"Too many things to do, and not enough time," said Mac Wright, grinning, as he walked up to Herbert Tate at last week's meeting of the Caroline County Agricultural Fair Committee, held Tuesday evening, July 7.
Mac is manager of the Fair, and Herbert is responsible for preparing the site.
Herbert smiled back. Neither seemed worried because preparations for the Fair, opening next week, are falling nicely in place.
A big concern was bringing electricity to the new, permanent site, situated on Route 1, midway between Carmel Church and Ladysmith, and next to the Virginia Sports Complex. Numerous donors chipped in (see www.carolinefair.com) and now overhead electric lines run to the site's edge.
Chipping in too was Rappahannock Electric Cooperative which erected five towering light poles with lights attached to illuminate the fairgrounds.
"Hopefully, we'll have the lines buried tomorrow," Herbert said on Tuesday, July 7.
Thursday he was still working, digging with a DitchWitch to lay 2,400 feet of electric wire and water pipe. With him was Mac, Danny Smith and George Grampp. It was a big job, but Herbert was cheerful. "The weather's great with a good breeze blowing across the field," he said on the phone.
The site itself is a broad stretch of lush, level, high pasture land overlooking the old Tate homestead. Owner Ann Tate, who donated the 40 acres for the Fair, is now getting ready to bake some of her renown pies to feed The Embers who are performing Friday night of the Fair.
"It's in the contract that we have to feed'em," smiled Sylvia Tate, who is Herbert's wife and Ann's daughter-in-law. The Embers are regulars at the Caroline Fair.
Ann, who's 79, has also been finding clippings and pictures for the "Heritage Area" display on the farm's history which Sylvia is exhibiting. Ann also unearthed two old weathervanes, shaped like dairy calves, that used to stand on the barn.

Casper is coming
Folks are excited too about the band Casper, performing Saturday evening.  A professional dance band based in Richmond playing funk, rock, and soul, they've knocked out audiences all over the country.
Exciting too, and fun, is the Caroline Idol competition, featuring local singing talent. It starts Thursday evening and climaxes Sunday afternoon.
New features at this year's Fair include a half-acre cornfield maze that ought to be a lark to get lost in. "Ken Chapman cut it out when it was about a foot-and-a-half tall so he could see where he was going," said Herbert. Ken is a Fair trustee and volunteer; also he raises alpacas.
Also for the first time, the Fair will be offering pony rides.
Meanwhile, as things continue to fall in place, Mount Olympus is providing the watermelons for the Watermelon-Eating Contest, and Kermit's Farm in Port Royal is sending a pallet of corn for the Corn Shucking Contest.
And so with preparations almost complete, there's time enough to give your antique tractor a last polish, or your giant zucchini a last pinch of fertilizer, or get your faithful hound ready for the Dog Show with a new dazzling trick.
And don't forget to practice your hog-callin' and rooster crowin', because everyone's waiting to hear you at this year's Caroline County Agricultural Fair.

The Caroline County Agricultural Fair runs Thursday through Sunday, July 23 to 26, with a 3:00 p.m. ribbon-cutting and preview of the Midway rides on Wednesday, July 22.