Johnson County Fair History Archive

2014

COMING SOON

2013

• Fair queen is Bailey Johnson

• Fairboard president is Steve Duke

• Peggy Hittle wins grand champion Raspberry baking contest

• Ride tickets were four for $5, Unlimited Ride bracelets $20

• Demolition Derby ticket was $10

• Read-Touch-Taste program is in it’s second year

• Fireworks display replaced the hot air balloon race

2004

COMING SOON

2003

• Fair queen is Lauren Madden

• Fair board president is Larry Vandenburg

• Unlimited Ride bracelets were $10

• Demolition Derby ticket was $10

• A 22 lb. bag of ice sold by Whiteland FFA was $3.50

• 3 year old Megan Olson wins the pet parade with her dog Taz, dressed as spring chickens

• Michelle Peters wins grand champion of the orange baking contest

• 175 cattle were shown, and 4,800 Farm Bureau milkshakes were sold

• 300 racers participate in flat drag races

1994

COMING SOON

1993

• Fair queen is Andi Fulp

• Fairboard President is Ken Tearman

• The annual fruit baking contest is in its 5th year, with 1993 being and apple baking contest, and grand champion was awarded to June Bridges

• 2 for 1 ride tickets were sold at the local McDonald’s, and Unlimited Ride bracelets were $7

• Demolition Derby ticket was $6

• The fairboard received approval to begin expansion plans to add another 80 acres to the fairgrounds

• The 4-H awards day was concluded with square dancing outside of Scott Hall

• Sisters Whitney Henry and Hannah Henry win Grand and Reserve Grand Champion steer

1984

COMING SOON

1983

• Fair queen is Debbie Thompson

• Fairboard President is Steve Naile

• Unlimited Ride bracelets were $4

• 10th Annual Demolition Derby is held

• Cheerleading contest was held Tuesday in the grandstand

• Origin and Port Orange performed a rock concert on Wednesday

• Thursday evening in the grandstand featured a tag-team mud wrestling match

1974

COMING SOON

1973

• Fair Queen is Terry Whitaker

• Fairboard president is Lydle Barnett

• Ride tickets were 5 for a $1, with free bicycle giveaways on Tuesday and Saturday

• Demolition derby admission is $2

• Monday at the fair featured a Teen Freckle Contest, with Doug Fields crowned as freckle king and Jana Ramey crowned as freckle queen

• Thursday afternoon included open class wine judging

• 1973 also served as the Johnson County Sesquicentennial celebration

• ‘George’ the steer wins Grand Champion 4-H Steer, shown by Robert Morris

1964

COMING SOON

1963

• Happy Birthday Daily Journal- the journal’s first issue was published July 22, 1963. Just in time for fair time!

• Fair Queen is Sharon Jones

• Fairboard President is Maurice Long

• 1963 brought the first style show and talent show to the fair

• Wednesday night entertainment brought ‘Harry Martin and The Old-Fashioned Aires’ quartet show

• Amusements were provided by Gooding Amusements and Rides

• The 1963 fair was concluded on Friday night with the 4-H Steer and Barrow Sale

1954

COMING SOON

1953

• Ride price was $0.14

• Records of this year’s fair were documented in The Franklin Evening Star newspaper

• The American Tent Company was in charge of what was referred to as ‘Tent City’, putting up canvas tents to house animals and exhibits during the fair

• County Agent S. B. Scott lead fair planning and execution activities

• Thursday nights entertainment included Heavyweight and Lightweight Horse Pulling contests

• A new display for the fair this year was the Home Economics club exhibits in the Women’s building

• A benefit concert was held by the Franklin High School band and the Johnson County Home Economics chorus to benefit the high school band uniform fund

1944

COMING SOON

1943

• The 1943 4-H fair was only 2 days, Wednesday August 11 and Thursday August 12. World War II dominated headlines and people’s lives at this time, and also affected the fair.

• A scrap dump was also placed at the main gate and encouraged fair goers to bring scrap metal, tin cans, and rubber with them to support the war effort

• Wednesday night featured a military show sponsored by the Johnson County Civilian Defense organization that also served as a venue to sell war bonds

• A farmer’s picnic was conducted Thursday afternoon that featured an address from Governor Henry F. Schricker

• Girls’ exhibits were on display and judged on Wednesday, Livestock judging was conducted on Thursday

• Kenneth F. Blackwell was the president of the 4-H Fair Association

1934

COMING SOON

1933

• 1873 to 1933, the Johnson County Agricultural, Horticultural and Park Association ran the fair, and the Johnson County 4-H and Agricultural Fair Association, that we know today, took over the fair in 1933.

• 1933 brought a separate 4-H Club fair from the existing American Legion Free Fair

• The cost for the new 4-H Club fair was $500, and a benefit ‘moving picture’ was shown at the Artcraft to help raise money

• The fair was two days, and was kicked off by the pet parade with 104 entries.

• About 500 4-H’ers participated in this year’s exhibits. The champion cow winner was awarded with a choice of either a free trip to Purdue or a pure bred bull

1924

COMING SOON

1923

• The fair in Johnson County in 1923 was known as the Free Fair, and was conducted by the American legion

• The first baby contest took place at this year’s fair and free acts and horse races first appeared as well

• A main attraction of this year's fair was the auto show, while 140 pigs were entered in this year's show

• Admission was $0.35 for adults, and $0.20 for children