Patty Verhoff, middle, from BG, getting a free pill box during senior day at the Wood County Fair. (Photos: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)

Bud Walbolt had no idea his U.S. Navy hat would draw so much attention on senior day
at the Wood County Fair.
"Thank you for your service," shouted a sheriff’s auxiliary member
shuttling seniors on a golf cart.
Bud fired back jokingly, "When did you serve, World War I?"
"I’m not that old," the auxiliary member responded.
Walbolt and his wife, Bev, attended senior day at the fair on Thursday.
"There are veterans here and we talked a little about when we served," Bud
Walbolt said.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War.
The couple was stationed in a shady area on a bench. Bud was munching on his
traditional funnel cake and Bev had plans for fudge later.
The Walbolts were among hundreds of seniors who turned out on Thursday.
Many crowded into a shaded tent for complimentary lunch and entertainment.
Stella Blake, of North Baltimore, invited her sister Katie Myers, of McComb, to join
her at the fair.
"This is the second year I have been to this, but I enjoy it immensely,"
Blake said.

Seniors gather at the free tent during Senior Day at the Wood County Fair.

Last year, she treated herself to the fare at the fair, but this year opted for the
free lunch.
"I like fair food, but I am going to eat this lunch and take home an elephant
ear," Blake said.
The elephant ear was headed south to Blake’s husband.
"They feed you too well," said Carol Black, of Bowling Green.
Black has been coming to the fair for 48 years and enjoys attending senior day with
friends.
"You see everybody," she said.
She also enjoys the flower show and used to have entries in the shows for 10 years.

"I am a flower lover," she said.
Jim Wentz, of rural Bowling Green, opted for fair food. He had plans for a bratwurst.

"The brats aren’t healthy, but I only eat them once in a while," he said.

He and his wife, Pat, also came to the fair to peruse the displays.
"My wife likes the quilts and flowers," he said.