, such as the Richmond County Beekeepers Association, which displayed equipment, hives and jars of honey of all shades.

Rain earlier in the week had made the fairgrounds soft and a bit mushy, but that didn’t slow down most of the fairgoers out to enjoy the night of games, rides and music.

Peyton Hunt, 17, walked with her boyfriend, John Dunlap, 19, through the fairgrounds.

“My Rainbows (sandals) are getting messed up,” said Hunt to Dunlap who, in response, hoisted his girlfriend onto his back and carried her over the mud.

Hay had been strewn across muddy patches of the field, but soon blended with the ground as the mud took over. A good time was still had by many who came, despite some slipping and sliding.

The highlights of the fair on Friday include an equine demonstration at 6:30 p.m., and a beekeepers’ presentation at 7 p.m. with Marv Powell of the Richmond County Beekeepers Association.

— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.