Clayton News Daily

Time is running out for area residents to get their thrills in McDonough, carnival-style.

This Saturday is the final day for the Henry County Fair, at Windy Hill Park, in McDonough. Admission is $5 for adults, and $4 for students. Children age 5 and under will be admitted at no charge.

Gates will officially open at 1 p.m., though that time is flexible, according to David Shofman, new president of the Kiwanis Club of Henry County, which is sponsoring the event.

"We'll be ready between 12 and 12:30," he said. "If you come early, we'll get you in."

Shofman, who works as a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments, in Stockbridge, took over as club president Oct. 1, succeeding Hampton City Manager Andy Pippin in the role. Shofman said the county fair features a number of booths and attractions for the public to enjoy.

"We always have a booth for firemen to come in and serve food," he said. "The Cattlemen's Association is here, we've got a 4-H section set up with a petting zoo and farm animals."

One group which has maintained a booth at the fair is the Henry County Farm Bureau, said Eleanor Toppins, chairperson of the Women's and Legislative arms of the bureau.

"Our members have many entries in the fair, of their homemade canned goods and other craft entries," she said.

Toppins added that, within the last year, the Henry County Farm Bureau has provided college scholarships to four local high school students who are pursuing careers in agriculture or related fields.

"One of [them] went on to receive another scholarship on the state level from Georgia Farm Bureau," she said.

The fair, Shofman continued, features many of the same rides as in years past, as well some new ones. He said another element of Saturday's scheduled activities at the fair is a dunking booth.

"It's a way to earn money for the different charities in the county," said Shofman. "All day Saturday we're going to have a dozen or so different charities from the community. They will take turns getting dunked, and all the money we raise from the dunking booth will go to those charities."

The Kiwanis Club is using the fair as a fund-raiser to maintain its programs for children.

As part of this effort, members of local law-enforcement agencies have been directing traffic at the fair. Henry County Police Sgt. Wayne Bender said he and his fellow officers are not receiving payment for working at the fair. Instead, the money which would typically go to them, is being put toward a Christmas fund for children in the community.