Memoirs of My Tenure
With Ringgold County Fair

By Dr. Keith MILLER

Initially, in 1982, I was sheep superintendent with Raymond HENSLEY. In 1985, I was elected to the fair board and served in a dual capacity. Some other board members were Lee FARIS and Francis WILLIS. The extension youth director was Preston HAYSE, followed by Judy HENSLEY, Raymond's wife. Merritt TRIGGS had been secretary, and he got elected to the lowa State Fair Board of Directors from our district. Secretary of the fair board was Ruth McDONNELL, followed by Jack COOK, then Nancy SACKETT, next Amanda (McLEAD) WASKE, Kisha MARTIN, Liz (MEDEROS) STEWART.

About 1990, I was elected president of the fair board. Prior, Marvin TRIGGS was president. For a lot of my tenure as president, Kevin TRIGGS (Marvin's son) was vice president. Randy BISHOP was vice president prior to Kevin. Later, Doug CAMPBELL was vice president, followed by Mike WIMER, and when I resigned in 2022, Mike was elected president and Aaron BRENNEMAN became vice president. It was in my honor to serve with a lot of good people; I hate to mention names, but I will a few. There was Bill DAUGHTON; Bill did not say a lot, but when he did, it was pertinent. Jerry McALEXANDER was always a lot of help. One night Jerry told me that he would be late the next morning, maybe 9:00-9:30, but at 6:30 a.m. Jerry was there helping pick up trash. Later in the afternoon, you could often catch Jerry taking a nap on a bench. As time progressed, Jeff, Jerry's son, and Sarah McALEXANDER, Jerry' daughter-in-law, served on the fair board. Ozzy (Carroll) SOBOTKA was another board member that was always there to help get things done. He would always bring his tractor and loader to assist with projects. Like Jerry, Ozzy would be there at 6:30 a.m., but you may see him slumped against a tree in the afternoon taking a nap. Bob MARTIN was the overall livestock superintendent for years. Latter three of Bob's grandkids served on the fair board, Andy CLARK, John DARRAH (Lesa OVERHOLTZER's husband), and Brenda COMER.

The rodeo, demo, and tractor pull were all held in the upper arena. Then a track and lighting were created for the lower arena where Figure 8 races were held. When the Figure 8 races were discontinued, this became the arena for the demo derby. Lee MARTIN was the board member in charge of demos. For several years following the demolition derby we had a fireworks display. North of the commercial building a mud run track was developed. Tim CREVELING was in charge of the mud runs, and when Tim resigned, John BERGER took over. John was great to have around because he always had tools in his truck and could take of almost any project that came up on the spur of the moment. The mud run track and the demo arena were also used for 4-wheeler races with Damion BOGAN organizing them. The mud run track later became the tractor/pickup pulling track with Dan BARBER and Jeff McALEXANDER organizing the pulls. A permanent pipe fence was installed around the rodeo arena, instead of sitting up and taking down panels all the time. Also, a permanent cement stage was constructed. Previously, we used flat-bed trailers until a stage on a mobile home frame was constructed with Rob STACKHOUSE doing most of the work on it. Also, we used to drag bleachers all over until we finally got enough bleachers for the three arenas plus the show arena. Also, we would lay planks across the cement pillars in the rodeo arena, and then take them up every year until we purchased aluminum seats to attach to the pillars.

For the Ringgold County Sesquicentennial in 2005, there was a large parade including horses and riders carrying the flags from all fifty states and lots of antique tractors and classic cars. Also, Jim SMITH and Claire NEWTON had a contest baling little round bales of hay with their Allis Chalmers tractors in Trigg's field just south of the fairgrounds. What a contest!

The fair has contracted for years with the Diagonal Lions for the sound systems. Doug CAMPBELL has announced a lot of events. Sarah McALEXANDER did a fantastic job for several years organizing the baby contest, kids games, and games for the supportive service people. For many years a chainsaw artist would carve one day during the fair, and the carvings were sold at the auction. Other things for entertainment events at some of the fairs have been bands, kids pedal tractor pull, garden tractor pull, archery contest, inflatables, car contest, mud volleyball, bags tournament, balloon artist, magic show, stilt walker, aerial act, caricature artist, hypnotist, an escape room, pony rides, mechanical bull, miniature tractor pulling contest, and Roger McGAHUEY organized an arm wrestling contest.

The north campgrounds were developed in 2009. Electricity was brought in from the north, and ten pedestals were installed. A waterline was trenched in from the northwest corner of the commercial building. Hynek Tree Farm planted twelve trees, and I kept two five-gallon buckets in my truck to water the trees. The downfall of the trees is that they were all ash trees except for one, and now emerald ash borers are trying to destroy them despite treating them. The day we decided to assemble the playground equipment, it was 103 degrees. The first year the campsites were all filled with several on a waiting list. So, in 2010 six more pedestals were installed with each pedestal servicing two campers. There are still a few on the waiting list each year with priority given to 4-H families.

Several young members of the Ringgold County Cattleman’s Association approached the fair board in 2022 about constructing a building in front of the commercial building with bathrooms and a nice, large kitchen and on completion connecting the two buildings to have a venue that can seat at least 600 people. With cooperation and efforts from both associations, the building is being completed.

Thank You for stopping by!