County Fair
The annual Fayette County Fair was a huge
event for many years prior to the 1950’s. The fairgrounds
were located behind what is now the Board of Education.
There was always large participation not only in attendance
but in competitive events. Each day of the week a different
category was judged. One day was for flowers, another day
for canned goods, another for baked items and so on. There
was a large open shed at the southwest corner of the
fairgrounds where animals, mostly cows and pigs entered by
students who belonged to the Future Farmers of America,
were judged. The Future Homemakers of America club also had
projects that were displayed in the high school gymnasium
which was at the north end of the fairgrounds. The
gymnasium was headquarters for most of the judging. Every
class in each school had a display. Civic clubs, churches,
and some individuals also entered presentations to be
judged. My dad always entered blooms from his dahlia
garden, often winning a first prize ribbon. Because the
high school’s basketball team took great pride in the
condition of the gym’s hardwood floor, about six inches of
wood shavings were used to cover and protect the floor.
The number and variety of rides and side shows seemed large
to me as a child. Parents and teachers of the PTA ran a
food stand just outside the gymnasium. They sold hot dogs,
candy, cookies and other food items donated by businesses
and citizens of the community. Mother always enjoyed
working in the food stand. Although I was required to
purchase my food from the PTA stand, the carnival food
stands always smelled better with enticing odors of hot
popcorn and fried onions. Around 11:00 PM there was a free
trapeze act at the southeast corner. It lasted about 30
minutes signaling the end of the day’s events.
“School Day” at the fair was something all the boys and
girls looked forward to. This was counted as a regular
school day. We were marched to the courthouse square and
lined up by grade facing the south courthouse steps. Then
we were regrouped and assigned to certain teachers (I never
understood why or how) before continuing to the
fairgrounds. The gate was free to students and all rides
and sideshows were only 5¢ each for the whole day. Parents
of students were allowed in but had to pay the gate fee and
rides were at the regular price for them. One year the
carnival owners (during the first hour) did not lower the
price for the rides. Mr. Defore, principal of the high
school and superintendent of the whole school system, came
to the fairgrounds. He was angry and after talking with the
managers of the carnival announced that for the next two
hours all rides would be free. I remember going with a
dollar and coming home with change.