QUICK FACTS
Event: 65th Shelby County Fair
When: Sept. 29- Oct.4
Where: Shelby County Exhibition Center on Highway 70
Time: M-F gates open 5:30 p.m.; midway opens 6 p.m. Saturday gates and midway open 3 p.m.
Cost: Tickets at door $10 for persons over 3 feet tall; Sat Oct. 4 senior day 3-7 p.m. $5.

By Phoebe Donald Robinson / Community Columnist

Did you know that there are two kinds of fairs? One is a for-profit fair where your money goes to a promoter. The other is a not-for profit fair where your entrance money goes back into your community.
Yes, that is right, your entry fee is given back to your schools, youth groups, scholarships, 4-H and more. That is the difference in a nutshell between the Shelby County Fair, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Columbiana assisted by the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea, and other fairs.
The 65th Annual Shelby County Fair is the real deal. This county fair has something for everyone: carnival rides, livestock shows, home grown entertainment, competitions for fresh produce, canned produce, baked goods, arts, crafts photography, horticulture and more. This fair is unique for your $10 entry fee includes the carnival rides and is basically a donation back to Shelby County.
The theme of the 2014 Shelby County Fair is “Come Grow With Us.” Michael Letlow, fair organizer and event registration chair, has been working tirelessly behind the scenes with dedicated volunteers to produce a week of fun-filled events. Assisting Letlow are department superintendents: Fresh Produce Connie Wheeler; Canned and Baked Goods Maureen Mayfield; Baked Goods Connie Wheeler; Sewing Bunny Benson; Crafts Sue Eddins; Horticulture Charles and Joyce Payne; Art and Photography Sarah Richards; Livestock Shows Vicki Letlow; Booths Sid Wheeler; Entertainment Connie Wheeler.
Dates for the fair are Sept. 29-Oct. 4. Gates open Monday though Friday at 5:30 p.m. with midway at 6 p.m. Junior livestock shows are Monday through Thursday at 6 p.m. with entertainment at 7 p.m. Last day Saturday, Oct. 4, gates and midway open at 3 p.m. with livestock show at 4 p.m. and entertainment beginning at 4 p.m. Elvis night is Friday and Gospel Night is Saturday. Tickets are $10 a person over three feet tall, the height to ride the midway rides. Online advance tickets are $9. Senior day is Saturday, Oct. 4, with tickets $5.00 for ages 55 and older from 3-7 p.m.
For fair info, volunteering, joining Kiwanis or entering the fair competitions or having a booth, contact Letlow at mletlow@alshelbycountyfair.com; 603-1375 or Alshelbycountyfair.com.