It’s been a long time coming, and today it has finally arrived.

The Belmont County Fair officially opened today at its new home off Roscoe Road west of St. Clairsville.

Plans to relocate the fair to the new site have been in the works for many years now, and today opens a new chapter for the county’s annual showcase of agriculture, arts and crafts, and hometown pride.

While it may seem odd not to have the sights and sounds of the fair taking place this week near the St. Clairsville schools like it has for decades, the buzz surrounding the new location offers something new and exciting for everyone involved – from the fair board members to the visitors who will check out the new scene today through Sunday.

Obviously, the new fairground is still in its infancy.

There are plenty of additions planned for the grounds in the future, and the new site can accommodate expansion with acres upon acres of room to spare.

The Ohio Valley’s first motorcross track has been added and will be part of the entertainment during the fair, along with a list of musical entertainment and the traditional demolition derby.

There will be a bigger midway, more rides and more indoor space in the huge new barns and in the Carnes Center, which has been in operation at the site for many years now and is ready for use during the first fair at the new location.

We congratulate the Belmont County Agricultural Society and other county officials for bringing everything together to mark this achievement today. A lot of hard work and a lot of money has gone into preparations for this day and for the future of the Belmont County Fair for many years to come.

We also encourage everyone to visit the fair over the course of the next few days and support those involved, particularly the many local young people who play an important role in the future of Ohio’s No. 1 industry – agriculture.