Lasting memories created at Logan County Fair

[August 09, 2022]   As we head towards the beginning of August it is once again time for the 86th Annual Logan County Fair. With carnival rides and games, a petting zoo, animal shows, competitions, corn dogs, lemonade shake ups, funnel cake, the pageant, evening grandstand entertainments, special live music and so much more, it is something the whole family can enjoy.

Those who have been attending the fair for years, many since their childhood, have wonderful memories.



The excitement of waiting all summer for the fair is one of Barbara Dunn Raycraft childhood memories. One part she enjoyed was the carnival. Some of Raycraft’s other memories include her brother winning a blue ribbon with his calf and eating food she never got to eat any other time of the year.

Another fun part for Raycraft was seeing friends she had not seen all summer. As a teenager, Raycraft would “hang out in the barns, because that is where the boys were.”
 

The fair was a family affair for Raycraft, whose dad Harold Dunn was one of the founders of the fair, served on the fair board and was the fair electrician for many years. Raycraft participated in 4-H and he ushered in the grandstand one year.



Terri Tibbs’ love for the fair began as a child living a block north of the fairgrounds. Tibbs said, “From our yard, you could smell the livestock, foods, hear the sounds of the rides and squeals and see the lights over the treetops, which left us filled with anticipation to be a part of it.”

The Logan County Fair was a big part of Tibbs’ childhood. She said, “Some of my favorite childhood memories include the Logan County Fair, from falling in young love to when my family started raising a couple heads of cattle every year so my sister and dad could compete in the livestock competitions.” It was at the fair that “wonderful memories and lifelong friends were made.”

When Tibbs became an adult, the fair continued to be an important part of her life. She said, “as we got older, our parents would buy us a season pass where we would spend every afternoon and evening of the week running the grounds and taking it all in. After marriage and kids, I fulfilled a bucket list check of running in the demolition derby.”

Since losing her dad several years ago, Tibbs’ memories are somewhat bittersweet. She said it does not have the same feel without Dad walking the walk with us and stopping every few feet to talk with someone from his past and reminisce.

When Tibbs goes to the fair now, her favorite parts are the foods, smells, sounds and familiar faces. This year, she is extremely excited for the 38 Special concert.



Barb Becker Kindred’s favorite fair memory from childhood is her grandpa, Victor Becker, entering items in the Logan County Fair. Becker said her grandpa would enter jams, jellies and items from his garden.

Each year Kindred’s Grandpa Becker would take each of the grandchildren to the fair one at a time to walk around his exhibits and see how he did. Kindred said her grandpa usually did very well, receiving blue or red ribbons. The special times at the fair with her grandpa is something Kindred will always remember.

Now that Kindred has grandchildren, she enjoys taking them to the fair. For Kindred, the best part about the fair is the food, especially the funnel cakes.

Years ago, Dave Eyrse remembers his Grandpa Cecil riding his horse all decked out with the parade saddle, and gear with the flag leading the opening ceremonies.

What Eyrse enjoys at the fair now is the live entertainment and the chili cookoff he participates in every year.



Dana Martin Oltmanns has been going to the Logan County Fair all her life and has always loved seeing how her entries placed. In 2021, she was excited to receive first place in the cake classic contest.

With so much to offer, the Logan County Fair has been a special part of summer for these people from childhood through adulthood.

[Angela Reiners]