BRUNSWICK COUNTY — The second annual Brunswick County Agricultural Fair and Expo will return for five days in October after receiving approval from commissioners Monday.
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at its Oct. 5 meeting to approve the plans and request from the organizer of the county’s agricultural fair and expo, Brandon Hardee. The fair held its inaugural event in 2025 and was considered a success by the county and commissioners. This year’s event will take place from Oct. 21 through 25 at 2030 Ash Little River Road.
The approval on Monday related to Hardee’s request for emergency services and sheriff’s deputies to be at the fair. Hardee also wanted access to four bleachers, traffic cones, light towers, a generator and some message boards, but the commissioners only approved the use of equipment by emergency services.
Any equipment county staff need to do their work, like a light tower or traffic cones, will be allotted, but no more than that and not to the fair organizers directly. The reason, commissioners explained, was to avoid setting a precedent of nonprofits going to the county to use their equipment for their events, though this was primarily championed by Commissioner Pat Sykes.
“I cannot support the equipment,” she said. “Because you’re a nonprofit and with it being a nonprofit, that means any nonprofit could come in here and say I want a generator. I want to use it.”
Sykes also worried about the county being liable if any of the equipment — specifically the bleachers — caused someone to get an injury.
Ultimately, the event was approved, with the staffing of five officers and two EMS personnel, for a total of $31,346.21.
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