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Saturday, July 16, 2022 Messenger-Inquirer DAVIESS COUNTY LIONS CLUB FAIR 3

TRUECOMMUNITY

Daviess County Fair returns from two-year hiatus

By Sydney O’Hearn

Details, attractions and locations may have changed since the first Daviess County Lions Club Fair in 1959, but a few things remain the same: The sight of children playing, the sounds of fair rides and monster trucks, the smells of popcorn and funnel cake …

Most unchanged of all is the community that brings each fair to life.

There was brief worry in the beginning of this year’s fair planning process. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, would there be enough sponsors? Would volunteers still be available?

“During COVID, we had no income coming in. We didn’t qualify for relief because we have no paid employees. We couldn’t put on a fair without our sponsors. It costs upwards of $100,000 to put on a fair, and we have to have at least half of that in sponsorships and advertising before we can even begin,” said Joan Hayden, secretary of the Daviess County Lyons Club Fair Board.

The worries turned out to be unfounded — the community has rallied around the county fair, and there was no shortage of sponsorships this year. Nor is there a shortage of volunteers.

The fair maintains anywhere from 25-45 volunteers to run the fair each year. Integral to the volunteer force is Dream Riders of Kentucky — the Owensboro chapter is located on the fair grounds on Highway 45.

Sponsorships grew this year, and the fair board is able to maintain its annual luncheon for nonprofits thanks to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. The luncheon invites children from local nonprofits Girls, Inc., Wendell Foster, The Neblett Center, Boys and Girls Club and Puzzle Pieces out to enjoy the fair rides, live petting zoo and a meal.

“A lot of those kids never get a chance to go to a fair,” Hayden said. “They always love it. We had 300 at the last fair, and we’re looking at more than that this year.”

And Kentucky Farm Bureau is sponsoring the pageants this year as well as the ever-popular open talent show, which as been a fairgoer favorite for nearly 10 years.

The show, which includes all ages and a variety of talents, will happen Saturday night. Another favorite is the monster truck show, and Hayden says, “the livestock shows are well-attended.”

Hayden expects to see close to 7,000 faces over the course of the fair, but the fair board doesn’t keep the entrance fees.

“All the money we make, we try to put back into the community for eye care,” Hayden said.

Pony rides, a live petting zoo and laser tag round out the event. The fair board tries to create a full, budget- and family-friendly experience for the community.

“You pay one price to get in. After that, it doesn’t cost you anything except the food you want to buy,” said Hayden. “It’s a great family opportunity.”

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