67th Sebastian County Fair

 

story and photos by Joel Rafkin
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The 67th Sebastian County Fair in Greenwood began on Tuesday, Aug. 23 with free admission with the following two days at a reduced price and the final two days at full price.

Wednesday featured the livestock show throughout the day and the Little Miss Pageant in the evening. A talent show was held on Thursday. The key events were held Friday and Saturday.

Friday evening began with mutton busting for the kids followed by championship bull riding when the sun went down. Willie Stradlin performed in concert for those not interested in the cowboy way of life. The group gets its name from an unusual confluence of lead singer Heath Molton’s influences — songwriters Willie Nelson and Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses.

On Saturday the fair wrapped up with a parade in the morning followed by a livestock auction, fair queen pageant and concert by the Rain Kings.

Each evening the carnival, operated by Johnson Bros. Amusements of El Dorado, Ark., opened with rides and games to appeal to all age groups. A $20 armband entitled the fairgoer to unlimited rides. Tickets were available on an individual basis at $1 each with most rides costing three to four tickets. For the older crowd there were the carnival games requiring a degree of skill and a fair amount (pun intended) of cash to win a prize.

Billie Haynes of Charleston successfully sank a basketball through the hoop after gently lobbing it against a downward angled backboard. Haynes said it was the first big prize she’s ever won and was excited as she chose a large body pillow emblazoned with money as her prize. The booth’s operator, Klaus Dentz with Dorman Enterprise of Judsonia, Ark., provided patrons with helpful tips on how and where to aim on the backboard for success.

What would a fair be without the fare? All the walking and typical August temperatures make one hungry and thirsty too. There were the traditional funnel cakes, corn dogs, sno-cones, cotton candy, drinks and all the other artery-clogging but delicious treats.

One vendor was selling regular and strawberry lemonade served in a novel way. He used a clear plastic 32 oz. cylindrical food storage container and punched a hole in the lid to accommodate a straw. This made a very reusable spill and crush resistant drink cup.