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LaFAYETTE — Stormy weather has been a problem for LaFayette Day in recent years. Not so this year. 

The weather for Saturday’s annual fundraiser for Valley Haven School couldn’t have been better, and a good crowd was on hand to enjoy the day. 

Just under $10,000 was raised for the 2024 Hike/Bike/Run, and this coming Friday could be a big day as well with the annual auction taking place at the school.

“We were real pleased with the way everything worked out,” said Valley Haven Executive Director Craig Brown. “We had a great turnout, not just the crowd, but also with the vendors, the live entertainment and the entries in our car show.”

A total of 39 entries took part in the car show. Awards were given for the oldest vehicle, the farthest distance traveled and a celebrity award. Steve Inabinet had the oldest car, 1a 1928 Model A Ford. Larry Moon of Sylacauga, Alabama drove the longest distance to enter a vehicle. Todd Fuller won the celebrity award. He had a 1973 Ford Bronco at the show.

Chambers County Probate Judge Paul Story was running the sound system for the entertainment. Performers included the Going Home gospel group from Wadley, Charles Hughes and Steve Spates, The Allen and Matthews Band, Luke Keel and the Holloway and Drakes gospel group. Spates has played guitar with Wicked Dixie. 

On Saturday he played for Hughes, who sang lead on a number of songs. Hughes is an assistant principal at Beauregard High School in Lee County.

Saturday was the first live performance for the newly formed Allen-Matthews Band. Some of the members of the band are from the LaFayette area and some are from Wadley.

The Holloways and Drakes have been singing on LaFayette Day for more than 20 years now. 

“They are really good and we appreciate them for what they have done for a long time now,” Brown said.

The LaFayette Day Committee manned the barbecue booth next to the stage. Members of the committee include the long-time chairperson, Lynn Oliver, Craig Brown, Commissioner James Williams, Nita Golden, Abbey Williams, Cherrie Sanders and Michael Sanders.

Valley Haven Office Manager Joellen Weldon and members of her family registered the motorcycles taking part in this year’s Hike/Bike/Run Motorcycle Ride. The participating bikers rode a different route this year instead of the route taken in previous years. 

Instead of heading south along Highway 29 through Valley, into Lee County and coming up US 431 from Opelika to LaFayette, the route went north. The bikers went through West Point, up the State Line Road to CR 278, where they turned left through Standing Rock and Hickory Flat and took another left on 431 and headed south to LaFayette.

LaFayette Day vendors included Valley Lions Club members Phillip and Brenda Sparks, Curtis Moore and L C Marshall, who were selling mops and brooms; Jasper Todd, who was selling Blue Bonnet ice cream from his truck, and Jesse Harper and Leon Baker, who were cooking Polish sausage in a food truck.

“We were very happy with the good weather we had on Saturday, and the turnout we had at LaFayette Day,” Brown said. “We hope everyone who came out had a good time. We hope to have a good turnout this Friday at our annual auction. It will be at [Valley Haven] School and will be getting underway at 6 p.m. Eastern time. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. so everyone can see what’s up for bids.”