Staying cool and learning in the Exhibit Hall at the Kentucky State Fair

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

If you are heading to the State Fair, you might duck into South Wings A and B of the Expo Center to escape the heat.

When you do, you are entering the Fair Exhibit Halls. Hundreds of booths and tents are neatly laid out, and from cancer screenings to an indoor farm, all offer a window into life in the Commonwealth.

Perhaps that is most evident in the Pride of the Counties section of the hall. Most of the state’s 120 counties have booths promoting their area.

Celebrating his 20th year representing multiple Eastern Kentucky counties is Jeremiah Parsons. For him, there are few better opportunities to get face time with potential tourists.

“It’s such a wonderful marketing tool — more than 600,000 people pass through our booths every year,” Parsons said. “That means we ge