Two things that help make fall a special time of year are football Friday nights and the annual county fair. Football kick-off this Friday night and, believe it or not, the 57th Annual Shelby County Fair is less than three weeks away.

The Columbiana Kiwanis Club with help from the Chelsea Kiwanis club and countless other volunteers work behind the scenes for months to make your time at the fair enjoyable.

Their work is apparent even if it, more times than not, is thankless.

But there is another motivator for these volunteers:

the opportunity to raise money for charity groups throughout the county.

From scout troops to libraries to schools, money raised during the fair touches the lives of people throughout the county.

And as for fun, this year&8217;s fair promises to be even bigger than ever with all the rides, contests, shows and entertainment we&8217;ve all come to expect from this great event.

A few highlights of what is planned for this year&8217;s fair:

Carnival rides will be running starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

Whether the high-flying fast rides or the kiddy rides are more your speed, there&8217;s something to keep everyone in your group happy.

Organizers have a great variety of musical acts planned for every day of the fair. From gospel groups to country acts, you are bound to find something to your liking.

4-H animal shows will be held Monday through Thursday.

Even if you [like me] don&8217;t know the difference between a breeding goat and a market lamb, the fair will showcase some prize-winning animals raised by local folks.

Contests ranging from art to canned goods are also planned for the fair.

If you think your canned figs are the best in the county or that your potted petunias are the loveliest around, be sure to place your entry in one of the fair&8217;s many contests.

And remember, when you are reaching to buy a ticket to this year&8217;s fair, you are doing more than just paying your way into one of the county&8217;s best events, you are helping make a difference in our community.

Much like all those volunteers have been doing for weeks