Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Changes planned for 2004 county fair

Expect some scheduling changes for the 2004 edition of the Nevada County Fair.

In its monthly meeting, held Thursday, April 8, the Nevada County Fair Board discussed several major changes to the schedule to help streamline the events.

However, one of the first things to be done is finding someone to take care of the pageants, as Lisa McClure resigned as pageant director. Rebecca Holley, board president, said she would be talking to George Cornelius, Karen McLelland and Heather Sands about taking the pageants over. All, she said, are familiar with pageants and how they operate.

The board discussed moving the pageants from Saturday to Tuesday night and combining them with the talent show. Last year the pageants were all held on Saturday night due to low participation.

By moving the all of the pageants to Saturday night, it will free Thursday up for the livestock premium sale, which generally starts at 5:30 p.m. with an appreciation dinner for the buyers. Rex Dollar said the Nevada County Cattlemen's Association may provide the meat for the dinner, with Mike Chambliss doing the cooking. Other dishes for the dinner would be pot luck.

In past years, the two events have overlapped, each taking people from the other.

And, by making the talent show part of the pageants, the idea is to reduce "down time" between pageant groups and give the contestants more time to get ready before the different categories.

The board agreed to allow livestock to be brought in and entered between 3:30-7 p.m. the Monday of the fair, to help allow participants in the parade more time to get ready for it. The parade will stay on Tuesday evening, with the pageants to follow.

The idea of moving the pageants to Tuesday was to allow the new queens to reign over the remainder of the fair events during the week.

It was also discussed moving the gospel singing from Sunday afternoon to Friday night, as this night would be open. Such a move would also insure more participation in the concert, which, traditionally, has few in attendance. Another concern for the concert was the timing of the fair, with Sunday being the day before Labor Day.

The board is considering adding a dance the Saturday night prior to the fair, which would be August 28. Holley said Mark Turner, an instructor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (UACCH) has a band and would perform at the dance.

In addition to the dance on Aug. 28, there would be an Old Timer's Rodeo, with a high school rodeo the Saturday of the fair, which would be Sept. 4.

Admission for the Old Timer's Rodeo and dance would be a flat fee of $5 with patrons being able to go back and forth between the events. The admission price would be collected at the gate, with all proceeds going to the Fair Board.

For the rodeo on Sept. 4, the board discussed hiring Wren Brown to provide the livestock. While this wouldn't be a PRCA sanctioned event, it would include standard rodeo events such as steer wrestling, bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, cattle loading, chute dogging, team roping and calf roping. Brown will also be asked about providing the livestock for the Old Timer's Rodeo as well.

Brown, Kenny Fincher said, has furnished livestock for rodeos on Hope, though the Fair Board would have to provide a timer. He said the rodeos lasted about four hours and had between 60-80 contestants. Brown, Fincher added, pays all contractors and prize monies. The board would make its money from gate receipts while Brown collects the entry fees for the events.

Holley said the award ribbons came in and had to be sent back as they had Paragould on them. This, though, will be corrected before the fair begins.

Vicki McLelland talked about having a raffle to raise money to purchase 12 belt buckles. The prize would be a $200 gift certificate to Wal-Mart. She said a table could be set up at the annual Chicken and Egg Festival to sell tickets at as well.

McLelland said some have been talking about having a best decorated stall contest during the fair as well.

Those who work behind the scenes will be remembered this year with the Herdsman Awards. Plaques will be given to those who work to keep the stalls clean and fresh during the fair, with the presentation to be made at the premium sale.

There was little discussion about the carnival, other than there should be more rides than in recent years.

While the board discussed these changes, no action was taken on any of them. Decisions are expected to be made at the May meeting.