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Second Annual Event At VHC This Sunday
The second annual Celebrate Rockbridge, to be held at the Virginia Horse Center on Sunday, June 23, from noon to 4 p.m., will be bigger than last years event with more activities, exhibits, and programs for people of all ages. The event is organized by the Rockbridge Breakfast Club and is free to the public.
The annual firefighters tug-of-war challenge for the Devin Riley Memorial Trophy will be a highlight of the event as area fire departments compete to win the right to the trophy for the coming year and a $250 prize. The trophy is named for Devin Riley, a high school senior from Goshen and member of the Goshen Volunteer Fire Department who was killed in a car accident shortly before graduation.
Last year, the Goshen Fire Department members defeated other area fire department teams and are expecting a lot of competition to be the winner this year. Rockbridge County residents are asked to contact their fire department and organize cheering sections for their area teams that will be competing.
The Breakfast Club will also honor two long-time residents for their many years of involvement and service. This year recognition plaques will be presented to the families of J.D. Clemmer for his years of service to the Effinger Volunteer Fire Department and Ronnie Slough for his years of service to the Buena Vista Rescue Squad after the firefighters challenge.
This year’s event will feature a lot of kid friendly activities and events, including the Huckleberry Farm and Traveling Barnyard from Ronceverte, W.Va., that features a miniature cow, miniature donkey, and a small pony. The kids will also learn about the animals from officials with the traveling show.
Sky Tree Book Fair will be offering award-winning ageappropriate children’s books that foster a love of reading in children. In addition, area adults and community leaders will be offering a free read-aloud story time for much of the afternoon and free face painting for the kids.
Youths are also offered a football clinic and football passing contest by the Parry McCluer High School coaches.
There will be a bounce castle and other activities for the children and a chance for them to explore firetrucks and police vehicles and visit with area firemen and law enforcement officers.
There will be several food vendors offering a variety of barbeque, pizzas and other foods, ice cream, kettle corn, and baked goods. Attendees can also visit exhibits by various area organizations and businesses, as well as craft and other merchandise vendors. During the afternoon, there will be demonstration by the Buena Vista Police K-9, a karate demonstration, a Hoofbeats Therapeutic presentation, and drawings for gift certificate and other prizes.
The Rockbridge Breakfast Club is 501c3 organization that seeks to promote the Rockbridge area and also sponsors the Ronnie Campbell Memorial Scholarships awarded to both graduating students seeking to pursue a career in the industrial and other trades as well as persons who have graduated and have decided to purse a skilled business trade.
The Breakfast Club meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the Pink Cadillac Restaurant.
