2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 128
Commending the Highland County Fair.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 23, 2026
WHEREAS, over the past 75 years, the Highland County Fair has entertained and educated countless visitors while honoring the agricultural traditions of the Commonwealth and fostering a greater sense of community and togetherness in western Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the origins of the Highland County Fair may be traced to the White Elephant Sale held by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce in 1951, the success of which inspired the chamber's leaders to organize the county's first fair the year after; and
WHEREAS, the Stonewall Ruritan Club, the Blue Grass Ruritan Club, the Bolar Ruritan Club, and the Monterey Lions Club soon joined the Highland County Chamber of Commerce in its efforts, and in 1960, the Highland County Fair Association was officially incorporated, with the Mill Gap Ruritan Club becoming the sixth owner club that same year; and
WHEREAS, after operating the event at several rented sites throughout its first decade, the Highland County Fair organizers partnered with Highland County Public Schools to acquire land for a permanent location in the early 1960s, holding the first fair at this location in 1965; and
WHEREAS, from the early days of fiddlers' contests, square dances, and agricultural exhibits, the Highland County Fair has blossomed into a weeklong extravaganza of carnival rides and games, live musical entertainment, fireworks displays, contests, vendor stalls, horse and dog shows, livestock classes, and more; and
WHEREAS, the Highland County Fair has helped to support the local community and economy by creating a venue in which agricultural producers may showcase their work, vendors may connect with customers, and civic groups may raise funds and awareness for worthy causes; and