Pre-registrations are coming in from all over for the Third Annual Down on the Farm Car Show, a unique family-friendly event where there’s fun for everyone, but cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors are the stars.
CountryBoyz HotRodz and H & R Farms – both in the Galatia area - will host the September 14, family- oriented car show, and according to one of the show organizers, Rose Harris Pait, a whole bunch of folks are gearing up for this year’s event.
“While we try to have fun stuff for everyone, it’s important to us to keep things top-notch for our participants who bring in these amazing vehicles,” explained Rose. “After all, without them – we wouldn’t have a show! So, we give out swag bags and draw for door prizes for these folks. We also have a drawing for a $100 gas card for everyone who preregisters!”
“We had over 160 participants last year, and it’s SO exciting to watch and listen as the cars, trucks, tractors, and motorcycles roll in the day of the show!” she continued. “Who would have ever thought we could have such a show on a rural farm ‘in the middle of nowhere’ – but we do and it’s AWESOME!”
Participants and spectators alike come out to the farm from up and down the East Coast to join in the fun and take a chance on the raffle – which is the largest fund-raising part of the day and draws a big crowd.
“I guess you could say our raffle is anything but ‘regular’,“ Rose explained, “as some of the prizes donated by local businesses and individuals include a pearl green custom fuel injected Club Car golf cart, a custom pinstriped US General tool cart, a 36” LP Griddle, tools, tickets to Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan – so many prizes, totaling over $14,000 so far, and new stuff comes in every day! We really tried to think of everything to make it fun for everybody and there is no charge for spectators.”
“Of course, there will be food and vendors,” she said. “The Conway Fire Department will have lunch available 11:15 – 12:45, plus there will be a bake sale, fresh-squeezed lemonade, hand-dipped ice cream, shaved ice, charcuterie boxes, and specialty coffee drinks on hand from our vendors along with tumblers, t-shirts, crafts, and so much more!”
The “Little Farmers” area will be back with the A&S Express barrel train, face-painting, mud kitchen, truck wash, corn pit, dirt pile and more, to give parents a chance to have some fun with their little ones, according to Rose, as well as the popular scavenger hunt to, as she said, “help keep the fun in fundraising.”
One place where the show stands out for car enthusiasts, she said, is that in addition to having the Top 25, The CountryBoyz have been busy making unique, custom trophies again for the numerous categories. And in keeping with the farm car show theme, the trophies are made from engine parts and farm equipment parts.
“Voting is a little different this year, too,” Rose said. “We will, of course, have spectator favorites plus Kids’ Pick and Ladies’ Choice, but the “Best in” categories will be determined by votes from the registrants.
Getting back to the raffle prizes, she said, “I’m just overwhelmed with the way friends and neighbors and businesses from all over are contributing to make this huge raffle happen, and that people are already buying raffle tickets, as that’s where much of the money raised comes from. This year’s net proceeds go to benefit the Conway Volunteer Fire Department, Pine Forest Rest Home Entertainment fund, Easterseals UCP– Ahoskie EMPOWER, and Baptist Children’s Home of NC in Kinston. I mean, somebody’s going to win that golf kart for a $5 raffle ticket!
To a comment on the scale of the effort, Rose quickly said, “I’m certainly not doing all this by myself. Everyone in the family over the age of 6 as well as numerous neighbors and friends are busy making food, filling swag bags, formulating tally sheets, printing ballots, handling kids activities, planning and gathering supplies, soliciting donations, and mowing fields and organizing for plenty of parking.”
As for why the farm family started the tradition she explained. “My brother, Thad, who loves cars, had the idea of a show, and we all talked about how to use it to raise money for a good cause. For years, we had watched our parents jump into anything that was needed in the community. Mama and Daddy have passed, and they were the ones, with our grandparents, who started the farm. They were big supporters of and believers in family and community, and always wanted us to remain close and continue to do things together, and that’s what we’re doing - not because it’s what we think they’d want or because they asked us to. It’s just what you do.”
“Last year, everybody had a great time in spite of the 3” of rain,” Rose said. “There’s a fun video of that on the CountryBoyz HotRodz YouTube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgQUYH72zYg ) . “This year, we’re hoping the weather will be a little more cooperative and everyone will have even more fun!”
$20 pre-registration for the Down at the Farm Car Show is open until September 1. Vehicle Registration for cars, trucks, tractors, and motorcycles the day of the show at 211 Frank Harris Road, Pendleton, NC, 27862 – just over the VA/NC line - will begin at 9 a.m. on September 14. The entry fee will be $25 the day of the show. Gates will open to spectators at 10 a.m. and admission for spectators is free.
For further information, updates, and to check out all the prizes, go to the Down on the Farm Car Show Facebook page or CountryBoyz HotRodz on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgQUYH72zYg
