history

HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY FAIR

   The Daviess County Fair, traces its origin to the Elmore Township Fair first held in 1928.

    That first fair, organized under the direction of Albert M. Bishea, vocational agiculture teacher, took place in October. His students were commanded to assist with what was essentially an agriculture street fair

    Bishea appointed students as department chairpersons. They became, in effect, the first board. Livestock and other exhibits were scattered throughout the business district in Elnora.

    Within a few years, carnival rides had been added and the fair had outgrown its downtown site. After 1932, the fair was relocated to the Elmore Township School grounds and the dates were moved up to September.

    The fair dates were changed to August for the 1938 fair and remained that way for the next few years. No fairs were held from 1942-1945 due to World War II.

    In 1946, a group of Elnora's businessmen and farmers formed the Elnora Community Association and purchased the 40 acres of land on which the fair is presently held. The Association owns the land and has given the fair a 99-year lease.

    The livestock barns, the first major improvements at the new locations, were built in 1957 and 1958. The 1947 fair was the first held at the current fair site.

    The fair became incorporated in 1949 and the first time was known as the Daviess County Fair. The queen contest also started that year.

    The fairgrounds were redesigned in 1962. The arena, which had been located on the east side of the property, traded places with the carnival. New bleachers were put in the arena in 1990.

    In the past few years, a new show arena/dairy barn has been built, major electrical improvements have been made, and new lights and a new fence have been added to the arena.

    The parade on Saturday of fair week is a relatively new development which has become a popular tradition in the county.

    Three Daviess County Fair officials have had the honor of serving as president of the Indiana Association of Fairs, Restivals and Events: Ray Humerickhouse 1957; Wayne Ketchem 1981: and John D. Hasler 1989.

    Five fair officials have been elected to the Hall of Fame of the Indiana Association of County and District Fairs: Wayne Ketchem, John D. Hasler, Leo Vertrees, Marietta McKee, and Martin L. MumawIII.