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|  |  Davidson County Agriculture Fair A dozen senior citizens danced to Dale Grigg’s rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes” Thursday morning while about 200 more seniors seated in the Show Arena tapped their mostly red, muddy shoes to the beat. Thursday was Senior Citizen’s Day at the Davidson County Agricultural Fair, and despite low-hanging clouds that threatened more rain, hundreds of senior citizens tromped through the muddy parking field as the gates opened at 10 a.m. At the entrance, a number of politicians took the opportunity to hand out bags, posters, buttons and nail files. The plastic goody bags filled quickly as most seniors made their way through the Exhibit Hall collecting countless free samples and literature at the booths. Democratic county commissioner candidate Max Walser worked the crowd near the gate. By about 10:15 a.m. he said he had handed out 400 bags with his message on them. “Senior citizens tend to vote,” Walser said, explaining his choice of campaign locations. Inside the Exhibit Hall, near the Republican Party booth, candidate Don Truell worked one side of the aisle while his wife met voters on the other side. “This is my audience,” said Truell, who has made senior citizens’ issues a priority in his campaign. Pointing to his wife, he joked, “I know a lot of these people, but I told the party they’re running the wrong person. She hasn’t met a stranger since we arrived.” Margaret Beeker, who said she comes to the fair every year, liked the exhibits best. “I like them because it shows what seniors can make.” She said she planned to eat later at the Linwood Lions Club food booth. Beeker admitted she was biased; her husband is its chairman, she said. Over at the Central Carolina Civitan Club food booth, Frank Hunter said, “Senior citizens day is our second biggest day after Saturday.” He called the previous night, which saw steady rain, “a wash.” Paul “Jaybird” McCrary, president of the fair, estimated the early crowd at more than 500 people. Getting things done in his usual low-key way, McCrary had already dispatched a crew to scrape away mud and pour sand in a low, wet area outside the Show Arena. Next he turned his attention to the task of opening the parking field across Greensboro Street Extension. For that, he had requested the help of some Davidson County Transportation Department vans. “It’s a long way out to the end of that field,” he said. “These seniors are going to need some help getting over here.” Lexington Kiwanis Club volunteer Trip Timberlake, who had parking lot duty Thursday morning, said many of the early cars had handicapped signs in them. Steve Smith, who transported many seniors from the lot to the entrance in a golf cart, said his work had been “continuous.” While the midway was closed Thursday morning, Reithoffer Shows did operate the merry-go-round for the seniors. Ninety-five year-young Virgie Templeton insisted on mounting one of the ponies and taking a spin. “I always enjoyed them,” she said. “I rode my first merry-go-round when I was 10 or 11 at a carnival that they set up every year by the railroad tracks.” Davidson County Senior Services, which organizes the senior citizens day, handed out free popcorn and drinks to the seniors as they entered the Show Arena. Kathryn Gentry, executive director of senior services, praised the many businesses that contributed the food and door prizes. “All of it is donated. There is no county money spent on this,” she said. Gentry estimated that about 5,000 seniors would visit the fairgrounds during the day. She had 10 staff members on hand, and 20 other volunteers from the community to help with activities Eric Frazier can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 226, or at eric.frazier@the-dispatch.com.
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