By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@verizon.net

A year from this September, plan on attending the 2009 State Fair of Virginia right here in Caroline.

State Fair of Virginia President Curry Roberts said Tuesday that the Fair has relinquished its contract at Richmond Raceway for 2009. Meanwhile construction at Meadow Event Park in southern Caroline on Route 30 is “on schedule and within budget,” with the park set to open September 1, 2009, Curry said.

The 2009 State Fair of Virginia, held in Caroline, will be September 24 to October 4. The Celtic Festival and Highland Games will follow, October 24 and 25. Currently, motorists driving along Route 30 can get a good idea of what the first two new buildings at Meadow Event Park will look like.

Driving from Dawn, the first building visible on the right, close to the old red brick manor house which is now known as the Union Bank & Trust Hall. The reddish brown steel girders, now almost complete, are the structure of the Americraft Pavilion where crops and horticulture exhibitions will be held. With roll-up side panels, it will be an open-air facility when weather permits.

Between the Americraft Pavilion and the Union Bank & Trust Hall, the old two-story garage is being remodeled into the Public Safety Building where the Virginia State Police will have a year-round satellite station. The state police will handle traffic and policing of the Fair.

Behind the Union Bank & Trust Hall, the Stallion Complex has been re-roofed, damaged siding replaced and painted white with the trim a medium blue, Secretariat’s old racing color.

To the left of the Union Bank & Trust Hall rises the steel framing of the expansive Farm Bureau Center. This will be used for commercial trade shows, vendors, conferences and conventions. With the framing complete, the concrete floor was being prepared Tuesday. Both this building and the Americraft Pavilion will be under roof by fall, Roberts said.

Farther off to the left, and well off the road, the ground for the Midway has been readied for asphalt.

On the left of Route 30, the curbing and light poles are in place for the parking lot. Additional parking will be on the grass.

To the right of the parking lot is the future site of the Equine Complex. Secretariat’s old foaling shed has been moved here, next to the old training stable, which is being renovated. Pads are also in place for the Southern States Legends Stables holding 143 stalls.

The large mound of reddish dirt in the field beyond is the soil removed from the surface of the old training track. It will be used to surface the four planned practice rings. Equestrian events will be held here in 2009.

An Equine Museum is being conceptualized and a committee formed to raise funds. No dates have yet been set for its opening.

With the Meadow Event Park now set to open in September of next year, Caroline now has a major attraction that will show us at our best.