Lighting up a Summer Tradition
Choptank Trust helps light up the Talbot County Fair
By McKayla Kiernan, Communications Specialist
For over 100 years, the Talbot County Fair has been the highlight of the summer for people of all ages. This beloved tradition continues thanks to the dedicated volunteers of the Talbot County Livestock Fund. These volunteers work tirelessly year-round, organizing and running the 4-H/FFA livestock auction, maintaining and repairing livestock buildings and facilitating the 4-H/FFA Talbot County Livestock Auction Scholarship for auction participants.
In today’s world, electricity is vital no matter where you are. Back in 2011, most of the livestock buildings on the fairgrounds had little to no power, and those that did were constantly blowing breakers due to the high demand during fair week. That changed when Tom Reilly, Chairperson of the Livestock Fund, submitted a Choptank Electric Trust application requesting funds to upgrade the electrical infrastructure. Thanks to the Trust’s support through funds generated from the Operation Round Up program, Choptank Electric crews installed the necessary equipment, finally delivering dependable power that Choptank Electric provides to all the livestock buildings.
In March of this year, Tom submitted another application — this time requesting funds to bring electrical service to three cabins on the fairgrounds. Built in the 1960s, the cabins have been used by fairgoers for generations. These cabins are used for both storage and by youth who stay with their livestock during the fair. With electrical service now in place thanks to the $3,000 contribution from the Choptank Electric Trust, the cabins have lighting at night, temperature control and the ability to run dehumidifiers, ensuring stored supplies are protected during the hot, humid summer months.
“We actually have more electrical service than we need right now, but we’re thinking about the future,” says Tom. “It’s not just about us. Future generations will have the opportunity to grow into this space and expand their use of electricity if they need to.”
This year marked the 42nd year of the Talbot County Fair at its current location. To learn more about the Talbot Ag Fund and their mission, please visit www.talbotagcenter.org/.
If your program or organization is interested in applying for funding through the Choptank Electric Trust, please visit www.choptankelectric.coop/operation-round-trust-fund for details and eligibility.