Story/photo courtesy of Toby Brown
When it comes to longevity, there’s only one event in Carmi that holds bragging rights over Kiwanis Corn Day.
And that one event – the White County Fair – was the subject of the Kiwanis Club program on Thursday.
Former club President and current White County Fair Board member Jc Tinsley filled the club in on the 138th annual edition of the fair, which will run July 30-Aug. 6 at the White County Fairgrounds in Carmi. He noted that despite some events having to be cancelled due to lack of adequate state funding, all of the major attractions will still be there.
Harness racing will be featured at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 1, followed by the White County Fair Queen pageant (which is organized by Nancy and Hannah Gowdy, and emceed by Tinsley) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the WRUL Talent Show (which Tinsley organizes as manager of the station) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Tuff Truck Challenge (run by Ben Arnold and Caleb Coston) on Thursday, Motocross racing at 7 p.m. Friday, and the Young Leader Pedal Pull at 3:30 p.m. (organized by Doug Anderson) and demoliton derby at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The Carnival, run by Brady Amusements, will be there all week, with ride arm bands available each night for $16. Kids Day will be Tuesday, which means arm bands will be only $12 that night. Tinsley noted that the arm brand prices are among the lowest in the area.
“If you visit other fairs around the area, ours stacks up pretty darn well,” he said. “…I’m very proud of what the White County Fair is able to offer.”
The President of the White County Fair Board is Rick Barbre, with Brent Edwards serving as Vice-President, Gary Barbre as Treasurer and Jane Davis as Secretary. The Board includes Tinsley, Jim Walsh, Matt Lamont, Rusty Walsh, Mike Williams, Wade Masterson, Darin Whetstone, Tim Barbre and Doug Redman.
The retiring Miss White County Fair Queen is Adrian Lamp, the retiring Junior Miss is Catalina Baker and Annsley Healy (daughter of Kiwanian Holly Healy) is the retiring Little Miss.
“I expect this year will be a big year for the fair,” said Tinsley, noting that this being an election year will create lots of signs on the Midway.
The White County Fair has its own website, whitecountyfair.com, and has 133 local sponsors this year.
Some of the floral hall events that have become casualties of the state budgeting this year include the following exhibits: fruits, textiles, fine arts, floriculture, junior dept. and some of the animal displays. Tinsley expects those all to return in the future once the state’s fiscal outlook improves.
H. Healy, who ran the meeting in Kiwanis President Alan Saunders’ absence, reminded all Kiwanians that the club will have a professional photo taken following the next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 4. The photographer will also be the program guest that day: Tracy Orr of Picture Perfect Photography.
