HOOKER COUNTY FAIRS

by Shirley Shears

Entry T3 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Leading the Parade for the Fair.

A float in the Hooker County Fair Parade.

Lined up for Bar-B-Q on the 3rd day of the Hooker
County Fair.

The Fair and Rodeo Grounds where the Kid's
Rodeo is held on the 4th day of the Fair and the
shows and exhibits are displayed.

The first Fall Festival Day held in Mullen,
Nebraska was a Thursday, August 23, 1929.
This day was instituted by the Womans
Welfare Club of Mullen. It was held at the
High School auditorium. The business places
cooperated with the club to make the day a
success by providing valuable merchandise
prizes for the first and second place in all the
various groups of vegetables, flowers and
fancywork. The day also included entertain-
ment. The Mullen ball team hired the
Thedford, Nebraska band to provide music
during the afternoon and evening. They also
asked the Prentice ball team for a free ball
game, the score was 5 to 2, in favor of Mullen.

The J.E. Lowe Co. under the supervision
of Alex Burnett, displayed the Skelgas stove,
the Horton and Emerald washing machine
and the McCormick-Deering cream separa-
tor at the Festival. Maude (Schooler) Nelsen
conducted a demonstration of Nash Coffee.
The day was attended by many people of the
community and surrounding area.

In January 1930, the businessmen of
Mullen considered an Annual Fair, as the Fall
Festival Day had been so successful. They
formed the Mullen Community Association.
This was not only for the good of the people
of Hooker County but for the large trade area
of South Cherry. They chose to buy the
baseball and rodeo grounds just west of town
for the new fair grounds. L.E. Harding
assisted by T.L. McCully completed the deal
by purchasing this land from Raymond E.
and Cherry Edna Spradling on May 1, 1930
for $1350.00.

For several years the Fall Festival Day was
held in conjunction with the 4-H exhibits and
demonstrations at the Mullen High School.
The fair held on August 17, 1951 showed
much interest in the flower exhibit with 71
entries from the project clubs of Whitman
and Mullen. Mrs. Tilbert Wright was awar-
ded the grand prize of the Goodwill Club.
(This club still is active in Mullen). Because
of the interest and enthusiasm shown, the
project clubs made plans to have another
exhibit the following year, asking the public
to take part. The flowers made a beautiful
background for the 4-H displays. Judges for
the flower show were: Mrs. Veda Franke,
Mrs. Laura Palmer, Mrs. Theodore Folk, all
from Mullen and Mrs. Pace from Whitman.

The fairs were mainly 4-H affairs until
1957 when they added the Open Class
division. The 4-H calf shows were held at the
calf barn north of the High School until the
open class was added, then they held them
in the James and Lowe Implement yards.
Great interest was shown.

In the summer of 1957, the Hooker County
Agriculture Society was organized legally.
The officers elected were: Russell Machlan,
Chairman; Bob Simonson, Vice-Chairman
and building committee Chairman; Frank
Harding, Secretary; Gerald French, Treasur-
er; Arthur Mathews, Commercial Display
Chairman; Roy Haney, Activities Chairman;
Marion Simonson, Open Chairman; and
Marie Benner, 4-H Chairman. The officers
set up the Fair policy and discussed building
a building. It was finally decided to wait until
suitable plans could be made for a Hooker
County Fair building.

In 1959, the Agriculture Society decided to
have an open class horse show. At the fair
they also held a Barbeque and parade along
with the rest of the fair. These activities are
still being held at the fair time.

In 1960, the rodeo facilities were built
smaller and more suitable. The Agriculture
Society added a 20 foot X 50 foot roofed
showing building for 4-H livestock to the 4-
H barn north of the High School. Later
moved to the Fairgrounds.

In 1963, a metal building was added to the
grounds west of town. This is the Hooker
County Fair Building where the exhibits are
still displayed at fair time.

August of 1968, a contract was drawn up
with Franke Construction Company, Inc. for
a grandstand at the fairgrounds. This was
completed on June 1, 1969.

Several improvements have been made at
the fairgrounds in the late 1970's and early
1980's. A new panel arena with bucking
chutes and catch pens, water hydrants added
around the arena and brick bathrooms built
to the north side of arena. Several items have
been added to the building.

The Hooker County Fairgrounds are used
for many activities: July 3rd and 4th Rodeos,
High School Rodeos, 4-H Horse Shows,
Demolition Derbys and the building is also
used for other community activities.