New(ish) Face To Lead County Fair
November 16, 2018
Longtime Volunteer Named As General Manager
DNR 11/15/18
ROCKINGHAM — A Grottoes native and veteran Rockingham County agriculture teacher was named general manager of the Rockingham County Fair Association on Wednesday.
Rebecca Holloway, 38, of Grottoes, will take the helm of the organization, its board of directors announced in a press release.
Holloway has been involved with the fair for decades, from showing animals as a child to helping her children show and serving on the fair’s board of directors, as well as volunteering during fair week.
“Rebecca not only brings enthusiasm, but also an extensive amount of past experience with the Rockingham County Fair Association and the local community,” the release says.
Holloway replaces Pam Edwards, who stepped down as general manager in September after more than two years on the job.
Holloway said she will finish out the semester at East Rockingham High School and take the job with the fair association in January. Holloway has spent 15 years teaching agriculture in Rockingham County Public Schools, including a stint at Spotswood High School.
She said it was not an easy decision to leave teaching, where she has a passion for building relationships with students.
Being able to make those connections with more children, community organizations and other fair supporters is what convinced her it was worth the leap, she said.
“I thought with my love for the Rockingham County Fair and my love of agriculture in Rockingham County, I could affect more people or touch more people,” she said.
Holloway has a bachelor’s in agriculture education from Virginia Tech and a master’s in school leadership from James Madison University.
Holloway, whose maiden name is Begoon, grew up going to the Rockingham County Fair, showing market steer and market hogs during the weeklong event each August.
Though fair week is by far the best known event at the fairgrounds south of Harrisonburg off U.S. 11, it’s hardly the only thing that goes on there.
Holloway said she will continue to focus on building the fairgrounds’ reputation as a destination for community and outside events.
Private groups reserve parts of it for events ranging from gun shows to political rallies to concerts.
It’s booked most weekends outside of fair week, Holloway said, but she wants to raise its profile further.
Holloway lives in Grottoes with her husband, Jeremy, who is chief of Rockingham County Fire and Rescue. They have three children, Lexie, 23, Josh, 21, and Wyatt, 10.
REBECCA HOLLOWAY,ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FAIR GENERAL MANAGER
DNR 11/15/18
ROCKINGHAM — A Grottoes native and veteran Rockingham County agriculture teacher was named general manager of the Rockingham County Fair Association on Wednesday.
Rebecca Holloway, 38, of Grottoes, will take the helm of the organization, its board of directors announced in a press release.
Holloway has been involved with the fair for decades, from showing animals as a child to helping her children show and serving on the fair’s board of directors, as well as volunteering during fair week.
“Rebecca not only brings enthusiasm, but also an extensive amount of past experience with the Rockingham County Fair Association and the local community,” the release says.
Holloway replaces Pam Edwards, who stepped down as general manager in September after more than two years on the job.
Holloway said she will finish out the semester at East Rockingham High School and take the job with the fair association in January. Holloway has spent 15 years teaching agriculture in Rockingham County Public Schools, including a stint at Spotswood High School.
She said it was not an easy decision to leave teaching, where she has a passion for building relationships with students.
Being able to make those connections with more children, community organizations and other fair supporters is what convinced her it was worth the leap, she said.
“I thought with my love for the Rockingham County Fair and my love of agriculture in Rockingham County, I could affect more people or touch more people,” she said.
Holloway has a bachelor’s in agriculture education from Virginia Tech and a master’s in school leadership from James Madison University.
Holloway, whose maiden name is Begoon, grew up going to the Rockingham County Fair, showing market steer and market hogs during the weeklong event each August.
Though fair week is by far the best known event at the fairgrounds south of Harrisonburg off U.S. 11, it’s hardly the only thing that goes on there.
Holloway said she will continue to focus on building the fairgrounds’ reputation as a destination for community and outside events.
Private groups reserve parts of it for events ranging from gun shows to political rallies to concerts.
It’s booked most weekends outside of fair week, Holloway said, but she wants to raise its profile further.
Holloway lives in Grottoes with her husband, Jeremy, who is chief of Rockingham County Fire and Rescue. They have three children, Lexie, 23, Josh, 21, and Wyatt, 10.
REBECCA HOLLOWAY,ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FAIR GENERAL MANAGER
