THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996             TAG: 9608140120
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: COURTLAND                         LENGTH:   57 lines

FAIR PLAY WITH GOINGS ON LIKE A PIG KISSING CONTEST, A MIDWAY AND COUNTRY MUSIC STARS, HOW COULD YOU NOT HAVE A FUN? IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT THE FRANKLIN-SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR.

THREE MAJOR, young country stars are expected to entice visitors to the Franklin-Southampton County Fair - Jeff Carson, Friday; Bryan White, Saturday; and Stephanie Bentley, Sunday.

The steer, lambs and livestock will be there every day for show and sale - a 4-H Market Hog Show, Steer Show and a Livestock Sale.

More cuddly animals will be displayed during a Sunday Pet Show. The fair will also feature local entertainers, an arts and crafts display, a busy midway and food a-plenty.

For those in a competitive mood, there will be a talent show, horseshoe throwing contest and watermelon eating contest.

There will be a hog calling contest, greased pig contest and, for those preferring gentler porker treatment, the Southampton County Humane Society will sponsor a pig kissing contest.

It is all happening at the improved fairgrounds.

Wesley Alexander, fair manager for nine years, said, ``We spent about $30,000 on improvements.'' There are 20 new tables in the picnic pavilion and an improved, lighted parking area.

The 15-year-old event has experienced increased attendance each year.

``We had about 22,000 last year,'' Alexander said. ``We expect about 25,000 this year.''

The visitors will have plenty to do thanks, in large part, to 1,500 exhibitors. ``That's the strength of our fair - individual participation,'' Alexander said. ``People have a vested interest in the event. . . . There's great local interest, and most of the proceeds stay in the community.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Cuddly animals, like baby pigs, will be displayed during a Sunday

Pet Show.\

Children will enjoy jumping around in the Moonwalk at the midway.

Photo by FRANK ROBERTS

Fair Manager Wesley Alexander says 25,000 people are expected this

year.

Graphics

AT A GLANCE

HIGHLIGHTS

SCHEDULE

[For complete graphics, please see microfilm] by CNB