The Washita County Fair Board has decided to cancel this year’s Free Fair but will hold the Junior Livestock Show.
Joe Thompson, who is president of the Fair Board, said the decision was made last week. “I’ve been on the Fair Board for 27 years. This would have been the 113th consecutive year to hold the fair,” he added.
“We were very reluctant, but safety for the people won over nostalgia,” he emphasized.
Thompson mentioned the Tulsa State Fair announced last week it was canceling but will hold the stock show.
He said this year’s Junior Livestock Show will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Activity Center beginning at 8:30 a.m. “We’ll start with swine, then sheep and goats, then beef cattle. We will run them right straight through.
“We’ll be over by noon or so,” he thinks.
Thompson said, “This is called show and go. It’s strictly a show. There won’t be a concession stand.
He anticipates as many as 100 animals may be shown. He believes the show has the potential to have that many, which he said is not unusual,
Thompson elaborated on the cancelation saying, “We have people who have been at this more than 40 years. And it’s really hard on them and on all of us.”
He stressed, “We’replowing unchartered waters. We never dreamed we would have to make this kind of decision. Way back during the Spanish Flu, in 1919- 1920, they held the fair,” he said.
Thompson stated, “This is the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make.”