[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING 100 YEARS OF THE CLEVELAND COUNTY FAIR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate a few wonderful 
things that happened in my district this fall.
  Mr. Speaker, every September, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 
celebrates an iconic event that marks the transition to autumn. This 
year, however, we have a special reason to celebrate. It is because the 
Cleveland County Fair in Shelby, North Carolina, is reaching an 
extraordinary milestone: its 100th anniversary.
  For a century, the fair has been more than just an event. It has been 
a cornerstone of our community. It has brought families together, 
celebrated Cleveland County's rich agricultural heritage, and provided 
endless entertainment with thrilling rides and fantastic food.
  As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, the fair is the perfect 
way to welcome the fall season in North Carolina, and if you are a 
politician running for office, then you need to be there. The fair is a 
must. I have spent a lot of time shaking hands there over the years.
  I am really grateful for the opportunity to interact with people when 
they are having great family fun. I thank everyone who makes the fair 
happen, the volunteers and the folks who work the fair.
  I congratulate the Cleveland County Fair on its 100th anniversary.


   Recognizing Camp Meetings in North Carolina's Tenth Congressional 
                                District

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a unique and 
longstanding summer tradition in North Carolina's 10th Congressional 
District: church camp meetings. These annual events date back to the 
1800s and are wonderful celebrations of faith, family, and community.
  There are three camp meetings in my district not far from where I 
live: the Balls Creek camp meeting held in Catawba County and the Rock 
Springs and Tucker's Grove camp meetings which are both held in Lincoln 
County and very close to where I live in Lincoln County.
  All three campgrounds are listed in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
  Camp meetings happen each August and last for up to 2 weeks. Families 
gather for worship under an arbor which is a central open-air shelter 
that seats hundreds of people. There are also singings, youth rallies, 
and plenty of time to visit with family and friends.
  Many families, in fact, stay at the campground in wooden cabins known 
as tents. Ownership of many tents has been passed down for generations.
  These are beloved events, and they truly are events. These events 
were started so many years ago by families of the earliest settlers to 
the area. Many people who attend are direct descendants of these people 
of faith who first started gathering more than 150 years ago.
  It is important to not just honor our traditions, but to preserve 
them, and that is what these camp meetings do. The organizers of these 
camp meetings continue to do that with these important events and 
timeless expressions of our enduring faith. For that, we honor and 
thank them.

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