Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp recently announced that the county fair will return this fall, Nov. 10-12, and be staged at McDonald Farm in Sale Creek. The Veterans Day weekend event will include a special military focus allowing attendees to honor the thousands of veterans in the region and provide support for Wreaths Across Chattanooga commemorating our fallen warriors.
Presented by major sponsor Little Debbie, "the fair builds on history, heritage and tradition" and will tell the story of Hamilton County while featuring food favorites, classic amusement rides that many remember from their childhood, and scores of exhibits to spotlight agriculture, historic traditions, and Southern arts and crafts.
Seventy-two years ago, the 1951 Hamilton County Fair was staged at Warner Park after the City Commission authorized Commissioner George McInturff to sign a contract with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Fair Association for use of the park. By Aug. 15, 1951, Mrs. A.T. Alwood, executive secretary of the Fair Association, reported that the entry guidelines for the fair had been shared with the community.
"Open agricultural exhibits" focusing on crop yield per acre would be a special competition feature, coordinated by the Hamilton County agricultural agent and the area vocational agriculture teachers. Corn, one of Hamilton County's most widely produced crops, would require an entry of 10 corn stalks with ears from a one-row section no longer than 62 ½ linear feet. County Agent Sam E. Mullins and Assistant County Agent Philip H. Farris would coordinate entries with assistance from Tyner High School vocational agriculture teacher J.D. Cliett.
The 1951 fair also featured floral exhibits and competition among local garden clubs. Mrs. J.W. Judd and Mrs. Grace Dodd were tapped to serve as consultants to the cut flower exhibits, while Mrs. R.C. Hart and Mrs. J.C. Graham coordinated the potted plant exhibits and competition. The Dahlia Society of Tennessee, under the direction of President C.R. Kallquist, agreed to participate. Mrs. Carl Hartung directed the flower shows, which were scheduled for Sept. 17-18.
The 1951 floral competition was fierce. Chairs for the local garden clubs were announced in the September 14, 1951, edition of the Chattanooga Daily Times. Chairwomen included: Brainerd, Mrs. J.R. Turner Jr.; Crestwood, Mrs. Conley Flegal; Chattanooga Valley, Mrs. J.Y. Brown; Ridgeview, Mrs. George Ellis; Normal Park, Mrs. Lorraine Parker; North Chattanooga, Mrs. W.C. Humphrey; John Ross, Mrs. T.R. Blanks; Bachman, Mrs. Paul Stuff; Highland Park, Miss Grace Dodd; Duncan Hills, Mrs. J.I. Jones; Glenwood Garden, Mrs. Clyde H. Hale; and St. Elmo, Mrs. H.V. Evans.
While the floral competition captured the attention of the media and local attendees, it was the 4-H agricultural judging that wowed the viewers. Individuals and teams competed by category. Judging involved evaluating the livestock based upon their intended purpose in animal agriculture, requiring students to determine the animal's value in both market (meat) and breeding. As onlookers watched, the 4-H teams moved quickly from animal to animal.
The McMinn County 4-H poultry judging team captured the headlines with the "highest score in the history of Tennessee competition," according to W.O. Sewell and A.J. Chadwell, UT Knoxville Agriculture Department members and poultry specialists. The skilled team, Carolyn Fillers, Lila Grace Lane and Virginia Townsend, prompted Sewell to comment that the young women knew "more about chickens than some of the experts." Not only did they take the team competition, but they scored 1-3 in the individual competition with "555 for Miss Fillers, 525 for Miss Lane and 510 for Miss Townsend out of a possible 600." Their coach was Marvin Lowery, McMinn County agent.
The Hamilton County Dairy Judging competition attracted teams from across the region, with the top three advancing to the state competition. The Rhea County team posted the highest score, followed by Bradley, Meigs, Marion, McMinn, Van Buren, Hamilton, Warren, Sequatchie and Bledsoe counties. The top three high-scoring individuals advanced to state. Charles Damron, Marion County, grabbed the top score, while Raymond Walker, Rhea County, and Ray Moss Jr., Hamilton County, tied for second place.
The Hamilton County Fair's agricultural competitions supported classroom instruction and farm experiences by working in partnership with the regional school systems and teachers while promoting agriculture, a Tennessee tradition. Area fairs have continued for decades. Next week, we'll revisit the Jaycee-sponsored County Fairs, staged off Amnicola Highway.
Linda Moss Mines is a former Putnam County 4-H beef judging team chair and, as Chattanooga-Hamilton County historian, will be working with the new County Fair. or more local history, visit Chattahistoricalassoc.org.