4 minute read
Valle Country Fair
For nearly 50 years, Ashe County has been home to a series of fresco paintings from world renowned artist and North Carolina resident Ben Long. Long was born in Texas but grew up in Statesville and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After a brief stint in the United States Marine Corps, Long spent time as an apprentice in Italy working with artist Pietro Annigoni. This was where he became familiar with the art of fresco painting.
A fresco is an art form where an artist will press pigment into wet plaster. The most popular and wellknown frescoes are those painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Fresco paintings date back to as long as 3,000 years ago and older.
It was in 1974 when Long’s first work was shown in Ashe County at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson. Long met with Rev. Faulton Hodge and created three paintings at the church. The first was “Mary Great with Child,” followed by “John the Baptist” that was finished in 1976. The third and final fresco painting at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church was “The Mystery of Faith that completed in 1977. Long would later return to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in 2012 to touch up the paintings that had remained in their original state for 35 years.
In 1980, Long returned to Ashe County and painted “The Lord’s Supper” at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs. Long also painted the fresco “Suffer the Little Children” in the E.H. Sloop Chapel at the Crossnore School campus in Avery County.
Preserving these beautiful works of art has been important to not only church members, but also members of the surrounding communities. The Ashe County Frescoes Foundation was formed in 2009 with the purpose of protecting the paintings and also making them easily accessible to visitors that travel to Ashe County to view the frescoes. Donations from both public and private sources help make sure the paintings are preserved. The Ashe County Frescoes Foundation is a 501 ©(3) that consists of nine board members, four of which are members or affiliated with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church or Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
FILE PHOTO
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs is located at 120 Glendale School Rd. in West Jefferson.
BY JILLYAN MOBLEY
In its 44rd year, the fun and fellowship enjoyed at the Valle Country Fair is almost as meaningful as the event’s tagline — “Community Supporting Community.”
“A community is about people,” said John Heiss, cochair of the Valle Country Fair. “This Fair provides a perfect venue for the people of our community to come together, talk, smile, laugh and enjoy the camaraderie of neighbors, friends and visitors with a common goal — supporting those in need within our community.”
Keeping with 44 years of precedent, the Valle Country Fair is held on the third Saturday in October, which falls Saturday, Oct. 15 this year. The festivities spread out across a large hay field on the grounds of the Valle Crucis Conference Center.
One-hundred-and-fifty craft exhibitors set up tents along wide lanes that meander back and forth between a picturesque red barn and a field of sorghum. Bales of hay are stacked in the intersections of these walkways to offer fairgoers places to sit while they ponder, which craft booths to visit next.
Exhibitors submit to a jury process designed to bring together the highest quality handmade crafts available and to assure fairgoers that there is a wide variety of unique products to choose between. As a show of support, exhibitors donate a percentage of their earnings back to the charitable work of the fair.
Two stages host entertainment throughout the day. The stage located near the dining tent showcases the best in local bluegrass, country and gospel music. A second stage located near the Kids’ Activity area features cloggers, magicians and more. Diversions offered in the Kids’ Area include games like Twister and pumpkin bowling, arts and crafts and creating Halloween treats.
Eat all you want at the Valle Country Fair because almost all of the food concessions are operated by the church or by other non-profit organizations that return 100 percent of their earnings to local charities. Tables and chairs are provided under a large tent next to the
PHOTO BY KAREN RADENBAUGH The Apple Butter Boys cook apples, sugar and spices down into thick, sweet apple butter. Considered the signature flavor of the Fair, jars of the sweet autumn condiment are a favorite souvenir of the festival.
music stage so that fairgoers can enjoy the entertainment while they dine.
You can take a vacation from cooking on the night of the Oct. 16 as well, because the Brunswick Stew, barbecue and chili can all be purchased by the quart for later consumption — as can baked goods, jams & jellies, apple cider and apple butter. Some of the most scrumptious and beautiful cakes to come out of the Valle ovens go up for auction at noon, so don’t miss the entertaining bidding wars.
Recipients of the 2022 Valle Country Fair grants are The Children’s Council, Girls on the Run, High Country Caregivers, Jason Project, LIFE House, Meditation and Restorative Justice Center, Mountain Alliance, Reaching Avery Ministries, Spirit Ride and Watauga County Schools’s Extended Learning Centers. The outreach committee at Holy Cross Church distributes all remaining proceeds to individuals and families in
SEE VCF ON PAGE 133
