Story and photos by: Marty van Duyne
For PotomacLocal.com
The GEICO Gecko was rocking out to the tunes coming from the stage at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair on Friday night.
But the finalists in the Thunder 104.5 FM hosted Texaco Country Music Showdown were definitely country.
Woodbridge’s Bubba Strange made it to the finals again this year, but victory still slipped his grasp.
Like last year, the lone entertainers were bypassed as the top prize went to a band. The Ohio band, Train Wreck, took the honors this year.
But second place went to Loudoun County’s Mark Cullinane, a former Marine who wowed the crowd and the judges with several original songs.
While musicians entertained the evening crowds with country tunes, a different kind of country music was emitted from the agricultural fair during the day.
Cows and calves gently moo’ed their way into the hearts of visitors to the barn as well as the crowd that cheered them on in competition in the ring Saturday morning.
Three-week-old Holstein calf Raquel from the Ott-Mullins Marshfield Beef Operation in Bealeton was a main attraction. The small black and white calf still needs a lot of daily naps, but walked over to greet almost everyone that visited her pen when she was awake.
The Marshfield cows will be heading north this week to compete in the livestock shows at the Prince William County Fair, which starts tomorrow in Manassas.
For those interested in moving at a faster pace the area Chevy dealers had the latest vehicles on display. And the Washington area dealers will be bringing the Chevy Show Cars out to the Prince William County Fair for four days from Aug. 17 though 20.
Counted among the biggest stars in Fredericksburg were fried turkey legs, funnel cakes, French fries, midway games, and the many new thrill rides presented by Deggellar Attractions, Inc.
If you missed the opportunity to win an oversized plush animal playing Skee Ball or Hoops, or didn’t have yourself inserted into an oversized inflated ball at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair (www.fredericksburgfair.org), you will get another chance starting Thursday.
The attraction company will be bringing its midway with thrill rides such as Funnel Force, Hi Roller, and Starship 4000 to the Prince William County Fair.
Flying Elephants, Crazy Bus, Construction Zone, Bulldozers, Orient Express, Circus Train, and Wiggle Worm will provide amusement for the younger set.
And staunch country fair traditionalists will find amusement standards such as a Grand Carousel and Giant Ferris Wheel.
Marty van Duyne is an award winning photographer and journalist.
