Greenup County Connection:
Extension Office Updates
The Greenup County Fair and Big Band
Anne Stephens
For The Ashland Beacon
It’s beginning to feel like the end of summer. Although the weather is still summerlike, Labor Day signifies the closing of swimming pools and family picnics where people talk about getting the kids back in school. Another activity that gets me thinking about fall is the Greenup County Fair. The 2024 theme is “Off to the Races,” honoring the horse racing legacy of Greenup County. Dates are Aug. 27 – 31.
If you have favorite things to do at the fair; be sure to pick up a fair book to see a schedule of all events to take place throughout the week. Most Greenup County businesses, including the Greenup County Cooperative Extension Service office has books available for you to take free of charge. The fair is always family friendly with many opportunities for kids to learn about agriculture, livestock, community organizations, and hometown fun. Saturday is usually kid’s day with events for kids of all ages. There will be a tractor show, dog show, livestock sale, and tractor races. Carnival rides are open all week and don’t forget about the fair food. I always have a Lion’s Club hamburger with onions and a corn dog. These are two necessary parts of the fair, for me.
The Greenup County Extension Office, along with many others, does a lot of work to organize the components of the fair that people know and love. The livestock shows and sale, 4-H projects, and Homemaker exhibits are all very strong in our community. Go and tell the Extension volunteers how much you appreciate what they do!
On Sunday evening Sept. 1, come celebrate Labor Day with me at Tracy Park in Portsmouth, Ohio at 7 p.m. with a FREE concert. Directly across from Kroger in downtown Portsmouth, the park has great playground equipment for the kiddos. The stage has always been nice with a roof and installed lighting. There are a couple of bleacher-type seats, but I recommend that you bring your own chair or blanket. The music is one of my favorite concerts of the year!
This year marks the 36th annual “Reunion Big Band” concert. This is a full-blown (no pun intended) 18 piece; 1940s big band made up of professional musicians who know how to play the classics. You can expect two hours of music from the great band leaders of the big band era such as Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, and Count Basie. I have the honor and privilege of being the “girl singer” with the group and I love it to pieces. Even if you have never listened to this genre of music, I promise you that the live element of the powerful sax and horn sections will get your foot tappin’. Sometimes the dance floor in front of the stage gets dancers – it might even be you! In case of rain, the concert will take place in the American Legion ballroom on Gallia Street.
The opportunity to listen to a full big band of professional musicians is a rarity in this day and time. It is a sound like nothing else. The art of making this type of music has been a part of musician training for over 50 years. Playing “in the pocket” of swing is a difficult thing to do but is a terrific feeling when done right. Each section: rhythm, saxophones, trombones, and trumpets, must be balanced and clean within itself; then fit into the picture of the whole band without following a conductor. Each band member must be strong on their own individual part while simultaneously listening to the whole group and taking ques from the drummer. The lead alto saxophonist usually gives cutoffs at the end of songs because they are in the front of the band and it is part of their job as the lead player. The lead tenor player, lead trumpet player, or soloist has the job of counting off the starts. It is a group effort. The end result is magical! This reunion band plays once a year but you would think that they are a regular group. This speaks to the professional level of each player. Come and hear for yourself – free admission. You can’t beat that deal.
If I don’t see you at the fair, I expect to see you at the concert in Portsmouth. If you are busy doing something else, email me and tell me what you are into. Don’t believe anyone who says there is nothing to do in our area. The tri-state is full of great opportunities for fun. I can’t tell you about them all, but you can always tell me what you are doing and I’ll be sure to share it with everyone else. Get out there and do something interesting. Go someplace that you have never been before. Listen to some music you have never heard played live. Enjoy some time with family and friends. You need not travel far to feel like you have had a big trip. Summer isn’t over yet – enjoy it!
For more information, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606-836-0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144 Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, Kentucky STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND Kentucky COUNTIES, COOPERATING
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