The Heritage - History of the St. Mary's County Fair by Southern Maryland Online

THEHERITAGE

History of the

St.Mary'sCounty Fair A COUNTY IN TRANSITION

Photo Courtesy Suzanne Henderson

The Budweiser Clydesdales highlighted the St. Mary's County Fair in the Mid-1950s. Shown here with John Bernard Henderson (Rt.) at age five riding atop the Budweiser wagon.

FOREWORD The L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h S c h o o l P u b l i c a t i o n s ' S t a f f a n d S p o n s o r h o p e t h a t y o u enjoy t h i s e d i t i o n o f The H e r i t a g e w h i c h f e a t u r e s t h e H i s t o r y o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r w h i l e s h o w i n g A C o u n t y i n T r a n s i t i o n . Although space a n d t i m e d o n o t p e r m i t u s t o i n c l u d e e v e r y event o r e x h i b i t o r e v e r y p e r s o n who h a s c o n t r i b u t e d , w e h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o p r e s e n t a c r o s s s e c t i o n of t h e f a i r t o s h o w t h e atmosphere, t h e community i n v o l v e m e n t , t h e h i s t o r y , a n d growth o v e r t h e y e a r s .

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t h e same t i m e , w e h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o s h o w h o w S t .

Mary's C o u n t y ' s changes a r e r e f l e c t e d i n t h e f a i r ( A County i n T r a n s i t i o n ) . St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y has g r o w n f r o m a n a g r a r i a n based s o c i e t y t o one t h a t i s more a n d m o r e h i g h t e c h . T h e c o u n t y i s n o w f i l l e d w i t h c o n t r a c t o r s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e P a t u x e n t R i v e r N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n . T h i s change i n t u r n a f f e c t s j o b a v a i l a b i l i t y i n t h e c o u n t y and b r i n g s i n more s m a l l b u s i n e s s e s a n d f r a n c h i s e s . As a r e s u l t , t h e c o u n t y i s g r o w i n g b y l e a p s a n d b o u n d s . A l s o many o n e - t i m e employees a r e n o w r e t u r n i n g t o S t . M a r y ' s a n d a r e r e t i r i n g

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Pleasant L i v i n g " . T h e y l i k e t h e r u r a l f l a v o r o f t h e c o u n t y a s w e l l a s i t s c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e m e t r o p o l i t a n w o r l d s o f B a l t i m o r e , A n n a p o l i s , a n d Wa s h i n g t o n . I t i s t h e r u r a l h e r i t a g e t h a t we have t r i e d t o c a p t u r e i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , t h e v e r y t h i n g t h a t d r a w s m a n y t o o u r l o v e l y S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. We w o u l d l i k e t o t a k e t h i s t i m e t o t h a n k t h e m a n y w o n d e r f u l v o l u n t e e r s w h o have g i v e n g e n e r o u s l y o f t h e i r t i m e , e n e r g y , a n d m o n e y t o m a k e t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r t h e c o m m u n i t y e v e n t i t people a t t e n d e d t h e f a i r .

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The Excitement Of It All I remember when I How t h e e x c i t e m e n t Began i n t h e When t h e t r e e s w e r e

was l i t t l e Apf t h e f a i r Autumn turning bare.

When t h e w e e k e n d a t l o n g l a s t e p p r o a c h e d You c o u l d s e n s e i t i n t h e a i r Oh t h e s i g h t s , s m e l l s , s o u n d s , The f e e l i n g o f t h e f a i r . Ye a r s l a t e r , w a l k i n g t h r o u g h t h e s e g a t e s I t a l l comes b a c k t o .me. The l a u g h t e r , t h e e x c i t e m e n t , The f e e l i n g o f b e i n g f r e e . Once a g a i n i n t h e m i d s t o f i t a l l , I can f e e l the excitement Of w h e n I w a s s m a l l .

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A Way Of Life In St. Mary's County County f a i r s h a v e b e e n a w a y o f l i f e i n A m e r i c a ' s h i s t o r y a n d h a v e g r o w n a n d changed o v e r t h e y e a r s a s e a c h c o m m u n i t y h a s e v o l v e d . R e s e a r c h i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f the S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r h a s b e e n a n o n g o i n g e n d e a v o r b y t h e P u b l i c a t i o n ' s S t a ff and Sponsor o f Leonardtown High School f o r t h e p a s t one and one h a l f y e a r s . S t u d e n t s h a v e h a d t h e u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n t e r a c t w i t h n u m e r o u s members o f t h e community w h o h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d i n some w a y o v e r t h e y e a r s t o t h e f a i r f r o m i t s inception t o the present. When w e b e g a n r e s e a r c h i n g t h e f a i r ' s h i s t o r y, we knew t h a t o u r c u r r e n t f a i r went b a c k a t l e a s t t o 1 9 4 7 w h e n i t w a s f i r s t h e l d a t Camp C a l v e r t ( n o w S t . Mary's Ryken H i g h S c h o o l ) . L i t t l e d i d we know a t t h e t i m e , h o w e v e r , t h a t f a i r s h a d been h e l d a t L e o n a r d H a l l i n L e o n a r d t o w n as e a r l y a s 1 9 1 2 .

An o l d S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r ticket d a t i n g 1 9 1 6 w a s found i n an old f a r m h o u s e k i t c h e n o n t h e R o b e r t Thompson f a r m b y Te d B u r c h ( b e l o w ) . H o l d i n g t h e framed t i c k e t i s C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d President, John Richards.

After that f i n d , was j u s t b e g i n n i n g .

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Thanks t o t h e h e l p o f L e o n a r d t o w n H i s t o r i a n A l Gough, J r . , w h o s u p p l i e d u s with i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e S t . M a r y ' s Beacon d a t i n g 1 9 1 2 - 1 9 1 6 a n d p i c t u r e s o f the 1 9 1 2 F a i r , a n d J o e M a t t i n g l y , J r . , whose g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a c t i v e i n t h e e a r l y f a i r a t Leonard H a l l , we were a b l e t o p u t the m i s s i n g p i e c e s t o g e t h e r .

We h a v e t r i e d t o b e c o m p r e h e n s i v e i n o u r f i n d i n g s , b u t r e a l i z e t h a t t h e r e may b e some d e t a i l s w e h a v e o v e r l o o k e d a n d some v o l u n t e e r s whom we h a v e n o t h a d t h e t i m e to i n t e r v i e w a n d who p l a y e d a r o l e i n o u r f a i r ' s h i s t o r y. Our g o a l h a s b e e n t o s h o w a c r o s s s e c t i o n of t h e f a i r f r o m i t s o r i g i n t o t h e present. W e have w o r k e d hard t o be as accurate a s p o s s i b l e and t o i n t e r v i e w as many p e o p l e a s o u r t i m e w o u l d a l l o w . W e hope y o u e n j o y o u r e f f o r t s .

R o b e r t Thompson ( o n whose f a r m was f o u n d a 1916 t i c k e t t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Fair) w a s F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t from 1961-66.

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Leonardtown p r e p a r e s f o r the c o u n t y f a i r i n 1 9 5 0 .

Life On A Farm L i f e o n a f a r m h a s n e v e r b e e n e a s y. A t t h e f i r s t c r a c k o f dawn, f e e t t o u c h the f l o o r a n d n e v e r s t o p u n t i l t h e w h o l e b o d y i s b o n e t i r e d a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y. N o t a l l i s h a r d w o r k a n d l a b o r o n t h e f a r m , h o w e v e r . W a t c h i n g t h e s p r i n g lambs s p r i n t a c r o s s t h e b l u e - g r e e n r y e g r a s s a s r o b i n s r u n t h e i r s h o r t l i t t l e course f r o m o n e p o t e n t i a l W o r m t o a n o t h e r d e l i g h t s t h e s e n s e s a n d r e n e w s m a n ' s f a i t h i n nature and himself. Farm f a m i l i e s h a v e a l w a y s k n o w n t h i s s e n s e o f f r e e d o m a n d j o y t h a t c o m e s from b e i n g i n d e p e n d e n t a n d l i v i n g c l o s e t o t h e l a n d . T h e r e i s a s e r e n i t y t h a t boosts t h e s p i r i t a n d calms t h e s o u l . I t i s n o wonder t h a t f a r m f a m i l i e s have for generations f o u g h t hard and l o n g t o maintain t h i s l i f e s t y l e . I t i s becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y h a r d e r , h o w e v e r, f o r t h e f a m i l y f a r m t o m a i n t a i n i t s own. D r a s t i c i n c r e a s e s i n p r i c e s o f c h e m i c a l s , f e r t i l i z e r s , e q u i p m e n t , a n d l a b o r a l o n g w i t h c o m p e t i t i o n f r o m f o r e i g n m a r k e t s a r e f o r c i n g many f a m i l y f a r m s out o f b u s i n e s s o r c a u s i n g t h e m t o t a k e o n second j o b s t o m a k e e n d s m e e t . T h e farmer has a l w a y s f a c e d d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h e c o n o m i c s and t h e e l e m e n t s , y e t h a s been a b l e t o h a n g o n a n d p u l l t h r o u g h somehow.

Claude J a r b o e s i t s a t o p a n o l d C a s e t r a c t o r w h i l e t h e m e n o n t h e h a y wagon use p i t c h f o r k s f o r s m o o t h i n g h a y a n d m o v i n g i t a r o u n d f o r b e t t e r p a c k i n g .

Hog Killing Was Common On Most Farms. (L) R o b e r t J a r b o e , u n i d e n t i f i e d , J o e Shepard, a n d C l a u d e J a r b o e b u t c h e r h o g s on t h e J a r b o e f a r m .

Claude J a r b o e ( b o t t o m R t . ) Families and f r i e n d s would get t o g e t h e r t o k i l l h o g s . They w o u l d c u r e t h e i r o w n hams i n smoke h o u s e s . T h e lard w o u l d b e g r o u n d i n large enamel p a n s . "We had an e l e c t r i c m e a t g r i n d e r , " said Jarboe. T h e f a t w a s boiled i n a large, round vat w i t h a d o o r a t t h e bottom f o r b u r n i n g wood. "You h a d t o s t i r t h e b o i l ing f a t c o n s t a n t l y s o a s not t o s t i c k . " I t was strained a n d p o u r e d through a m e t a l s i e v e w i t h a cheese c l o t h i n t h e bottom.

Top r i g h t : E l i z a b e t h J a r b o e ( L ) and M a r y R u t h S h e p a r d o n C l a u d e Jarboe f a r m . Bottom l e f t : C l a u d e J a r b o e rendering up l a r d . H o g f a t w a s boiled i n l a r g e v a t s and p o u r e d into metal cans f o r cooking. Photos â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 1950 s

Tobacco i s s y n o n y m o u s w i t h S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y

"The g r e a s e w a s s k i m m e d o f f t h e t o p ; the b o t t o m w a s d a r k e r a n d w h a t was left--the dried f a t a n d pieces of skin ( K r a k l i n ) c o u l d be p u t i n t h e oven t o m a k e t h e m c r i s p , " s a i d Jarboe.

The o n e - h o r s e p l o w w a s a common sight a t one time i n S t . Mary's C o u n t y. C l a u d e J a r b o e a t Mulberry F i e l d s w h i c h h e managed a t o n e t i m e .

" To c u r e hams w e w o u l d r u b M o r t o n Sugar C u r e ( a d r y s a l t ) o n t h e m a n d l a y t h e m s k i n down o n a s h e l f a n d about A p r i l , p u t h a m s i n a p a p e r bag t o k e e p t h e s k i p p e r s o u t t h e n hang t h e m i n t h e m e a t h o u s e i n a cloth/muslin bag. B a c o n w a s cured in the m e a t house a l s o , " J a r b o e recalled. Hogs w e r e k i l l e d a n y t i m e a f t e r Thanksgiving; i t had t o be c o l d .

Leonard Hall F o s t e r i n g A Love For Rural Life I t s e e m s t h e P r i n c i p a l A i m s i n t h e o r i g i n a l Prospectus and Catalogue o f Leonard H a l l a r e e c h o e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e b a s i c p h i l o s o p h y o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r a n d 4-H i n p a r t i c u l a r . L e o n a r d t o w n H i s t o r i a n , A l G o u g h , J r . , s u p p l i e d o u r s t a f f w i t h the f o l l o w i n g q u o t e f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l P r o s p e c t u s a n d C a t a l o g u e o f L e o n a r d H a l l .

L i v e s t o c k show a t Leonard H a l l ( 1 9 1 2 - 1 9 1 4 ) . ( L t o R t . ) T a y l o r ( l a s t name), u n i d e n t i f i e d , S o n n y T h o m a s s h o w i n g b l a c k angus c a t t l e . L e o n a r d H a l l opened S e p t . 2 0 , 1 9 0 9 a n d t h e s c h o o l ' s curriculum s t r e s s e d s t r o n g emphasis o n a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e f i r s t St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r was h e l d t h e r e i n 1912. Leonard H a l l w a s f o u n d e d i n 1 9 0 9 a n d b y 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 5 a l r e a d y h a d i n p l a c e t h e following aims: "Besides a t h o r o u g h h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n o u r p r i n c i p a l a i m is t o i n d u c e young boys i n t h e county t o f o s t e r a l o v e f o r r u r a l l i f e ; t o r e m a i n a t home a n d t h r i v e b y i n d u s t r i o u s a n d scientific farming. Observe h o w, f o r t h i s p u r p o s e , w e h a v e p r o m i n e n t l y i n s e r t e d in o u r c u r r i c u l u m a t h o r o u g h c o u r s e i n t h e o r e t i c a l and practical agriculture. Too f r e q u e n t l y y o u n g men f r o m t h e c o u n t y h a v e d r i f t e d t o the l a r g e c i t i e s , t h e r e t o a c c e p t o c c u p a t i o n s i n j u r i o u s t o the h e a l t h o f b o d y a n d s o u l . " I t was F a t h e r Laurence J . K e l l y , S . J . a n d F a t h e r J o h n L a F a r g e , S . J . , who came t o L e o n a r d H a l l i n 1 9 11 a n d s e t f o r t h t h e s e P r i n c i p a l A i m s w h i c h p u t t h e wheels i n m o t i o n f o r a S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r . T h e i d e a b e i n g " t o e n c o u r a g e young men t o t a k e p r i d e i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d s t r i v e t o i m p r o v e f a r m i n g p r a c t i c e s . Community i n v o l v e m e n t w a s s e e n a s a v i t a l e l e m e n t a n d b y f o s t e r i n g t h e s e i d e a l s through a c o u n t y f a i r , t h e f r u i t s o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r s c o u l d b e d i s p l a y e d , enjoyed a n d c o n t i n u e d , " a c c o r d i n g t o t h e P r o s p e c t u s . 8

L e f t t o R i g h t : D r . C h a r l e s H a y d e n (Leonardtown d e n t i s t ) , F a t h e r Lawrence K e l l y, S . J . , u n i d e n t i f i e d , M a t t i n g l y Swann ( b a c k ) , F a t h e r J o h n L a F a r g e ( A u t h o r o f A m e r i c a , T h e M a n o r i s O r d i n a r y , e t . a l . a s w e l l a s being o n e o f t h e o r i g i n a t o r s o f t h e C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s H i g h S c h o o l i n R i d g e , MD), t h r e e boys a r e u n i d e n t i f i e d , b o y ( f a r r i g h t ) l a s t name L o v e . O x C a r t e n t r y a t S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r _ ( 1 9 1 3 - 1 4 ) a t Leonard H a l l . P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f A l Gough, J r .

These X a v e r i a n B r o t h e r s a t L e o n a r d H a l l w e r e t h e n d i r e c t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the e a r l y e f f o r t s a t d e v e l o p i n g a c o u n t y f a i r . I n 1 9 4 7 t h e f a i r w a s a g a i n p u t i n m o t i o n ( a f t e r a p e r i o d o f a p p a r e n t l a p s e ) o n t h e g r o u n d s o f Camp C a l v e r t (operated b y t h e X a v e r i a n B r o t h e r s ) w h i c h i s now S t . M a r y ' s Ryken H i g h School. Joseph M . M a t t i n g l y w a s o n e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y f a r m e r who p u t t h o s e f a r m i n g p r a c t i c e s i n t o a c t i o n . A c c o r d i n g t o a n a r t i c l e i n t h e S t a r n e w s p a p e r, " J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y was way ahead o f h i s n e i g h b o r s i n c r o p a n d l a n d u s e p r a c t i c e s . H e pioneered m o d e r n m e t h o d s o f l a n d u s e . " T h o s e e f f o r t s p a i d o f f a t t h e f i r s t county f a i r i n 1912 a t Leonard H a l l , where h e was a w a r d e d a g o l d medal f o r h i s corn e x h i b i t i n 1912.

Joseph M a t t i n g l y , J r . h o l d s a g o l d medal w h i c h h i s g r a n d f a t h e r w o n f o r f i r s t place i n the corn exhibit a t the f i r s t S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r held i n 1912 a t Leonard H a l l .

Grandson J o s e p h A . M a t t i n g l y , J r . , A s s i s t a n t S t a t e s A t t o r n e y , n o w p r o u d l y wears t h a t m e d a l o n h i s p o c k e t w a t c h c h a i n t o d a y . " I t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t to m e , " J o e s t a t e d i n a r e c e n t i n t e r v i e w , " b e c a u s e 1912 i s t h e y e a r my A u n t Martha M a t t i n g l y was b o r n a n d s h e i s t h e o n e who g a v e i t t o me; a l s o because i t b e l o n g e d t o G r a n d d a d d y. " "The c o r n t h a t h e w o n t h a t g o l d m e d a l f o r w a s r a i s e d o n t h e E l l e n b o r o u g h Farm b e h i n d C e d a r L a n e , " r e m i n i s c e d R e t i r e d J u d g e J o s e p h A . M a t t i n g l y , S r . , d u r i n g t h e s a m e i n t e r v i e w . " W e h a d moved t h e r e f r o m M e d l e y ' s N e c k s o t h e g i r l s (my s i s t e r s ) c o u l d b e c l o s e r t o s c h o o l . T h e y c o u l d n ' t g e t t o S t . M a r y ' s Academy from t h e f a r m i n M e d l e y ' s Neck s o Dad b o u g h t t h e E l l e n b o r o u g h Farm s o t h e y c o u l d get t o s c h o o l e a s i e r . "

Joseph M a t t i n g l y , J r . , r e m a r k e d , " F o r a m a n w h o s a i d h e h a d a t h i r d g r a d e education, Granddad c e r t a i n l y b e l i e v e d i n e d u c a t i o n and almost e v e r y one o f h i s children went t o c o l l e g e --good c o l l e g e s , t o o --and i t wasn't e a s y back then t o send t h e m . G r a n d d a d d y w a s a s e l f - m a d e m a n . H e w a s C l e r k o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t f o r t w e n t y - o d d y e a r s a n d w a s a l s o a member o f t h e F a i r B o a r d a n d a member o f t h e House o f D e l e g a t e s s o f a r m i n g w a s n ' t h i s o n l y l i f e ' s a m b i t i o n . " " I r e m e m b e r D a d s a i d h e made 1 0 0 b u s h e l s o f c o r n p e r a c r e w h e n h e r e c e i v e d the g o l d m e d a l i n 1 9 1 2 - - t h a t was a l o t f o r t h o s e d a y s , " s a i d Judge M a t t i n g l y . "Corn s o l d f o r . 2 5 c e n t s p e r b u s h e l w h i c h w a s a p r e t t y g o o d p r i c e b a c k t h e n . " Several o t h e r medals were won b y t h e s e n i o r M a t t i n g l y between 1912 and 1916. Gold m e d a l s w e r e g i v e n f o r f i r s t p l a c e , s i l v e r f o r s e c o n d a n d b r o n z e f o r t h i r d . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e m e d a l s w o n , t h e r e i s a s i l v e r L o v i n g Cup d a t e d 1 9 1 3 a n d a s i l v e r bowl d a t e d 1914 ( s e e p h o t o ) awarded t o M a t t i n g l y.

Three g e n e r a t i o n s o f M a t t i n g l y s t a k e g r e a t p r i d e i n S t . M a r y ' s County's f a r m i n g h e r i t a g e . J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y, J r . ( L ) a n d Retired Judge Joseph A . M a t t i n g l y, S r . ( R ) s i t amid awards and tropheys won b y Judge M a t t i n g l y ' s f a t h e r , J o s e p h M. M a t t i n g l y at t h e f i r s t f a i r s h e l d a t Leonard H a l l between 1912-1914.

The M a t t i n g l y s a r e s t i l l w i n n i n g r i b b o n s i n t h e c o u n t y f a i r s . J u d g e M a t t i n g l y ' s nephew J . M a G u i r e M a t t i n g l y , J r . , h a s e n t e r e d H e r e f o r d c a t t l e f r o m Tudor H a l l F a r m i n t h e f a i r f o r y e a r s , a n d i s a member o f t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s f o r t h e f a i r a n d a c t s a s t h e B o a r d ' s T r e a s u r e r . O t h e r members o f t h e f a m i l y h a v e also been a c t i v e i n t h e f a i r o v e r t h e y e a r s .

C h a r l e s F e n w i c k , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y H i s t o r i a n , r e c a l l s , " A s f a r a s I k n o w, they o n l y had t h e f a i r a t Leonard H a l l f o r a f e w y e a r s . L e o n a r d H a l l a t t h a t time was a n a g r i c u l t u r e s c h o o l . T h e X a v e r i a n B r o t h e r s t r i e d t o g e t t h e c o u n t y t o fund t h e f a i r b u t t h e y w o u l d n ' t . " "The o n e t h i n g I r e m e m b e r t h e m o s t a b o u t t h e f a i r a t L e o n a r d H a l l w a s t h a t t h e y h a d a h o t a i r b a l l o o n t h a t y e a r a n d a man j u m p e d o u t o f i t a n d p a r a c h u t e d down r i g h t a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t f r o m w h e r e I l i v e d w h i c h w a s a t l e a s t a b l o c k a w a y from t h e f a i r g r o u n d s , " s a i d F e n w i c k . " I a l s o r e m e m b e r t h a t m y o l d e r b r o t h e r t o o k me o u t t o t h e f a i r ( a t L e o n a r d H a l l ) t o a t e n t t h a t had n o t h i n g i n i t b u t t o y s . I t h o u g h t I was i n heaven. d o n ' t remember n o w w h a t I g o t t h a t d a y - - s o m e k i n d o f l i t t l e t o y I s u p p o s e . d o n ' t r e m e m b e r v e r y much e l s e a b o u t t h e f a i r a t L e o n a r d H a l l ; I w a s r e a l s m a l l a t the t i m e . " Mary K a t h e r i n e B e l l r e m e m b e r s t h a t h e r f a t h e r d r e s s e d u p l i k e a p u m p k i n f o r the f a i r a t L e o n a r d H a l l . " W e c h i l d r e n p l a y e d w i t h t h a t costume f o r y e a r s , " stated Mrs. B e l l . " I d o r e m e m b e r w h e n t h e f a r m e r s came i n t o L e o n a r d t o w n o n C o u r t T u e s d a y, h o w e v e r. E v e r y f a r m e r i n t h e w o r l d came t o t o w n . M e n b r o u g h t t h e i r h o r s e s a n d paraded t h e m a r o u n d t o w n f o r p o t e n t i a l b u y e r s t o s e e . I t c e r t a i n l y w a s a m a n ' s d a y. W o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n w e r e s u p p o s e d t o b e o f f t h e s t r e e t s - - a t h o m e s o m e w h e r e . We c o u l d n ' t b e o u t t h e r e w i t h t h e m e n , b u t I l i v e d r i g h t t h e r e o n M a i n S t r e e t where I c o u l d s e e e v e r y t h i n g . " "My h u s b a n d ' s ( W e b s t e r ) f a t h e r , M r . R o y B e l l , w a s q u i t e a g o o d h o r s e doctor- - h e knew h i s h o r s e s ! H e r a i s e d h o r s e s a n d t r a i n e d u n d e r a w e l l - k n o w n v e t e r i n a r i a n i n B a l t i m o r e . B a c k i n t h o s e d a y s t h e r e was n o c e r t i f i c a t i o n , y o u know. A t t h a t t i m e , t h a t ' s h o w d o c t o r s a n d l a w y e r s t r a i n e d --under o l d e s t a b l i s h e d e x p e r t s . W h e n I m a r r i e d Webster i n 1932 we l i v e d a t Cedar P o i n t ( n o w P a t u x e n t R i v e r N a v a l A i r B a s e ) a n d I c a n t e l l y o u , a n y o n e i n t h a t a r e a who n e e d e d t h e i r animals checked went t o M r . B e l l . H e w a s v e r y w e l l r e s p e c t e d a s a v e t e r i n a r i a n , " reminisced Mrs. B e l l . When t h e B u d w e i s e r C l y d e s d a l e s came t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Fair i n the l a t e 4 0 ' s , M r. B e l l examined t h e m l i k e t h e y w e r e a piece o f j e w e l r y. H e had a l o t of r e s p e c t f o r them." Buck Briscoe, Mr. St. Mary's County, stands with the Clydesdales.

As t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n w e n t t o press, a h a n d w r i t t e n l e t t e r f r o m B r o t h e r Walter, C.F.X. t o H e n r y F o w l e r, S r. c a m e t o u s f r o m H. Fowler, Jr. o u t l i n i n g the history of the L e o n a r d Hall fair. See pages 181 & 182.

Cover p i c t u r e s h o w s t h e c a t t l e s h o w r i n g a t Camp C a l v e r t ( 1 9 4 7 ) w h i c h i s n o w the S t . M a r y ' s R y k e n c a m p u s . A l e x B l a c k h a l l ( s h o w i n g h e r e f o r d ) a n d H e a t h S t e e l e (Glenn M a r y F a r m s ) e n t e r i n g t h e r i n g . S t e e l e w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n o r g a n i z i n g t h e f i r s t f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t ( 1 9 4 7 ) . T o t h e r i g h t i s a n o l d B u i c k - - " a r e l i c t h e n i n 1 9 4 8 , " s a i d Suzanne Henderson whose f a t h e r owned t h e c a r a n d " u s e d t o announce the e v e n t s f r o m a s p e a k e r s y s t e m h e h a d i n s t a l l e d . H e w o u l d a l s o p l a y r e c o r d s and m a r c h e s f o r t h e f a i r g o e r s o n a t u r n t a b l e . "

From Leonard Hall to Camp Calvert For s e v e r a l County H i s t o r i a n over t h e f a i r o r fair f o r several

y e a r s t h e f a i r was n o t i n p r o g r e s s . A c c o r d i n g t o S t . M a r y ' s Charles Fenwick, " T h e Xavarian Brothers asked t h e county t o t a k e h e l p f u n d t h e f a i r b u t t h e y w o u l d n ' t , " h e s a i d , " s o t h e r e was n o years."

In 1947 t h e f a i r was a g a i n u n d e r t a k e n and t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r d e t a i l s t h e events a s t h e y d e v e l o p e d . M r . H e a t h S t e e l e r e c a l l s how t h e 1947 S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r a g a i n came t o b e .

HEATH W. STEELE 106 WOODSTOCK DR. CHES. CITY, MD 21915

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Left to Right: A Blackhall twin, Ben Parran, Elwood Cusic, Ignatious Pilkerton, Man from Cage Farm (owned by The Parrans), and one of the Blackhall twins.

R i g h t . S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r , S r. i n o n e o f h i s many r o l e s a t the S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r . Shown h e r e w i t h The Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e .

From Horse And Buggy To Super Highway The Fair Has Maintained Its Own. O r i g i n a l l y, t h e f a i r was s t r i c t l y a g r i c u l t u r a l i n t h a t i t was a m e e t i n g t i m e f o r f a r m e r s t o show t h e i r a n i m a l s and goods, a n d f o r f a r m e r ' s w i v e s t o show t h e i r needlework and sample e a c h o t h e r ' s c o o k i n g . T h e e a r l i e s t known " s h o w i n g s " g o a l l the way b a c k t o t h e o r i g i n o f S t . M a r y ' s C i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o H e n r y F o w l e r , J r . , "the e a r l y beginnings o f t h e f a i r were i n S t . M a r y ' s C i t y. . . I ' v e seen pen and i n k s k e t c h e s o f men s h o w i n g t h e i r a n i m a l s i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e s e t t l e m e n t . " As t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f S t . M a r y ' s C i t y e x p a n d e d , s o d i d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s . A t some p o i n t , " t h e f a r m e r ' s ' s h o w i n g s ' b e g a n t a k i n g p l a c e o n the g r e e n s i n L e o n a r d t o w n o n Wednesdays, t h e o f f i c i a l ' F a r m e r ' s M a r k e t D a y ' a n d 'business d a y ' o f t h e w e e k , " s t a t e d F o w l e r. I t was a l s o r e v e a l e d t h a t b u s i n e s s people w o u l d t a k e advantage o f t h e g a t h e r i n g s t o a d v e r t i s e t h e i r m a c h i n e r y a n d farm implements. " M e r c h a n t s l o v e d t h e g a t h e r i n g s because f a r m e r s f r o m f a r t h e r o u t o n l y came i n t o t o w n maybe f o u r t i m e s a y e a r . " " R a i l r o a d s e r v i c e o n l y extended i n t o M e c h a n i c s v i l l e i n 1946, s o t h a t when v i s i t i n g merchants c a m e i n o n t h e t r a i n , t h e y had t o r i d e a buck board i n t o t h e c o u n t y, a n d t h e y w o u l d s p e n d t h e w e e k w i t h c o u n t y s t o r e o w n e r s d o i n g b u s i n e s s , " said F o w l e r . L a t e r , t h e r a i l r o a d w a s extended i n t o L e x i n g t o n Park w i t h t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e Patuxent River Naval A i r Station. County g r o w t h h a s become a m a j o r i s s u e i n t h e p a s t 4 0 y e a r s b e c a u s e t h e county h a s changed f r o m b a s i c a l l y a g r a r i a n t o " m o r e h i g h - t e c h " . F o w l e r remembers much o f t h e c o u n t y ' s c h a n g e s t h r o u g h t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s o f h i s f a t h e r , S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r , S r . " D a d d y a l w a y s s a i d t h a t b e t t e r t h a n 9 0 % o f t h e c o u n t y w a s r e l a t e d u n t i l t h e base opened d u r i n g World W a r I I . D a d w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n bringing the f i r s t d u a l highway i n t o the county while i n the state l e g i s l a t u r e , and u s e d h i s g i f t o f g a b a s t h e f a i r ' s P u b l i c R e l a t i o n s m a n , a n d a s a b e h i n d - t h e scenes o r g a n i z e r o f t h e f a i r a n d a s t h e Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e C o m p e t i t i o n M a s t e r o f Ceremonies f o r many y e a r s . "

Bernard Johnson ( L ) e x p l a i n s h i s f a t h e r ' s ( J u l i u s Johnson- County E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y f r o m 1 9 3 2 - 1 9 5 9 ) role i n t h e e a r l y f a i r t o p u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s Angela Coblentz ( m i d d l e ) a n d L i s a G r e e r a s t h e y s t r o l l J o h n s o n ' s beautiful gardens.

As t h e c o u n t y became m o r e p o p u l a t e d , i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n i n c r e a s e d a s w e l l a s i n t r a - s t a t e communication. A g r i c u l t u r a l agents were a s s i g n e d t o e a c h county i n order t o h e l p f a r m s m e c h a n i z e t h e i r f a r m s and show them d i v e r s i f i e d t e c h n i q u e s f o r f a r m i n g . J u l i u s Johnson was t h e e x t e n s i o n a g e n t f r o m 1 9 3 2 t o 1 9 5 9 , d u r i n g which t i m e t h e o f f i c i a l S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r w a s f o u n d e d , a span o f t w e n t y seven y e a r s , " a n d h e w a s t h e o n l y e x t e n s i o n a g e n t w i t h o u t a c o l l e g e d e g r e e - - a self-educated man," s a y s h i s s o n , Bernard Johnson, who has been a c t i v e w i t h t h e c o u n t y f a i r many y e a r s . J u l i u s J o h n s o n ' s f i r s t w i f e , L y l i a n M a t t i n g l y J o h n s o n , was e q u a l l y i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l e x p a n s i o n o f t h e c o u n t y , h o l d i n g t h e p o s i t i o n o f Home d e m o n s t r a t i o n A g e n t - - t h e f e m a l e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e e x t e n s i o n agent. " S h e w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r b r i n g i n g i d e a s t o f a r m e r s ' w i v e s a b o u t h o u s e c a r e , c o o k i n g a n d c a n n i n g . S h e h a d g o n e t o s c h o o l i n Te n n e s s e e t o q u a l i f y f o r t h e p o s i t i o n , " s t a t e d Bernard Johnson. " D a d ' s second w i f e , Anna, was a l s o a Home D e m o n s t r a t i o n A g e n t i n C h a r l e s C o . " " A r o u n d 1 9 4 6 , " s a i d J o h n s o n , " m y f a t h e r J u l i u s , l o c a l f a r m e r s , members o f t h e F a r m B u r e a u , members o f t h e M a r y l a n d To b a c c o A s s o c i a t i o n , a n d l o c a l c i v i c organizations got t h e idea t o organize t h e f a r m e r s ' g a t h e r i n g s i n t o a county f a i r. T h e y , i n t u r n , c o n t a c t e d t h e Maryland S t a t e F a i r Board t o g e t approval and the g u i d e l i n e s n e c e s s a r y f o r a l o c a l f a i r . O n c e e v e r y t h i n g w a s a r r a n g e d , t h e X a v a r i a n B r o t h e r s o f f e r e d t h e g r o u n d s o f t h e i r n o v i t i a t e , a l s o k n o w n a s Camp C a l v e r t , i n 1 9 4 7 t o b e t h e home o f t h e f a i r . T h e f i r s t t w o y e a r s o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r were s p e n t t h e r e o n t h e grounds o f what i s now S t . M a r y ' s Ryken High S c h o o l . The f a i r b u i l d i n g s c o n s i s t e d o f N a t i o n a l G u a r d t e n t s t h a t w e r e u s e d f o r a b o y ' s camp t h e r e i n t h e s u m m e r, " J o h n s o n r e l a t e d .

(L) H e n r y F o w l e r t a l k s t o a p r i n c e s s f r o m t h e Q u e e n ' s C o u r t . O f f i c i a t i n g Queen, J u l i u s Johnson ( C o u n t y Extension A g e n t , 1932-1959) a n d B i l l y C u s i c r e c e i v i n g t r o p h y f o r b e s t s t e e r .

"Money f o r t h e f i r s t f a i r u n d e r t h e f i r s t f a i r b o a r d p r e s i d e n t , M a j o r H o w a r d C. D a v i d s o n , o w n e r o f Cremona F a r m , w a s r a i s e d b y s e l l i n g s t o c k , " a c c o r d i n g t o B i l l H o l l e y , c u r r e n t f a i r b o a r d m e m b e r. " S h a r e s o f s t o c k i n t h e f a i r w e r e s o l d f o r t e n d o l l a r s e a c h , a n d t h a t f i r s t y e a r , o v e r $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 was r a i s e d . S t o c k h o l d e r s are t h e o n l y members a l l o w e d t o v o t e o n t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s . I f y o u h a d 1 0 s h a r e s , y o u h a d 1 0 v o t e s . T h e d e c i s i o n w a s made t o l e a s e t h e l a n d a c r o s s f r o m t he S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y P o o r h o u s e F a r m , " a c c o r d i n g t o B i l l H o l l e y , " a n d t h e c o u n t y paid one d o l l a r a y e a r f o r t h e 2 5 - y e a r l e a s e o n t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . A f t e r t h a t f i r s t 2 5 y e a r l e a s e , t h e same g r o u n d s h a v e b e e n l e a s e d f o r 5 y e a r s a t a t i m e according t o MaGuire M a t t i n g l y, F a i r Board Tr e a s u r e r. " W e d o a b i t o f l o b b y i n g with t h e County Commissioners," s a i d M a t t i n g l y.

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SHARES $ 1 0 . 0 0 E A C H st: S t o c k s w e r ew er s o l d f o r $ 1 0 . 0 0 p e r s h a r e a n d o n l y a s t o c k h o l d e r c o u l d v o t e . T h i s s t o c k i s t h e p r o p e r t y o f S u z a n n e Henderson, S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d Member.

" B u i l d i n g s s u c h a s t h e b a r n s , a n d t h e a u d i t o r i u m were e f f o r t b y v o l u n t e e r s , i n a l m o s t t h e same s p i r i t a s c o m m u n i t y H o l l e y r e l a t e d t o u s i n a n i n t e r v i e w . E v e n n o w, a l l t h e f a i r volunteers- - t h e people a r e t h e r e b e c a u s e t h e y l o v e what t h others t o see i t , e n j o y i t , a n d share i t .

b u i l t a s a community ' b a r n - r a i s i n g ' , " M r. buildings are run by e y do a n d t h e y want

Local businessmen h e l p b u i l d t h e Smith b u i l d i n g ( n o w t h e f l o w e r b u i l d i n g ) . T h e b u i l d i n g has been d e d i c a t e d t o B a r n a r d J . Smith who d o n a t e d a l l m a t e r i a l s .

Henry F o w l e r , S r . ( L ) , t w o identified w o r k e r s ( c e n t e r ) , and B a s c o m B r o u n ( R t ) d u r i n g the b u i l d i n g o f t h e S m i t h building donated a n d b u i l t by Barnard J . S m i t h ( S u z a n n e Henderson's f a t h e r ) . T h e building i s on the p a r k i n g l o t side o f t h e s t r e e t a n d i s now the f l o w e r b u i l d i n g .

"The f i r s t f e w b u i l d i n g s w e r e t h e w o o d e n o n e s s u c h a s t h e f l o w e r b u i l d i n g and t h e a g r i c u l t u r e b u i l d i n g s ( t h e 3 t h a t l o o k a l i k e ) , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c w h o w a s in on t h e volunteer w o r k from t h e beginning o f the f a i r . " T h e b i g c a t t l e barn was b u i l t f o r t h e f i r s t f a i r a l s o . " Suzanne H e n d e r s o n remembers t h a t h e r " f a t h e r b u i l t t h e f l o w e r b u i l d i n g o u t of h i s own p o c k e t and i t was t h e f i r s t o n e t o have a c o n c r e t e f l o o r , t h e f i r s t t o have s h e e t r o c k , a n d i t a l s o h a d a s t o r a g e t a n k i n t h e b a c k o f t h e b u i l d i n g , " says H e n d e r s o n . " T h e b u i l d i n g w a s l a t e r d e d i c a t e d t o m y f a t h e r b y t h e f a i r board- - t h e r e i s a p l a q u e t o t h a t e f f e c t i n t h e b u i l d i n g . " Wo r l d Wa r I I b r o u g h t a b o u t s t r a n g e a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h t h e A n d r e w s A i r F o r c e Base. " T h e o f f i c e r s a t A n d r e w s A i r F o r c e B a s e w e r e n e r v o u s t h a t W a s h i n g t o n , D C , m i g h t b e bombed, s o t h e y w a n t e d t o r e n t a n a r e a w h e r e t h e y c o u l d s t o r e s u p p l i e s t h a t c o u l d b e u s e d i n c a s e o f s u c h a n e m e r g e n c y, " s a i d S u z a n n e H e n d e r s o n who r e l a t e d t o u s i n a n i n t e r v i e w t h a t " t h e a u d i t o r i u m was r e n t e d f o r $ 2 , 0 0 0 a y e a r and t h e s u p p l i e s w e r e o n l y r e m o v e d o n e w e e k b e f o r e t h e f a i r w a s t o b e g i n a n d r e t u r n e d one week a f t e r t h e B l a c k F a i r was d o n e . B a c k t h e n w e h a d t w o f a i r s . Ours w a s h e l d o n e w e e k a n d t h e B l a c k F a i r w a s h e l d a f t e r o u r s . A f t e r t h o s e t w o weeks, t h e s u p p l i e s w e r e p u t b a c k . " "The 4 - H c l u b s w e r e a l w a y s a c t i v e i n t h e c o u n t y f a i r a s w e l l a s I c a n r e m e m b e r, " s a i d E l i z a b e t h R u s s e l l , s e c r e t a r y t o J u l i u s J o h n s o n f r o m 1 9 4 1 t o 1 9 6 8 when h e w a s a C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t . " E t h e l J o y w a s t h e C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r 4 - H w h e n i t w a s f i r s t s t a r t e d i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, a n d I b e l i e v e t h a t i t w a s s t a r t e d i n t h e 3 0 ' s . M o s t l y t h e y worked t h r o u g h t h e s c h o o l s ; t h e n t h e y s t a r t e d m e e t i n g i n g r o u p s i n homes a s w e l l a s s c h o o l s . I d o b e l i e v e 4 - H p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e v e r y f i r s t f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t i n 1 9 4 7 , " s a i d R u s s e l l .

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Clockwise L . B i l l G e i s e r, County A g r i c u l t u r e A g e n t a f t e r J u l i u s Johnson, M r s . Robert S t e v e n s , s o n Danny Stevens ( b a c k ) , M r . R o b e r t Stevens, a n d c e n t e r , Luther Wolf. "Danny S t e v e n s w a s o n e of t h e most outstanding 4-H'ers s i n c e w e have had 4-H i n t h i s c o u n t y . H e always won a n d w o r k e d v e r y hard t o w i n , " s a i d Elwood Cusic.

Some o f t h e f i r s t f a i r buildings o n t h e s i t e where t h e o f f i c e i s n o w located. O n the f a r left i s t h e f i r s t building o n the existing grounds a c c o r d i n g t o Suzanne H e n d e r s o n .

L i o n s Te x A s h e n b e c k ( l e f t ) , R o n G r a y, a n d S a l R a s p a m a n t h e main g a t e t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s a s Lions h a v e d o n e p r a c t i c a l l y since t h e f a i r opened i n 1947.

The l o c a l L i o n s C l u b s h a v e v o l u n t e e r e d t o t a k e t u r n s s e l l i n g t i c k e t s a t t h e g a t e o f t h e f a i r g r o u n d s a s f a r b a c k a s a n y o n e c a n r e m e m b e r. T h e c l u b s d e c i d e among t h e m s e l v e s w h o t a k e s w h a t d a y a n d t h e n t h e members d i v i d e u p t h e t i m e s o t h a t n o one h a s a n u n f a i r t i m e s c h e d u l e .

A County In Transition by Andrew Stone

St. M a r y ' s County used t o b e a s m a l l r u r a l community w i t h most o f i t s income coming f r o m f a r m i n g a n d f i s h i n g . N o w , w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e P a t u x e n t River N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n t h e c o u n t y i s becoming more u r b a n i z e d w i t h a c o n s t a n t l y i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a t i o n . T h i s g r o w t h i s h a v i n g d r a m a t i c e f f e c t s o n a number o f issues c o n t r o v e r s i a l i n n a t u r e . The g r o w t h o f i n d u s t r y a n d t e c h n o l o g y d u e t o c o n t r a c t o r s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e Patuxent R i v e r N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n , a n d t h e g r o w t h o f s m a l l businesses a s a r e s u l t , have h a d a l a r g e i m p a c t o n t h e e x p a n s i o n o f u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e c o u n t y . I t is possible t h a t without t h e Naval A i r S t a t i o n , S t . Mary's C o u n t y ' s main source of income w o u l d s t i l l b e a g r i c u l t u r e a n d seafood. P a x R i v e r and i t s v a r i o u s m i l i t a r y r e l a t e d i n d u s t r i e s around t h e t r i - c o u n t y area a r e t h e s o l e r e a s o n s f o r t h i s c o u n t y ' s r a p i d expansion coupled w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t people a r e moving t o t h e more r u r a l a r e a s t o e s c a p e t h e c i t i e s a n d t o r e t i r e . O n e - t h i r d o f t h e c o u n t y ' s population i s near Lexington Park. According t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Department o f Economic a n d Community Development r e p o r t o f J u n e , 1 9 8 8 , a b o u t 3 , 3 7 7 r e s i d e n t s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y w e r e employees a t P a x R i v e r o r NESEA, o r a r e w i t h some c o n t r a c t o r a f f i l i a t e d w i t h P a x R i v e r . S i n c e 1 9 4 3 , w h e n t h e N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n came t o t h e L e x i n g t o n P a r k a r e a , the p o p u l a t i o n h a s s t e a d i l y c l i m b e d . J u s t i n t h e l a s t e i g h t y e a r s , t h e population grew f r o m 5 9 , 8 9 5 r e s i d e n t s i n 1 9 8 0 t o 7 8 , 9 0 0 r e s i d e n t s i n 1989 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s D e p a r t m e n t o f P l a n n i n g a n d Z o n i n g Census B u r e a u a n d the Census o f A g r i c u l t u r e . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a t e s t f i g u r e s , c o u n t y g r o w t h between 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 8 9 w a s m o r e t h a n a n y o t h e r 1 0 y e a r p e r i o d s i n c e t h e U . S . C e n s u s i n 1790 r e c o r d e d 1 5 , 0 0 0 c o u n t y r e s i d e n t s .

Left t o R i g h t : T o n y D e l o s i e r, Howard Y o u n g , J o e D e l o s i e r , Warren D e l o s i e r a n d C l a u d e Jarboe o n J a r b o e ' s f a r m i n 1948.

W i t h t h e g r o w t h o f p o p u l a t i o n comes t h e g r o w t h o f s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s , p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y and t h e need f o r more s c h o o l s and more highways. T h i s g r o w t h a l s o h e l p s a c c o u n t f o r some o f t h e d e c r e a s e i n f a r m l a n d a c r e a g e . Examples o f t h i s r e c e n t g r o w t h i n t h e L e x i n g t o n P a r k a r e a i n c l u d e S a n S o u c i Plaza ( s h o p p i n g c e n t e r ) w h i c h was o n c e f a r m l a n d i t s e l f , t h e W i l d e w o o d C e n t e r (shopping c e n t e r ) w h i c h w a s a p a r t l y w o o d e d a r e a , a n d t h e n e w h o u s i n g development, H u n t i n g C r e e k , l o c a t e d i n t h e P a r k H a l l a r e a and a t t h i s w r i t i n g i s s t i l l b e i n g d e v e l o p e d . F a r m s a l o n g C h a n c e l l o r s Run Road a n d G r e a t M i l l s Road a r e being developed. T h e scene i s b e i n g r e p e a t e d i n o t h e r a r e a s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t y. Since 1 9 8 2 , t h e amount o f f a r m l a n d h a s d e c r e a s e d b y 2 0 , 0 0 0 a c r e s w i t h a l o s s of a l m o s t 2 0 0 f a r m s . T h e a c r e a g e o f l a n d s t i l l i n f a r m i n g has decreased 1 9 . 7 percent, f r o m 100,221 a c r e s a c c o r d i n g t o D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e and Resource Economics. D e v e l o p m e n t , g r o w t h a n d e x p a n s i o n a r e a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r added t o t h e c o m p e t i t i v e f o r e i g n m a r k e t f o r f a r m p r o d u c t s . T h i s u r b a n i z a t i o n h a s i t s p o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e e f f e c t s . M a n y people f e e l t h a t t h e development i s a good t h i n g f o r i t h a s b r o u g h t a h i g h e r l e v e l o f e c o n o m y t o t h e a r e a . H o w e v e r , t h i s u r b a n i z a t i o n i s a l s o t a k i n g i t s t o l l . T h e a g r i c u l t u r a l i n d u s t r y and water industry i s s l o w l y f a d i n g . T h e market value f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s s o l d has dropped f r o m $ 2 2 , 5 1 7 , 0 0 0 i n 1 9 8 2 t o $ 1 3 , 2 7 1 , 0 0 0 i n 1 9 8 7 , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e 1 9 7 4 1987 S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y C e n s u s o f A g r i c u l t u r e . T h i s i s d u e p a r t l y , h o w e v e r , t o the f a c t t h a t o v e r t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s , a d r o u g h t s i t u a t i o n h a s h u r t t h e c r o p growth. T h i s i s a l s o due i n p a r t t o t h e c o m p e t i t i o n o f f o r e i g n markets h a v i n g much c h e a p e r l a b o r a n d t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y c a n s e l l t h e i r p r o d u c t s f o r a l o w e r price. Another r e a l i t y f o r f a r m e r s i s t h a t t h e y a r e a l l t o o o f t e n f a c e d w i t h t h e dilemma o f h a v i n g t o s e l l t h e i r p r o p e r t y t o s u r v i v e . O f t e n a p i e c e o f l a n d m i g h t stay i n one f a m i l y f o r g e n e r a t i o n s u n t i l f a m i l y m e m b e r s a r e f a c e d w i t h modern r e a l i t y and a r e f o r c e d t o g i v e i t u p . M a n y f a r m e r s t r y t o supplement t h e i r income w i t h p a r t - t i m e j o b s o r t h e i r w i v e s w o r k a t p u b l i c j o b s i n o r d e r t o make ends m e e t . Also a t t h i s w r i t i n g , t h e r e a r e m o r e t h a n t w e n t y - e i g h t m i l l i o n a c r e s nationwide t h a t a r e e n r o l l e d i n s i x t y - s i x - f o o t -wide b u f f e r s t r i p s b e t w e e n f i e l d s for w i l d l i f e o r wetland areas according t o t h e U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e . A Ninth Conservation Reserve Program has been s e t t o t a k e h i g h l y e r o s i v e l a n d o u t of c r o p p r o d u c t i o n and h a s i t p l a n t e d w i t h new f o l i a g e t h a t p r o h i b i t s e r o s i o n . The maximum r e n t a l f o r M a r y l a n d h a s b e e n s e t a t $ 8 5 . T h i s s h o u l d h e l p p r o t e c t w i l d l i f e areas: h o w e v e r, t h e f a c t i s t h a t land i s being taken from farmland.

Left t o R i g h t : C l a u d e J a r b o e , Howard Yo u n g , a n d t w o u n i d e n t i f i e d tenant farmers ( c u t t i n g potatoes o n the c a r t r e a d y i n g t h e m f o r planting).

Lack o f o y s t e r s i s h a v i n g a tremendous e f f e c t o n t h e waterman's l i v e l i h o o d . T h e St. M a r y ' s County O y s t e r F e s t i v a l i s a r e m i n d e r o f t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e o y s t e r c r o p . " T h e o y s t e r h a t c h e r i e s ' g o a l o n S t . G e o r g e ' s C r e e k i s t o make a cooperative e f f o r t w i t h u n i v e r s i t y, s t a t e and l o c a l government t h r o u g h a p r i v a t e company, t o f i n d s o l u t i o n s t o p r o b l e m s w i t h o y s t e r s i n t h e C h e s a p e a k e B a y a n d t o provide a b e t t e r supply and a h i g h e r q u a l i t y o y s t e r t o t h e customers," according t o M i k e S t a t l e r , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S t . G e o r g e ' s O y s t e r Company. ( E n t e r p r i s e ) County D i r e c t o r o f E c o n o m i c a n d C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t , J o s e p h M i t c h e l l , t o l d a group o f farmers and business p e o p l e a t t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y A g r i c u l t u r e C o n f e r e n c e h e l d o n T u e s d a y, F e b r u a r y 2 0 , 1 9 9 0 , t h a t t r e n d s i n f a r m i n g m u s t c h a n g e i f t h e f a r m e r i s t o s u r v i v e e i t h e r i n S t . M a r y ' s County o r anywhere e l s e i n t h i s c o u n t r y. I n 1 9 8 7 , t o b a c c o a n d c o r n a c r e a g e e a c h d r o p p e d t o t h e l o w e s t p o i n t s i n c e 1 9 4 5 w h i l e s o y b e a n p r o d u c t i o n r e a c h e d i t s h i g h e s t l e v e l d u r i n g t h a t same period. ( E n t e r p r i s e , F e b r u a r y 1990) Wheat a c r e a g e d e c r e a s e d s t e a d i l y i n 1 9 7 8 a f t e r a n i n c r e a s e i n 1 9 7 4 . W h e a t acreage t h e n i n c r e a s e d u n t i l 1 9 8 2 w h e r e i t r e m a i n e d s t a b l e u n t i l 1 9 8 7 . E x c e p t for a l a r g e unexplained " j u m p and d e c r e a s e " i n 1 9 7 4 , vegetable production has been i n c r e a s i n g e a c h y e a r s i n c e 1 9 6 4 . B e t w e e n 1 9 7 8 a n d 1 9 8 7 , t h e n u m b e r s o f c a t t l e a n d s h e e p decreased w h i l e between 1 9 7 4 a n d 1 9 8 7 h o g numbers i n c r e a s e d . (Enterprise, February 1990). "The k e y t o t h e p r o b l e m s s m a l l f a r m e r s f a c e i n t h i s d e c a d e w i l l b e f a r m management," s a i d J u d s o n A l v e y , t o b a c c o a n d l i v e s t o c k f a r m e r s o u t h o f C h a p t i c o . "Successful f a r m e r s w i l l h a v e t o b e businessmen, e c o l o g i s t s , n e g o t i a t o r s , conservationists and marketers," he s a i d , "and i t ' s n o t going t o g e t any b e t t e r. " A c c o r d i n g t o L e r o y G r e y, a n 1 8 - y e a r v e t e r a n o r g a n i c f a r m e r who m a n a g e s w h a t w a s f o r m e r l y Thompson's O r c h a r d , " f a r m e r s w i l l have t o p l a n t f o r t h e m a r k e t s o t h e y can s e l l w h a t t h e y p r o d u c e , n o t j u s t p r o d u c e . " Farming i s c h a n g i n g , a n d t h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t t h e c o u n t y i s a l s o c h a n g i n g . Perhaps w i t h c o n t r o l s o n g r o w t h a n d w i t h a l o n g - r a n g e p l a n , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y c a n s t i l l grow and y e t keep i t s r u r a l f l a v o r a n d q u a i n t c h a r m o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . St. M a r y ' s has a p r i d e a l l i t s own.

MARYLANDAGRICULTURALTRENDS--ST. MARY'S COUNTY Table 1.

Acres o f Land by Type of Use

Year

Number of farms

Land not in farms

Land in farms

Percent o f land i n farms

1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982

1,790 1,392 1,347 1,380 1,104 1,032 862 829 871 940

47,053 69,893 87,552 83,390 108,425 118,100 143,830 136,063 134,325 138,204

190,387 167,547 147,328 151,490 126,455 116,785 95,146 102,913 104,395 100,221

80.2 70.6 62.7 64.5 53.8 49.7 39.8 43.1 43.7 42.0

Year

Cropland used o n l y for pasture

1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982

-23,769 21,456 10,889 5,939 4,612 4,755 5,544 5,400 4,403

Other pasture not cropland or woodland -5,321 -5,365 2,905 4,128 --1,528 3,500

Corn

1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982

21,137 15,724 13,229 13,058 12,540 12,708 11,163 13,721 15,037 11,564c

15,808 11,184 6,331 7,504 5,721 4,530 2,520 4,604 1,992 3,834

Woodland not pastured

-9,045 -5,506 3,505 4,021 --6,372 4,254

Table 2. Wheat (grain)

Year

Woodland pastured

-71,853 -67,785 55,576 49,576 --38,384 31,716

Cropland not harvested & not pastured -13,304 12,088 17,076 8,676 10,911 10,663 7,204 7,093 6,547

Cropland harvested __a 38,698 35,338 37,506 43,156 38,740 30,649 39,677 39,645 39,779 Other land -5,557 -7,363 6,698 4,771 --5,973 1,Q2

Total land pastured -38,135 -21,760 12,349 12,761 --13,300 12.157

Total cropland -75,771 68,882 65,471 57,771 54,263 46,067 52,425 52,138 50 729

Acres o f Crops Harvested

Soybeans Barley (beans) (grain) __a 13 16 -75 402 645 885 9,367 1,393 5,981 1,817 5,924 -10,382 -10,707 2,002 10,962 1,564

Oats (grain) 337 159 196 551 1,215 649 --525 464

Tobacco 5,626 5,439 5,838 7,643 7,528 7,437 5,230 5,533 6,410 8,104

Vegetables Land i n Hay & melons orchards 5,631 4,957 7,820 7,869 7,035 5,514 2,929 3,889 4,262 4,238

914 311 140 96 60 35 62 738 91 139

-338 105 120 42 41 40 22 59 45

Table 3. Number o f Livestock and Mature Chickens on Farms and Number o f Broilers and Chickens Sold

Year

Cattle and calves

1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982

7,195 5,399 4,683 5,887 6,997 5,823 4,272 5,613 5,630 5,177

Milk cows 2,479 2,502 2,709 2,658 1,503 888 457 563 542 608

Top: M a r y l a n d ' s A g r i c u l t u r e trends f r o m t h e H i s t o r i c a l Data f o r Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e , 19201982. M a t e r i a l C o u r t e s y M a r t h a J. D a u g h d r i l l , A g r i c u l t u r e / Seafood D e v e l o p m e n t S p e c i a l i s t .

Hogs and pigs 10,170 6,671 5,050 8,029 9,882 10,290 16,101 15,813 16,347 15,413

Sheeo and lam 3,585 6,785 1,802 889 375 257 259 545 281 540

Horses ind mulesb 4,573 3,236 2,924 2,019 398 __a 432 494 789 847

Chickens Broilers & 3 months chickens old & older sold 71,085 65,425 67,602 78,596 94,402 75,287 49,450 27,163 26,734 24,733

71,592 83,808 46,717 73,641 99,838 D 20,305 14,555 20,768 14,513

a_..Not available. b H o r s e s and ponies f o r 1969 and l a t e r years. D = Disclosure. cGrain o n l y.

Bottom: L o w e r l e f t . T o b a c c o i s s t i l l h a r v e s t e d b y hand o n Maryland f a r m s . Lower r i g h t . C l a u d e J a r b o e surveys a h e a d o f hereford cattle on t h e Jarboe farm i n Va l l e y L e e , M a r y l a n d .

Operating Expenses â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Always An Issue As w i t h a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n , m o n e y i s a l w a : i s a n i s s u e a n d t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r Board i s n o e x c e p t i o n . T h e y have had good y e a r s and bad b u t a r e now o n a n even k e e l a c c o r d i n g t o b o t h C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t , J o h n R i c h a r d s a n d McGuire M a t t i n g l y , T r e a s u r e r . "One s o u r c e o f i n c o m e f o r t h e f a i r i s T h e M a r y l a n d A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r B o a r d , w h i c h i s c o m p o s e d o f n i n e members a p p o i n t e d b y t h e G o v e r n o r a n d a s s i s t s t h e S t . Mary's County F a i r Board b y c o n t r i b u t i n g m o n e y f o r p r e m i u m s each y e a r , " s t a t e d Robert J a r b o e , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r a n d C h a i r m a n o f t h e M a r y l a n d Agriculture F a i r Board f o r t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board i s t o e m b e l l i s h and f o s t e r t h e i d e a l s o f a g r i c u l t u r e .

(L. t o R t . ) F r a n k Brown ( L ) o u t g o i n g Chairman o f t h e Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board p r e s e n t s R o b e r t J a r b o e w i t h a g i f t a t t h e t i m e J a r b o e became C h a i r m a n . ( O n board t h e g o v e r n o r ' s y a c h t i n A n n a p o l i s . ) J a r b o e h a s been C h a i r m a n f o r t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s . S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t , J o h n R i c h a r d s , h a s r e p l a c e d J a r b o e a s a member o f t h e M a r y l a n d F a i r B o a r d this year (1990).

The b o a r d a l l o c a t e s f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t t o o v e r 1 6 0 e v e n t s a n n u a l l y a c r o s s t h e s t a t e f r o m c o u n t y f a i r s t o 4 - H t o F FA ( F u t u r e F a r m e r s o f A m e r i c a ) . " A n y o r g a n i z a t i o n r e c e i v i n g m o n e y m u s t b e a f f i l i a t e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e i n some w a y , " s a i d Jarboe. T h e c o u n t y f a i r s i n t u r n must a d h e r e t o t h e r e g u l a t i o n s o f t h e s t a t e board. F o r example, t h e f a i r c a t a l o g u e must b e o u t t o t h e p u b l i c a t l e a s t 3 0 days b e f o r e t h e f a i r o p e n s . " A l l r e p o r t s m u s t b e i n 3 0 d a y s a f t e r t h e f a i r closes a n d a l l premiums m u s t b e p a i d w i t h i n 45 d a y s a f t e r t h e c l o s e o f t h e f a i r , " said M c G u i r e M a t t i n g l y , t r e a s u r e r o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r f o r t h e p a s t

three y e a r s . " S o m e t i m e s t h a t i s v e r y h a r d t o d o when y o u have a b o u t 9 0 0 c h e c k s to w r i t e and s i g n . T h e Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board c o n t r i b u t e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 1 9 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 f o r t h e 1 9 8 9 f a i r , " s a i d M a t t i n g l y . " T h e r e a r e a l s o many t r o p h i e s donated b y v a r i o u s l i v e s t o c k a s s o c i a t i o n s . "

J. M c G u i r e M a t t i n g l y , J r . ( F a i r B o a r d Tr e a s u r e r ) ( l e f t ) s i t s at h i s d e s k i n t h e o f f i c e b u i l d i n g . ( R t . ) J o h n Richards, F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t a n d w i f e , A n n , r e s t f r o m t h e i r b u s y d a y.

According t o J a r b o e , "We r e c e n t l y h a d a l a r g e i n c r e a s e f r o m Paramutual Betting. W e w e n t f r o m $450,000 t o $600,000 from a l l race tracks. T h r o u g h l e g i s l a t u r e i n t h e M a r y l a n d G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y, t h e f a i r b o a r d m u s t g i v e a percentage t o p r o m o t e a g r i c u l t u r a l e v e n t s . W h e n h o r s e r a c i n g was e s t a b l i s h e d a s a s t a t e money m a k i n g a c t i v i t y , i t w a s d e c i d e d i n l e g i s l a t u r e t h a t a c e r t a i n percent was t o g o t o a g r i c u l t u r e r e l a t e d a c t i v i t i e s . " When a s k e d a b o u t t h e b e s t y e a r a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r a s f a r a s p r o f i t s a r e concerned, M a t t i n g l y s a i d t h a t o f h i s t h r e e y e a r s a s t r e a s u r e r , t h i s y e a r h a s been t h e b e s t . H e e s t i m a t e s t h a t a t l e a s t 3 8 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e a t t e n d e d t h e f a l l o f 1989 ( w h i c h i s a b o u t t h e same a s t h e l a s t t h r e e y e a r s ) d e s p i t e t h e c o n s t a n t t h r e a t o f H u r r i c a n e Hugo. H u g o c a u s e d t h e f e r r i s w h e e l t o b e t a k e n down a n d p u t back u p s e v e r a l t i m e s . T h e t h r e a t e n i n g w i n d s c r e a t e d a n e e d f o r c o n s t a n t assessment a n d c h a n g e s a s t h e w e e k e n d p r o g r e s s e d . " B y S u n d a y, h o w e v e r , t h i n g s had s e t t l e d d o w n a n d n i c e w e a t h e r a l l o w e d p e o p l e t o come o u t b y t h e h u n d r e d s , " said M a t t i n g l y. " S u n d a y s a r e o f t e n t h e b e s t d a y r i g h t a f t e r t h e c h u r c h h o u r s . T h i s y e a r w a s n o d i f f e r e n t ; a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , d u e t o H u g o , m o r e p e o p l e came o n Sunday t h a n e v e r . " When a s k e d h o w d i f f i c u l t i t i s t o o b t a i n i n s u r a n c e f o r t h e c o u n t y f a i r , M a t t i n g l y r e p l i e d t h a t " n o w we h a v e a company t h a t s p e c i a l i z e s i n i n s u r i n g f a i r s , John R . D r u r y a n d S o n i n L e o n a r d t o w n . O u r p r e m i u m s r u n f r o m $ 8 , 0 0 0 t o $ 1 0 , 8 8 8 per y e a r . "

M a t t i n g l y s t a t e d t h a t o f t e n h e i s a s k e d what t h e f a i r board does w i t h t h e money t h e y p u l l i n f r o m t h e f a i r . H i s r e p l y i s t h a t m o s t o f t h e money i s p u t r i g h t b a c k i n t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . I n 1983 and 1987, paved walkways were added, and i n 1 9 8 9 , w e p u t a n e w r o o f o n t h e g r a n d s t a n d b y t h e h o r s e s h o w r i n g . T h i s year a new hog b u i l d i n g was b u i l t ( 1 9 9 0 ) .

(L. t o R . ) A n n R i c h a r d s , J o h n Richards, E l w o o d C u s i c a n d James Owens s t a n d b e f o r e t h e new r o o f b u i l t i n 1 9 8 9 .

Elwood C u s i c ( 2 n d f r o m r i g h t ) r e m e m b e r s w e l l t h e b u i l d i n g o f the g r a n d s t a n d b l e a c h e r s . " T h e y w e r e b u i l t i n s t a g e s . T h e f i r s t h a l f was b u i l t i n 1 9 8 7 a n d t h e second h a l f i n 1988. This was o n e o f my p r o j e c t s . I s u p e r v i s e d t h e b u i l d i n g f r o m scratch. T h e f i r s t h a l f c o s t r o u g h l y t e n thousand d o l l a r s and t h e s e c o n d h a l f t h e s a m e .

There i s a l w a y s s o m e t h i n g t h a t n e e d s t o b e d o n e o n t h e g r o u n d s a s w e l l a s o t h e r expenses a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e r u n n i n g o f t h e f a i r . " W e a l w a y s s e t a s i d e m o n e y, i f we c a n , i n c a s e o f a b a d y e a r a n d w e t r y t o make i n v e s t m e n t s w i t h a n y money t h a t i s l e f t o v e r , b u t t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e money i s u s e d t o u p g r a d e t h e f a i r a n d p a y e x p e n s e s , " s a i d M a t t i n g l y . " A t l e a s t w e d o n ' t h a v e t o b o r r o w m o n e y. "

L. R i c h a r d Owens. R t . D e n n i s W o l c o t t s i t t i n g o n n e w l y purchased g o l f c a r t s ( 1 9 8 9 ) .

"Our l a r g e s t i n t a k e i s , o f c o u r s e , f r o m t h e m a i n g a t e w h i c h h a s b e e n manned f o r t h e p a s t s e v e r a l d e c a d e s b y t h e l o c a l L i o n s C l u b s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. T h e y organize t h e t i m e s a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s c l u b s a n d d o n a t e m a n p o w e r, " s t a t e d M a t t i n g l y. " W e a l s o g e t a percentage o f t h e c a r n i v a l a t t r a c t i o n s and c o - o p w i t h school o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d o t h e r n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s . W e s e l l space f o r e x h i b i t o r s f r o m t h e c o u n t y a n d we a l s o have o u t s i d e c o n c e s s i o n s . T h e r e i s a f l a t fee d e p e n d i n g o n t h e c o n c e s s i o n ' s h i s t o r y o f p r o f i t s ( f o o d s t a n d s , i c e c r e a m , peanuts, e t c . ) . W e r u n t h e beverage s t a n d o u r s e l v e s b u t c l o s e t h e s t a n d o n F r i d a y, k i d s d a y , " s a i d M a t t i n g l y .

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Li bAY PASSES CURVIUN FFIDAYSCWOOtDA SCHOOLCNIEDP04

iNS CLUBS ART'S COUNTY CINS

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Chester L y n c h ( L ) , J o h n B r a d f o r d , a n d T e x Aschenbeck, m e m b e r s o f t h e L e x i n g t o n P a r k L i o n s Club, s e l l t i c k e t s a t t h e m a i n g a t e .

"As f a r a s e x p e n s e s c o n c e r n i n g o u r l i v e s t o c k , o u r y o u n g s t e r s g e t b e t t e r t h a n market p r i c e f o r t h e i r a n i m a l s a n d w e h a d b e t t e r t h a n 1 0 0 b u y e r s t h i s y e a r , " remarked M a t t i n g l y . " B e t w e e n $ 6 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 a n d $ 8 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 p e r y e a r , c h a n g e s h a n d s between t h e o w n e r s o f t h e a n i m a l s o n e x h i b i t a n d t h e b u y e r s . " T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s p e o p l e w h o b u y t h e a n i m a l s : t h o s e w h o j u s t w a n t t o f i l l t h e i r home l o c k e r s , t o business p e o p l e who m a y d i v i d e t h e a n i m a l s a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s . U s u a l l y t h e e x h i b i t o r w r i t e s a l e t t e r o f thanks t o t h e b u y e r ; i t ' s good p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s - brings them back."

C h a r l i e Wo o d b u r n ( M a n a g e r o f S a f e w a y a t t h e t i m e , c e n t e r ) buys C h a m p i o n s t e e r t o g r a c e t h e S a f e w a y s h e l v e s .

The c o u n t y f a i r b o a r d d o e s p a y t o h a v e t h e a n i m a l s t r a n s p o r t e d t o t h e n e w b u y e r. W h e n a s k e d w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e a n i m a l s w h e n t h e y a r e s o l d , " M a t t i n g l y replied t h a t " t h e y a r e s t r i c t l y market animals. T h e y w i l l be k i l l e d and used as food. T h e r e a r e o f t e n t e a r s i n t h e show r i n g b u t t h e y o u n g s t e r s know t h e f a t e o f the a n i m a l w h e n t h e y r a i s e i t . I t i s e a s y t o become a t t a c h e d t o a n a n i m a l t h o u g h a f t e r being w i t h i t every s i n g l e d a y. "

" A l l a n i m a l s s o l d i n t h e show ring g o t o t h e market," said McGuire M a t t i n g l y . B e t w e e n sixty a n d e i g h t y t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s changes hands each y e a r between e x h i b i t o r a n d b u y e r . However, m a n y t i m e s t e a r s a r e exchanged w i t h t h e m o n e y. "

The Tear Stained Auction Block The g e n t l e e y e s o f t h e m a s s i v e b r o w n s t e e r looked k i n d l y a t t h e c h i l d . She k n e w t h e e n d w a s n e a r f o r h e r f r i e n d and d a y s w h e n s h e c o u l d s m i l e . Her b i g g e n t l e f r i e n d w a s g o i n g a w a y n e v e r t o come b a c k . She t r i e d t o f i g h t t h e t e a r s i n s i d e for happiness she lacked. She remembered t h e d a y t h i s s t e e r a r r i v e d he w a s j u s t a t i n y c a l f . She h a d g r o w n t o l o v e h i m s o her h e a r t was b r e a k i n g i n h a l f . As t h e a u c t i o n e e r t o o k h e r f r i e n d She c o u l d n ' t h e l p b u t c r y . She t o o k h e r f r i e n d a n d g e n t l y s a i d her l o n g a n d p a i n f u l goodbye. Sara J e n k i n s

D i g n i t a r i e s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n commonplace a t t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r a s evidenced b y t h i s p h o t o o f C o m p t r o l l e r L o u i s G o l d s t e i n c r o w n i n g t h e Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e .

The Fairest Of The Fair Kim Kliner, Amy Quinlan

The Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e r e i g n s o v e r t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r , r e m o v i n g a l l doubt t h a t s h e i s , i n d e e d , t h e " f a i r e s t o f t h e F a i r " , b u t b e a u t y i s n o t t h e o n l y criterion for her selection. From e a c h h i g h s c h o o l , t w o c o n t e s t a n t s a n d o n e a l t e r n a t e a r e c h o s e n , e i t h e r by f a c u l t y s e l e c t i o n o r s t u d e n t v o t e s , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e s c h o o l . M o s t o f t h e g i r l s chosen a r e honor r o l l students, a c t i v e i n s p o r t s and o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s ; and most p l a n t o g o o n t o c o l l e g e a c c o r d i n g t o Te r e s a S t e r l i n g , c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e c o n t e s t f o r o v e r 2 5 y e a r s .

Te r e s a S t e r l i n g , c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e Contest f o r o v e r 2 5 y e a r s , s t a n d s w i t h t h e r e i g n i n g Queen.

"We t r y t o g e t t h e i r r e s u m e s a h e a d o f t i m e s o t h e j u d g e s c a n r e v i e w t h e m " said S t e r l i n g . " T h e judges a r e f r o m o u t o f t h e c o u n t y s o t h e r e i s n o b i a s . have a m e e t i n g a t m y h o u s e - - I h a v e d o n e t h i s f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s - - a n d t h e g i r l s t a l k among t h e m s e l v e s . I t g i v e s t h e m a c h a n c e t o g e t t o k n o w o n e a n o t h e r , " Sterling stated.

For t h e p a g e a n t i t s e l f , t h e c o n t e s t a n t s a r e a s k e d t o w e a r f o r m a l g o w n s a n d "model" them t o demonstrate p o i s e a n d c o m p o s u r e f o r t h e j u d g e s . T h e n each hopeful c o n t e s t a n t m u s t answer a q u e s t i o n ( g i v e n t o them before t h e pageant) t o the b e s t o f t h e i r a b i l i t y , t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e i r p u b l i c - s p e a k i n g c a p a b i l i t y . F r o m the s c o r e s t h e y r e c e i v e i n t h e s e t w o c a t e g o r i e s , a s w e l l a s a r e v i e w o f e a c h g i r l ' s resume, t h e c o n t e s t a n t s a r e e v a l u a t e d and a w i n n e r i s s e l e c t e d . S h e i s crowned o n T h u r s d a y , t h e b e g i n n i n g d a y o f t h e F a i r , b y a c o u n t y o f f i c i a l , a n d spends h e r w e e k e n d r e i g n i n g o v e r t h e F a i r a n d m i n g l i n g w i t h t h e m a s s e s . P r i z e s a r e g i v e n t o t h e Queen b y l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s . T h e Queen t h e n g o e s o n t o t h e s t a t e f a i r i n Ti m o n i u m .

Sometimes r o y a l t y i s n o t a l l i t ' s c r a c k e d u p t o b e . D u r i n g rainy f a i r days even g e t t i n g t o t h e merry-go-round can be a challenge.

In t h e p a s t , though, t h e process w a s d i f f e r e n t . A c c o r d i n g t o Ann (Lacey) A b e l l , t h e Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e i n 1 9 5 0 , i n a February 1990 i n t e r v i e w, " . . . t h e f i r s t g i r l s ( 1 9 4 7 - 4 9 ) w o n b y g e t t i n g t h e m o s t money d o n a t e d . T h e n , w h e n I came along i n 1 9 5 0 , e a c h d i s t r i c t h a d a dance . . . a n d a g i r l was c h o s e n . W e w a l k e d around s c a r e d t o d e a t h a n d n e v e r o p e n e d o u r m o u t h s - - w e w e r e s o n e r v o u s . " F r o m t h e r e , t h e w i n n e r s f r o m e a c h d i s t r i c t b e c a m e c o n t e s t a n t s i n t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e p a g e a n t . A c c o r d i n g t o M r s . A b e l l , t h e c o m p e t i t i o n w a s a l i t t l e e a s i e r back t h e n . " . . . We d i d n ' t h a v e t o s a y a n y t h i n g , j u s t s t a n d t h e r e a n d s m i l e . "

"Amid t h e r a i n - s o a k e d A l m s H o u s e g r o u n d s ( t o d a y k n o w n a s t h e fairgrounds) p r e t t y , auburn - h a i r e d , b l u e - e y e d Ann Lacey r u l e s as Q u e e n o f T o l e r a n c e o v e r t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r , " stated t h e 1950 a r t i c l e i n t h e S t a r n e w s p a p e r. A n n Lacey A b e l l w a s t h e f o u r t h Queen t o g r a c e t h e f a i r .

Ann L a w r e n c e A b e l l w a s t h e f i r s t Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e i n 1 9 4 7 a n d i n a p h o n e i n t e r v i e w w i t h h e r i n F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 0 , s h e r e l a t e d t h e e v e n t s s u r r o u n d i n g h e r r e i g n a s q u e e n : " W e had a dance a t T a l l Ti m b e r s ; b a c k t h e n t h a t was ' t h e ' p l a c e to g o . W e h a d been c o l l e c t i n g ( s e l l i n g ) v o t e s and t h e y were c o u n t e d a t t h e dance. T h e o n e w i t h t h e m o s t v o t e s w o n . I remember H e a t h S t e e l e was o n e o f those c o u n t i n g . T h e c r o w n i n g t o o k p l a c e a b o u t a week l a t e r a t S t . M a r y ' s C i t y with a d a n c e f o l l o w i n g i n t h e h a l l (where S t . Mary's College i s now). I f e l t v e r y h o n o r e d t o b e q u e e n b u t I d i d n ' t c a r e much f o r t h e s y s t e m o f g e t t i n g v o t e s . A f t e r t h e f i r s t t w o y e a r s , t h e g i r l s won o n t h e i r own m e r i t a n d n o t because t h e y s o l d m o r e v o t e s . I d i d n ' t h a v e t o d o much a s q u e e n b a c k t h e n ; t h e f a i r h a d j u s t s t a r t e d - - t h i s w a s t h e f i r s t y e a r , a n d w e w e r e a t Camp C a l v e r t ( S t . M a r y ' s R y k e n ) . Everything was h e l d u n d e r t e n t s o r p a v i l i o n s o u t s i d e . G i r l s t o d a y a r e more i n v o l v e d t h a n we w e r e b a c k t h e n . " K i t t y B a i l e y S w a n n w a s t h e s e c o n d Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e i n 1 9 4 8 a n d a l t h o u g h the dance was h e l d a t a d i f f e r e n t p l a c e , t h e e v e n t s a r e s i m i l a r t o 1 9 4 7 . I n a n i n t e r v i e w ( F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 0 ) w i t h Swann, s h e r e l a t e d t h a t " w e h a d a b i g d i n n e r d a n c e at t h e Wharf Club where e i g h t o r n i n e g i r l s were honored. T h e one w i t h t h e most

votes ( s o l d b y p a r e n t s , e t c . ) was chosen queen. I was p i c k e d a t t h e Wharf C l u b but was crowned i n S t . M a r y ' s C i t y i n t h e b i g h a l l a t t h e c o l l e g e . S e n a t o r Barkley crowned m e . H e p u t my crown o n backwards. I t was w h i t e w i t h r e d r o s e s i n i t . T h e f a i r i t s e l f w a s h e l d a t Camp C a l v e r t ; i t w a s j u s t a c a m p g r o u n d b a c k then."

K i t t y B a i l e y ( n o w Swann) w a s s e l e c t e d a s t h e s e c o n d Queen o f To l e r a n c e a t a d a n c e h e l d a t t h e L e o n a r d t o w n W h a r f a n d crowned b y S e n a t o r B a r k l e y , D e m o c r a t f r o m K e n t u c k y a t a ceremony a t S t . M a r y ' s C i t y , S e p t e m b e r 1 8 , 1 9 4 8 .

A c c o r d i n g t o A r l e n e C a n d e l a C u l l i n s ( Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e , 1 9 5 1 ) , " C a n d i d a t e s attended a Princess B a l l a t w h i c h a g i r l w a s c h o s e n f r o m e a c h d i s t r i c t ; b u t anyone c o u l d g o . T h e q u e e n w a s s e l e c t e d f r o m t h o s e c h o s e n . T h e c r o w n i n g t o o k place o n a n o u t d o o r p l a t f o r m about where t h e A r t s B u i l d i n g i s now o n t h e c u r r e n t fairgrounds. T h e r e were v e r y f e w b u i l d i n g s t h e n . " S e e photo page 4 1 . The m a i n d u t y o f t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e i s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e e s s e n c e o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, b u t s h e i s a l s o o n h a n d t o p r e s e n t a w a r d s a t t h e F a i r ' s o t h e r c o n t e s t s a n d s h o w s . B e i n g Queen i s a b i g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b u t i t i s d o u b t f u l t h a t any p r e v i o u s w i n n e r w i l l s a y i t w a s n ' t w o r t h i t . Rt. A r l e n e C a n d e l a i s crowned Queen b y U . S . C i r c u i t C o u r t Judge D u d l e y D i g g s f r o m L a Plata i n 1951.

A r l e n e C a n d e l a b e i n g c r o w n e d t h e f i f t h Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e b y U . S . C i r c u i t C o u r t Judge D u d l e y D i g g s f r o m L a P l a t a i n 1 9 5 1 . T h e c r o w n i n g t o o k p l a c e o n a n o u t d o o r p l a t f o r m w h e r e t h e A r t s B u i l d i n g i s n o w.

S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Queen o f To l e r a n c e Previous Winners 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

Anne Lawrence Kitty Bailey Janet Burroughs E l i z a b e t h Ann Lacey Arlene Candela E l v a Anderson Cathie Davis S u e Magee R o b e r t a Wood Patsy Napier Connie M i l e s Susie Blake P a t Adams To n y Wormwood S h a r o n Feengan Ruth Drury L o i s Anderson Diane Weiner Kathy B e l l S h a r o n Dumont Ronda W e t z e l Diane H u n t t C a r o l e Anne N o r r i s

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Debbie Stone Anne Levay Jan Colleary Debbie B e n n i n g f i e l d M a r i l e e Candela Theresa Boole Bonnie Lynn M a t t i n g l y Sharon T i a r i B a r l e y Nancy I m b e r M a r i e Hodges L i n d a Palma D e b o r a h Behm J u l i e Lawrence C y n t h i a Ta y l o r R e g i n a Sances Minday Kinoo Andrea Knowlton Jennifer Kirby A l l i s o n Dameron Ta n y a Hughes

" T h i s i s t h e Queen a n d h e r c o u r t ( f r o m t h e v a r i o u s d i s t r i c t s ) a s t h e y p o s e i n 1960 i n t h e o l d a u d i t o r i u m (on c u r r e n t f a i r g r o u n d s ) b e f o r e t h e p a r t i t i o n s w e r e p u t i n , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c , F a i r B o a r d member.

Top: H e n r y F o w l e r , S r . officiates. ( B o t t o m L.) Queen o f To l e r a n c e (1982), J a n C o l e a r y Pennissi. ( B o t t o m R t . ) A l l i s o n Dameron, 1 9 8 8 Queen.

Top: T h e Q u e e n a n d h e r c o u r t o n t h e M e r r y -Go- R o u n d . (Bottom L . ) J e n n i f e r K i r b y , 1 9 8 7 Queen a n d h e r e s c o r t . ( B o t t o m R . ) Ta n y a H u g h e s , t h e 1 9 8 9 Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e .

P u b l i c a t i o n ' s s t u d e n t s p o s e i n t h e 4 - H b u i l d i n g w i t h Ann Richards ( 3 r d f r o m R t . ) , whose husband has been F a i r Board President f o r t h e p a s t seven years. A n n i s o f t e n j u s t as busy a s h e r h u s b a n d a t f a i r t i m e t o w h i c h a n y p a s t f a i r board p r e s i d e n t ' s w i f e c a n a t t e s t .

John L a n c a s t e r ( C e n t e r ) , C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r A g r i c u l t u r a l Science a n d Black 4-H d u r i n g t h e years o f i n t e g r a t i o n ; James F o r r e s t ( L ) a n d M r s . F o r r e s t , who were b o t h very a c t i v e i n t h e B l a c k 4-H, t a l k w i t h P u b l i c a t i o n ' s s t u d e n t s L a u r e l P o t y e n ( s e c o n d f r o m r i g h t ) a n d Shannon Rhodes ( R ) .

4-H Makes The Best, Better. by Sharon Dunn The l a r g e s t i n f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m f o r y o u n g p e o p l e c a r r i e s t h e s l o g a n "Learn b y D o i n g " . T h i s group i s t h e 4 - H . T h e 4 - H e x i s t s i n o v e r 8 0 c o u n t r i e s i n the w o r l d t o d a y, w i t h c h i l d r e n r a n g i n g i n ages f r o m 9 - 1 9 . The 4 - H ' s c r e e d s t a n d s f o r t h e H e a d , H e a r t , H a n d s , a n d H e a l t h . T h e y f o l l o w t h e m o t t o , " T o make t h e b e s t b e t t e r " ; a n d a t e v e r y m e e t i n g t h e y r e c i t e : I pledge My Head t o c l e a r e r t h i n k i n g My H e a r t t o g r e a t e r l o y a l t y My Hand t o l a r g e r s e r v i c e a n d My H e a l t h t o b e t t e r l i v i n g , f o r m y c l u b , m y c o m m u n i t y, my c o u n t r y , a n d my w o r l d . The f i r s t 4 - H w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o t e a c h c h i l d r e n s k i l l s t h a t w i l l h e l p t h e m i n the a d u l t w o r l d . T h e y l e a r n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , h o w t o w o r k w i t h o t h e r s , a n d s k i l l s such a s p u b l i c s p e a k i n g , f a r m i n g , c o o k i n g , e t c . " T h e 4 - H w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e f a i r i n 1 9 4 7 , " a c c o r d i n g t o E l i z a b e t h R u s s e l l , s e c r e t a r y t o J u l i u s Johnson, County E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f r o m 1 9 4 1 - 1 9 6 8 . " I t h e l p e d h o m e m a k e r s a n d f a r m e r s i n c r e a s e t h e i r k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f f a r m p r o d u c t s a n d homemaking through shows a n d c o m p e t i t i o n s . " T h e a g r i c u l t u r a l a s p e c t s o f t h e 4 - H a r e w e l l exhibited i n the county f a i r . During t i m e s o f s e g r e g a t i o n , when t h e r e were separate w h i t e and b l a c k f a i r s , there were a l s o separate w h i t e and b l a c k 4 - H g r o u p s . A c c o r d i n g t o M r . J o h n L a n c a s t e r, " M r . B i l l G a i s e r w a s t h e A s s i s t a n t C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r A g r i c u l t u r a l Science, b u t he a l s o handled 4 - H f o r w h i t e s o n l y. H e s e r v e d as assistant u n d e r M r . J u l i u s J o h n s o n , S t . M a r y ' s County Extension Agent. M r . Johnson d i d n o t h a n d l e 4 - H . I was County Extension Agent f o r Agricultural Science a n d 4 - H ( b l a c k o n l y ) . I went s p e c i f i c a l l y t o a s s i s t b l a c k farmers and handled t h e b l a c k 4 - H C l u b s o n l y . " Through a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h M r . J o h n L a n c a s t e r , M r . F o r r e s t , a n d M r s . F o r r e s t , more i n f o r m a t i o n w a s u n c o v e r e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e b l a c k f a i r a n d t h e b l a c k 4 - H . Their p a r a d e " w a s s t r i c t l y 4 - H g r o u p s , " a c c o r d i n g t o M r s . F o r r e s t , w i t h e x c e p t i o n s b e i n g m a d e f o r o u t - o f - c o u n t y b a n d s . " E a c h 4 - H g r o u p made a f l o a t t o show o f f i n t h e p a r a d e . I n t h e w h i t e f a i r , a n d n o w i n m o d e r n t i m e s , t h e r e i s a Queen o f T o l e r a n c e . I n t h e b l a c k f a i r t h e r e w a s a V o i c e o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, also known a s M i s s 4 - H o f S t . M a r y ' s . E a c h 4 - H c l u b w o u l d e n t e r o n e g i r l t o r e p r e s e n t t h e m , a n d t h e y w o u l d c o m p e t e w i t h a l l o f t h e o t h e r s . O n S u n d a y, a b i g ceremony w a s h e l d f o r t h e w i n n e r . "

stripes. T h e c h i l d r e n would e x h i b i t chickens and hogs, and t h e l e a d e r would help set u p a b o o t h p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e theme f o r t h a t y e a r . " In 1962, due t o i n t e g r a t i o n , M r. J o h n Lancaster w a s reassigned a s County Extension Agent f o r t h e 4 - H o f b l a c k s and w h i t e s . B e f o r e s e g r e g a t i o n , 1 , 5 0 0 black c h i l d r e n and 1,000 w h i t e c h i l d r e n i n t h e c o u n t y w e r e i n v o l v e d i n 4-H. A f t e r i n t e g r a t i o n , a l l p a r t i c i p a t i o n dropped d r a s t i c a l l y. A c c o r d i n g t o Mrs. Jean Dean, t h e C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r 4 - H s i n c e J u l y 1 9 8 8 , " i n 1 9 8 6 t h e r e w e r e o n l y t w o 4 - H c l u b s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, w i t h o n l y 3 5 t o t a l members. T h e n u m b e r s have r i s e n t o 2 6 5 t h i s y e a r , w i t h 28% o f t h e members b l a c k . " Mrs. D e a n g a v e u s some r e a s o n s w h y 4 - H i n v o l v e m e n t numbers h a v e d r o p p e d s o . " I n t h e 5 0 ' s a n d 6 0 ' s t h e r e w e r e n ' t a s many e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s f o r c h i l d r e n t o d o , a n d women v o l u n t e e r e d m o r e . T h e 6 0 ' s a n d 7 0 ' s m o v e m e n t s w e r e 'back t o t h e l a n d ' . T h e r e were more i n d e p e n d e n t , s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t p e o p l e who d i d not j o i n groups r e a d i l y . N o w t h e County E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e g i v e s seminars f o r more s e l f h e l p ; 4 - H w a s a n o u t g r o w t h o f t h e t i m e . " Not a s m a n y c h i l d r e n j o i n l o t . E a c h member i s r e q u i r e d t o of p r o j e c t s , w h i c h c h i l d r e n c certificates, ribbons, trophies, to t h e Maryland S t a t e F a i r Board

4 - H c l u b s n o w, b u t t h o s e w h o d o l e a r n a n d e a r n a do a t l e a s t one p r o j e c t a y e a r. T h e r e a r e l i s t s a n d e s i g n o n t h e i r own. T h e y c a n e a r n medals, and even scholarships. A s t a t e g r a n t i s g i v e n f o r awards.

Children i n 4 - H c a n j o i n s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t g r o u p s , compete i n speaking contests, and contests o f o t h e r s k i l l s . T h e y a l s o perform community services, and c a n g o t o a summer c a m p . Although 4-H i n v o l v e m e n t has d e c l i n e d , c h i l d r e n w h o do p a r t i c i p a t e g e t a variety o f educational opportunities, while having fun. H o p e f u l l y i n t h e future we w i l l s e e m o r e i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h i s g r e a t c l u b .

This s t e e r w o n 4 - H Grand Champion o v e r a l l i n b o t h St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y a n d Charles C o u n t y i n 1 9 8 8 . Joey R o b e r t s ( n o t pictured) r a i s e d the steer which i s s h o w n b y h i s sister Dawn Roberts a n d f r i e n d C h r i s Swann.

1; 48

Caring f o r a n i m a l s i s l e a r n e d e a r l y o n t h e f a r m and f a i r week c a l l s f o r e x t r a c a r e f o r t h e s h o w r i n g .

Dawn R o b e r t s o f C h a r l e s County s e e m s t o k n o w exactly w h a t t o d o t o spruce u p b r o t h e r J o e y ' s winning m a r k e t s t e e r ! The s t e e r t o o k G r a n d Champion i n 1 9 8 8 .

Ode To The Smell! Ode t o t h e s m e l l That w a f t s t h r o u g h t h e a i r That c l i n g s t o t h e b r e e z e And s t a y s i n y o u r h a i r To l i v e s t o c k a n d r i d e s To t h e smoke a n d t h e t r a s h That b u r n s i n y o u r n o s e And t a r n i s h e s b r a s s To t h e h o r s e s a n d c o w s To t h e p i g s a n d t h e g e e s e To t h e g i r l s a n d t h e b o y s Who m u s t c l e a n o f f t h e i r f e e t To t h e c h a m p i o n b u l l Unaware o f t h e j u d g e Who m u s t c a r e f u l l y s t e p Through t h e m u c k w i t h a g r u d g e Unaware o f t h e f a c t That h e w i l l s o o n b e b l e d So many a f a m i l y Soon c a n b e f e d And w h e n a l a s The g o o d d a y i s d o n e You m u s t s i m p l y s a y That y o u s u r e d i d h a v e f u n ! Andrew S t o n e

Ode To A Cow Ho-hum, I ' m a c o w t h a t s a y s m o o . My l i f e i s d u l l , m y f a t e - b e e f s t e w . I e a t and sleep, d o b o t h w h i l e standing. My f o o d i s g r a s s ; I ' m n o t d e m a n d i n g . Moo, I s a y - - b u t n o t h i n g , I d o . I ' d g i v e my l i f e t o b e l i k e y o u . My o n e e x c i t e m e n t i s t h e F a i r , Though t h i s o c c a s i o n i s q u i t e r a r e . My a u n t s a n d u n c l e s , c o u s i n s , f r i e n d s , A l l o f my f e l l o w cows a t t e n d . A l l s o r t s o f people gaze and poke, prod, swarm, j u d g e , a n d j o k e . To t h e m I ' m j u s t a b a r n y a r d c r e a t u r e Soon t o b e a m e a l t i m e f e a t u r e . Perhaps o n e d a y I ' l l b e t a k e n s e r i o u s l y . . . even t r e a t e d q u i t e i m p e r i o u s l y . For n o w I ' l l j u s t h o p e t h a t i t i s n ' t m y f a t e To e n d u p a t h i c k s t e a k o n a W e s t e r n S t e e r p l a t e . Kim K l i n e r

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(L.) P u b l i c a t i o n student Sharon Dunn makes a f r i e n d . O p p o s i t e p a g e —top: W a s h i n g , a l l t h a t wool i s n ' t easy! Bottom: T h e s e 4 — H m e m b e r s await t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e judges' d e c i s i o n .

Winning i s i m p o r t a n t t o 4 - H ' e r s b u t b u i l d i n g c h a r a c t e r a l o n g the way i s a g o a l w h i c h i s n o t o v e r l o o k e d ( 1 9 7 3 ) .

C h a r l i e Wo o d b u r n ( b u y e r f o r l o c a l s u p e r m a r k e t ) i n s p e c t s a winning Hereford s t e e r ( 1 9 7 3 ) .

Winning 4 - H E n t r i e s i n t h e 1989 F a i r

It's Not All Hog Heaven by Karen Raley

Raising p i g s d e m a n d s m o r e t h a n a s m a l l s h a r e o f responsibility since t h e owner s t a y s q u i t e b u s y feeding, watering, brushing, a n d cleaning u p a f t e r t h e i r hogs. M a n y youngsters awaken r a i n o r s h i n e i n t h e e a r l y morning h o u r s i n order t o f i n i s h t h e i r c h o r e s b e f o r e g o i n g t o school. T h e y o f t e n s h a r e t h e s e d u t i e s w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d d o n ' t seem to mind t h e r o u t i n e . I t i s v e r y r e w a r d i n g i n t h e end t o e x h i b i t a p i g and place i t i n competition.

Piglet At The Fair by Sara Jenkins Ti n y p i n k s n o u t s a n d l i t t l e c u r l y t a i l s , Cute l i t t l e e y e s , p e e k i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a i l s Grunts a n d t i n y s q u e a l s , e c h o t h r o u g h t h e a i r , Is t h e r e anything so sweet a s a p i g l e t a t t h e f a i r ?

"The g r e a s e d p i g c o n t e s t is coming b a c k t o t h e 1991 f a i r , " s a i d M r . Elwood C u s i c . " W e u s e d to h a v e i t a l l t h e t i m e but h a v e n ' t had i t f o r a t least t h e l a s t f i v e years." (1972)

Onyx T h e Angus Onyx t h e A n g u s w a s s o l i d a n d b l a c k , P u t t i n g a l l o t h e r s t o shame. No v a l u a b l e q u a l i t i e s d i d h e l a c k . A w i n n e r h e became. I h e l d my b r e a t h a s b i d s w e r e m a d e . A glance a t him I dared. Suddenly I h o p e d a n d p r a y e d That O n y x w o u l d b e s p a r e d . Beth A l t o n

( L e f t / C e n t e r ) R a l p h B o y d e n and h i s b r o t h e r , N e a l Boyden ( R t . ) w i t h d a u g h t e r, P a t s y, show t h e i r w i n n i n g polled Herefords i n t h e 1960 f a i r .

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Farmers From St. Mary's And Neighborhood Counties Frequent The Fair And Take Home Ribbons.

( L . ) One o f t h e B l a c k h a l l t w i n s , ( R t . ) N e a l Boyden ( B e l A l t o n ) Charles C o u n t y s h o w i n g S h o r t h o r n c a t t l e . ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y Elwood C u s i c )

( L . ) B u d d y " B e n , J r . " P a r r a n f r o m Cage F a r m i n C a l v e r t C o . (Rt.) F r e d Crouse, 1960.

L. t o R . H e n r y F o w l e r ' s s i s t e r , M r s . L o u i s e P a r l e t t , Susanna F o w l e r , H e n r y F o w l e r , S r . , v i s i t o r f r o m B a l t i m o r e , Larry M i l l i s o n . M i l l i s o n bought beef c a t t l e f r o m the f a i r on a r e g u l a r b a s i s f o r t h e B e l v e d e r e R e s t a u r a n t .

Mrs. P a r l e t t a n d Elwood C u s i c w i t h Grand Champion. (Photo c o u r t e s y E l w o o d C u s i c )

L. M r . G i b s o n ( 2 n d f r o m L . ) , J o e C u s i c , 3 r d f r o m L . , B o b b y C u s i c , a n d R t . B i l l y C u s i c s t a n d w i t h Champion Hereford c a t t l e f r o m P a t u x e n t V i e w Farm i n M e c h a n i c s v i l l e . ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y Elwood C u s i c )

The T r - C o u n t y a r e a i s well represented i n the c a t t l e show r i n g .

LEOWARDTOWNwD

A Proud Moment For Black 4-H. (History of a Separate Fair) — Staff — Few p e o p l e w h o w a n d e r t h r o u g h t h e e x h i b i t s a t t h e f a i r t o d a y , r e a l i z e t h a t there was a s e p a r a t e b l a c k f a i r w h i c h t o o k p l a c e i n September e a c h y e a r f r o m 1949 u n t i l i n t e g r a t i o n i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' s . I n a n e x t e n s i v e i n t e r v i e w w i t h M r. James F o r r e s t , h i s w i f e , H a r r i e t , a n d J o h n L a n c a s t e r, much l i g h t was s h e d o n t h e days of o l d . "The f i r s t b l a c k f a i r w a s h e l d a t t h e C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s H i g h S c h o o l i n R i d g e , Maryland, i n 1 9 4 9 " , s a i d F o r r e s t , t h e p a s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County Board o f E d u c a t i o n a n d p a s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e c o u n t y ' s B l a c k F a i r . C a r d i n a l Gibbons H i g h S c h o o l w a s t h e f i r s t b l a c k h i g h s c h o o l i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y . " W e had a F a r m e r ' s a n d H o m e m a k e r ' s A s s o c i a t i o n w h i c h w a s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n o f l o c a l f a r m e r s a n d homemakers w h o s e p u r p o s e w a s t o t e a c h f a r m e r s h o w t o g r o w t h e i r f o o d b e t t e r , h o w t o s e w, c a n f o o d , a n d r a i s e h e a l t h i e r a n i m a l s . M o s t o f t h i s was d o n e t h r o u g h t h e h o m e m a k e r ' s c l u b ; t h e n t h e i d e a came a b o u t t o c o m b i n e t h e f a r m e r s a n d t h e homemakers k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g t o w a r d d e v e l o p i n g a q u a l i t y p r o d u c t , " said John L a n c a s t e r, a County E x t e n s i o n Agent d u r i n g t h e B l a c k F a i r y e a r s .

John L a n c a s t e r ( c e n t e r ) , C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r A g r i c u l t u r e and B l a c k 4 - H d u r i n g t h e y e a r s o f i n t e g r a t i o n ; J a m e s F o r r e s t (second f r o m l e f t ) , P a s t P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Board o f E d u c a t i o n a n d P a s t P r e s i d e n t o f t h e B l a c k F a i r ; a n d Mrs. F o r r e s t ( l e f t ) , w h o a l o n g w i t h h e r husband was v e r y a c t i v e with t h e i r c h i l d r e n i n 4 - H , e x p l a i n w h a t t o o k place i n and around B l a c k F a i r w e e k . Right: Shannon Rhodes — 2nd From Right: Laurel Potyen

"The i d e a w a s t o i n c r e a s e t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e - - t o i m p r o v e t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g , " s t a t e d F o r r e s t . " J o h n had t h e knowledge a n d know-how t o i n s t r u c t u s . By c o m b i n i n g t h e 4 - H c l u b s w i t h t h e h o m e m a k e r s , w e w e r e a b l e t o move t o w a r d s t h a t goal. P e o p l e brought t h e i r c o r n , t o b a c c o , hogs, c h i c k e n s , canned g o o d s , e t c . , and t h e r e w e r e a f e w t h o r o u g h b r e d h o r s e s . " "The f a i r w a s moved f r o m C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s t o L o v e v i l l e . W e h e l d i t o n t h e Bernard S o m e r v i l l e p r o p e r t y i n a t e n t . T h e l a s t f a i r w e h a d a t L o v e v i l l e was ruined by r a i n so w e n e g o t i a t e d i n t h e 1 9 5 0 ' s w i t h t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r Board t o a l l o w u s t o u s e t h e f a i r g r o u n d s o n R o u t e 5 . T h e w h i t e s h e l d t h e i r f a i r one w e e k a n d w e h e l d o u r s t h e n e x t , " r e l a t e d F o r r e s t . According t o M r s . H a r r i e t F o r r e s t , " w e had a Miss 4 - H o f S t . M a r y ' s County who w a s c h o s e n f r o m t h e v a r i o u s b l a c k 4 - H g r o u p s i n t h e c o u n t y . W e w o u l d h a v e e i g h t o r n i n e g i r l s f r o m w h i c h t h e queen was c h o s e n . W e h a d a b i g ceremony o n Sunday f o r t h e c r o w n i n g o f t h e q u e e n a n d h e r c o u r t . O u r p a r a d e h a d m o r e p a r t i c i p a n t s t h a n t h e w h i t e f a i r ; we a l w a y s had a n i c e parade. O u r bands were from o u t o f t h e c o u n t y.

The B l a c k F a i r ' s E d u c a t i o n a l F l o a t w a s o n e o f m a n y f l o a t s and b a n d s w h i c h moved f r o m S t . M a r y ' s Academy a r o u n d t h e square a n d o n t o b u s e s w h i c h t o o k t h e m t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . ( P h o t o s c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t )

Leonardtown had n o band a t t h e t i m e ; w e u s e d t o g e t t h e B a t e s H i g h S c h o o l Band f r o m A n n a p o l i s , a n d many o t h e r s . W e a l s o h a d t h e C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s D r u m a n d B u g l e Corps. W h e n t h a t p a r a d e w e n t t h r o u g h L e o n a r d t o w n , i t w a s s o m e t h i n g ! P e o p l e w o u l d r e a l l y come o u t t o w a t c h t h e p a r a d e . O u r f l o a t s w e r e s i m p l y b e a u t i f u l . " "Our 4 - H ' e r s w o r e u n i f o r m s . T h e b o y s w o r e w h i t e p a n t s a n d w h i t e s h i r t s a n d the g i r l s w o r e g r e e n - s t r i p e d d r e s s e s . W e used t o have more y o u t h p a r t i c i p a t i o n : the young p e o p l e u s e d t o w o r k t o g e t h e r b a c k t h e n . T h e n w h e n t h e f a i r was i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s f e w young people p a r t i c i p a t e d . T h e y s t i l l d o n ' t , " s a i d Mrs. F o r r e s t .

(L) L o u i s F o r r e s t ( s o n o f J a m e s a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t o f Leonardtown), a n d Jean Fenwick ( R ) p o s e d u r i n g 4 - H e v e n t . The 4 - H u n i f o r m s c o n s i s t e d o f w h i t e p a n t s a n d w h i t e s h i r t with g r e e n t i e f o r b o y s a n d g r e e n and w h i t e s t r i p e d d r e s s e s f o r g i r l s . ( P h o t o s c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t Forrest)

"The f i n a n c i n g f o r o u r f a i r w a s p a r t l y f r o m t h e M a r y l a n d A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board. T h e y p a i d f o r r i b b o n s a n d a w a r d s f o r t h e c h i l d r e n . W e , i n t u r n , h a d t o report everything t o the s t a t e f a i r b o a r d : g a t e receipts, f e e f o r r e n t a l o f ground a n d a n y o t h e r money t r a n s a c t i o n s , " r e l a t e d M r s . F o r r e s t . " W e h a d o u r o w n f a i r catalogue and s o l d ads t o pay f o r i t . "

"Our j u d g e s f o r t h e e x h i b i t s w e r e f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d w h o w e r e specialists i n t h e i r a r e a , agronomists, e t c , " s t a t e d J o h n L a n c a s t e r, former County E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d . " I t i s s t i l l d o n e t h e same w a y t o d a y . " "Once t h e b l a c k f a i r w a s i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e w h i t e f a i r , t h e b l a c k s l o s t t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p r o l e s . W e used t o g o o u t a n d g e t o u r own a d s a n d r u n o u r own e x h i b i t s a n d o r g a n i z e e v e r y t h i n g . W e h a d o u r o w n c a t a l o g u e w h i c h was a l o t o f w o r k ; i t t o o k l e a d e r s h i p a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n t o p u t o n e o u t , " s a i d James F o r r e s t . "When F r a n k Guy w e n t o u t o f t h e p r i n t i n g b u s i n e s s , a l l t h e f a i r b o o k s w e r e p u t t o g e t h e r a n d g i v e n t o R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s , w h o i s s t i l l a member o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r B o a r d t o d a y . " " To d a y ' s y o u n g p e o p l e a r e n ' t i n t e r e s t e d m u c h i n 4 - H , " s t a t e d James F o r r e s t . "When I w a s y o u n g , w e r a i s e d c h i c k e n s , h a d t o s e l l t h e e g g s - d o o r t o d o o r . "

L o u i s F o r r e s t ( s o n o f James and H a r r i e t F o r r e s t o f Loveville) poses w i t h t h e 150 chicks h e r a i s e d f o r a 4-H Club p r o j e c t . ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t )

"We h a d p o u l t r y c o n t e s t s a n d y o u c o u l d r e a l l y s e e t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e o n e s t h a t were r a i s e d p r o p e r l y . O u r g o a l w a s t o c o m p e t e a g a i n s t o u r s e l v e s - t o d o a b e t t e r job e a c h y e a r. I f I h a d n ' t been i n 4 - H , I w o u l d n ' t b e where I am t o d a y . I j o i n e d when I was t e n y e a r s o l d . " Lancaster e x p l a i n e d t h a t " t h e c h i l d r e n were t a u g h t p u b l i c speaking, a s w e l l as l i f e s k i l l s i n t h e b l a c k f a i r . T h e 4 - H l e a d e r s w o u l d g o i n t o t h e home a n d teach t h e c h i l d r e n s k i l l s . I t was i m p o r t a n t f o r them t o l e a r n how t o b e o u t i n f r o n t o f t h e p u b l i c . T h e y w o u l d g o o n t r i p s t o Wa s h i n g t o n , h a v e d a n c e c o n t e s t s , e t c . " W e made y o u t h r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s e l f , " s a i d L a n c a s t e r .

"The b l a c k 4 - H ' e r s w o u l d g o f o r a w e e k t o a s t a t e 4 - H Camp e a c h y e a r h e l d a t Princess Ann College o n t h e Eastern Shore. T h e r e a g r o u p p i c t u r e w a s t a k e n o f them i n u n i f o r m . T h e y h a d c l a s s e s e v e r y d a y i n c o o k i n g , s e w i n g , e t c . , " e x p l a i n e d Harriet Forrest. "After integration o f the f a i r s , t h e black participation wasn't there. T h e y c o u l d n ' t compete- - t h e i r f a i r w a s n ' t o f f e r i n g what o u r s was o f f e r i n g , " s a i d M r s . F o r r e s t . " F o r e x a m p l e , I w o u l d g r o w my f l o w e r s i n my y a r d - - n o t i n a h o t h o u s e - why e n t e r m i n e w h e n I c o u l d n ' t c o m p e t e . " L a n c a s t e r r e f l e c t e d , " P u r e b r e d h o g s a r e going t o be above what o u r s w e r e ; t h e y w e r e g i v e n v i t a m i n s and supplements--we d i d n ' t have any purebred hogs."

"They g a v e m y s o n , G e o r g e , o n e h o g ( a s o w ) a n d h e h a d t o r a i s e i t and h e r p i g l e t s f o r a 4 - H P r o j e c t . " ( P h o t o s 1961 c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t )

" W e ' r e n o t b l a m i n g a n y o n e , " s a i d James F o r r e s t , " t h a t ' s j u s t t h e w a y t h i n g s w e r e . A l l t h e l e a d e r s h i p t h e b l a c k s h a d j u s t f e l l a w a y. F r o m t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' s b l a c k s f a d e d a w a y a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d l e s s . T h e n a v a l b a s e came i n , f a r m i n g b e g a n t o d w i n d l e , j o b s became m o r e a v a i l a b l e a n d e v e r y t h i n g h a s c h a n g e d a l o n g w i t h i t . "

The Smell Of Tradition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Southern Maryland Stuffed Ham. by Julie Miles "My g r a n d m o t h e r t o l d m e t h a t s t u f f i n g h a m g o t s t a r t e d t h r o u g h t h e s l a v e people. P e o p l e o n t h e o l d e s t a t e s would t a k e t h e p i g ' s head and j o w l s t h e n s t u f f them w i t h c a b b a g e a n d k a l e . P e o p l e f r o m t h e ' b i g h o u s e s ' w o u l d come d o w n a n d t a s t e t h e s t u f f i n g ; t h e y l i k e d i t s o much t h e y a s k e d t h e s l a v e s t o s t u f f t h e i r hams. M y m o t h e r w o u l d s t u f f f o u r o r f i v e h a m s a t a t i m e f o r d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e . W h i t e f o l k d i d n ' t w a n t t h e i r homes a l l s m e l l e d u p . Y e a r s a g o t h e y w e r e c o o k e d i n an o l d i r o n k e t t l e . M o s t p e o p l e w o u l d make homemade b a g s o f m u s l i n t o c o o k t h e i r hams i n , " s a i d v e t e r a n ham s t u f f e r , M r s . H a r r i e t F o r r e s t . Outside o f b e i n g one o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y ' s most b e n e f i c i a l h i s t o r i a n s , M r s . Forrest constructs a n d submits t h e guidelines f o r t h e judging o f t h e S t . Mary's County F a i r S t u f f e d Ham C o n t e s t . T h e b a s i c p r o c e s s f o r s t u f f i n g a h a m a s s t a t e d by M r s . F o r r e s t d u r i n g a r e c e n t i n t e r v i e w : " Y o u c u t p o c k e t s i n t h e h a m , t h e n s t u f f t h e pockets w i t h f l a v o r e d greens, season i t t o t a s t e , t h e n cook i t . "

S o u t h e r n M a r y l a n d s t u f f e d hams a r e j u d g e d a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r . Ve t e r a n ham s t u f f e r , H a r r i e t F o r r e s t , w h o c o n s t r u c t s a n d submits t h e g u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e j u d g e s s t a n d s a t f a r l e f t .

The c o n t e s t a n t s a r e j u d g e d o n t h r e e b a s i c c r i t e r i a . " F i r s t , t h e hams a r e t o be c u t i n p o c k e t f o r m f o r t h e s t u f f i n g p r o c e d u r e . S e c o n d , t h e c o l o r o f t h e h a m should be l i g h t p i n k . T h i r d and f i n a l l y , t h e s t u f f i n g s h o u l d b e d e e p g r e e n i n c o l o r, n o t a l l k a l e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e - h a l f cabbage, o n e - h a l f k a l e and o n i o n s . " After a l l t h e physical q u a l i f i c a t i o n s have b e e n met, t h e r e a l c o n t e s t begins.

The f i n a l p h a s e o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n i s t h e t a s t e t e s t . J u d g e s i n c l u d i n g M r s . Forrest, a r e from various backgrounds a n d p r o f e s s i o n s f r o m a r o u n d o u r l o c a l region and o t h e r c o u n t i e s . S e a s o n i n g v a r i e s f r o m m i l d t o u n b e a r a b l e , i t a l l depends o n t h e s t u f f e r ' s p r e f e r e n c e a n d a d d e d p r o p o r t i o n s o f r e d p e p p e r . " S o m e c o n t e s t a n t s b r i n g t h e ham r i g h t t o t h e f a i r i n t h e o l d c l o t h , o t h e r s d e c o r a t e t h e ham b e a u t i f u l l y . " Contestants must r e p r e s e n t a s t o r e , r e s t a u r a n t , o r t a v e r n w h e r e t h e k i t c h e n has b e e n e x a m i n e d b y t h e H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t . N o i n d i v i d u a l s t u f f e r s a r e a l l o w e d to p a r t i c i p a t e .

Southern M a r y l a n d s t u f f e d hams l i n e t h e t a b l e s t o b e judged. H a m s a r e donated to t h e S t . M a r y ' s N u r s i n g Center and h a m sandwiches are s o l d d u r i n g t h e f a i r to r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h e institution.

Prizes c o n s i s t o f a l a r g e b l u e r i b b o n f o r t h e f i r s t p l a c e w i n n e r, a s m a l l e r red r i b b o n f o r second p l a c e , a n d a w h i t e r i b b o n f o r t h i r d p l a c e . E a c h w i n n e r receives a p l a q u e t o p l a c e i n t h e s t o r e t h e y represent. A f t e r t h e b a t t l e i s o v e r, a n d v i c t o r y h a s b e e n c l a i m e d , t h e r e m a i n i n g h a m s a r e d o n a t e d t o t h e S t . Mary's N u r s i n g C e n t e r a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s s e l l z e s t y h a m s a n d w i c h e s a s a f u n d r a i s e r t h r o u g h o u t t h e f a i r f e s t i v i t i e s . I n 1 9 8 9 s i x t e e n hams w e r e d o n a t e d .

The Mighty World Of Carousels by Angela Coblentz The m u s i c o f a l u l l a b y c a r e s s e s m e , Welcoming me l i k e t h e a r m s o f a g r a n d m o t h e r, P u l l i n g me t o w a r d s Its h i s t o r y o f gentleness. My f i n g e r s s t i c k y w i t h L e f t o v e r s p i d e r t h r e a d s o f c o t t o n c a n d y, Grasp t h e l e a t h e r s t r a p To " l e a d " m y m i g h t y f r i e n d a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . As h e g a l l o p s a l o n g , m o n o t o n o u s u p a n d d o w n movement, To t h e s o u n d o f o r g a n m u s i c , I s e e s e p a r a t e w o r l d s around me, That o f games, f o o d , v o i c e s a n d p e o p l e . I r i d e above a l l o f t h e s e w o r l d s Master o f a l l I s e e , t o m y s e l f , I l i s t e n t o o t h e r people g i g g l e , And w o n d e r w h y t h e y d o n ' t s h a r e t h e a n c i e n t n e s s o f t h i s w o r l d . I p a t my m i g h t y c r e a t u r e As i t s Movement s l o w s , Melody s l o w i n g w i t h t h e r h y t h m o f o u r b r e a t h i n g - I have conquered t h e mighty w o r l d o f c a r o u s e l s .

Peanuts From Heaven by Clayton Hartley

Each y e a r a m a j o r h i g h l i g h t o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r i s t h e a n n u a l p a r a d e w h e r e many p e o p l e c o m e t o g e t h e r t o c a t c h t h e s p i r i t o f t h e f a i r . Suzanne H e n d e r s o n , f a i r p a r a d e c h a i r p e r s o n , r e c a l l s a p a r a d e i n t h e m i d - 5 0 ' s when a p i l o t f r o m D i x o n s ' a i r p o r t i n P a r k H a l l s e n t a b a r r a g e o f " p e a n u t s f r o m heaven" i n t o t h e c h e e r i n g c r o w d . F o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n f i f t e e n y e a r s t h e 1 9 8 8 f a i r parade boasted l i v e l y music, l a u g h t e r, a n d t h e sound o f marching f e e t i n t h e s t r e e t s o f Leonardtown. T h e parade m a d e i t s w a y f r o m t h e Governmental C e n t e r, past t h e r e v i e w i n g s t a n d and t h e n on t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . Henderson s a i d " b a n d s u s e d t o come f r o m a l l o v e r ; P r i n c e G e o r g e ' s C o u n t y, C a l v e r t C o u n t y, N a v y b a n d s , M a r i n e C o r p s b a n d s a n d s c h o o l b a n d s . I n e a r l y parades 4 - H g r o u p s h a d b e a u t i f u l f l o a t s a n d we h a d a n t i q u e c a r s , c l e a n a n d s h i n y t r a s h t r u c k s , l o c a l f i r e t r u c k s , a n d N a v y a n d M a r i n e C o r p s e x h i b i t s a n d m u c h much more. B u c k B r i s c o e , M r . S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, w o u l d b r i n g d i g n i t a r i e s f r o m t h e White House t o j u d g e t h e f l o a t s . H e w o u l d g e t s e n a t o r s a n d c o n g r e s s m e n f o r example. F u l t o n L o u i s , J r . , t h e f a m o u s n e w s c a s t e r w o u l d c o m e . T h o s e t h a t h e asked u s u a l l y c a m e . A l l f l o a t s h a d t o f o l l o w a t h e m e . I n 1 9 4 8 t h e t h e m e w a s S t . Mary's County Farming: P a s t , P r e s e n t , F u t u r e . " "A h i g h p o i n t i n f a i r h i s t o r y w a s w h e n t h e B u d w e i s e r C l y d e s d a l e s , t a l l , powerful d r a f t horses bred i n t h e Clyde Va l l e y i n Scotland, g r a c e d o u r f a i r one glorious y e a r. P e r h a p s i n t h e f u t u r e , we c a n coax them back t o o u r f a i r once a g a i n , " s t a t e d Suzanne.

( To p ) T h e R i d g e D r u m a n d B u g l e C o r p . m a r c h i n t h e p a r a d e . (Bottom) T h e C h o p t i c o n H i g h S c h o o l Band m a r c h e s f r o m t h e Te c h n i c a l C e n t e r t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s i n 1 9 7 3 .

The S e v e n t h D i s t r i c t b o y s 4 - H f l o a t m o v e s t h r o u g h L e o n a r d t o w n .

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The Fair Parade Never Lacked Variety!

I t Wo u l d n ' t Be a Parade W i t h o u t Bands!

STMARTS COUNTY TECHNICALCENTER

One o f t h e m a n y e x a m p l e s o f t h e d i v e r s i t y o f t h e f a i r . ( 1 9 6 0 )

A Little Bit Of Something For Everyone by Kim Miner, Matthew Olson Entertainment a t t h e f a i r h a s changed o v e r t h e y e a r s l i k e e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . Although t h e b e s t i s d i f f e r e n t , i t s t i l l goes o n . C h u b b y Checker " r o c k e d " young and o l d a l i k e i n t h e 1 9 5 0 ' s a t t h e f a i r a n d G r a n d p a J o n e s g a v e t h e c o u n t r y m u s i c f a n s some " g o o d o l e , ' d o w n home, f o o t s t o m p i n ' e n j o y m e n t . " However, a t t h e e a r l i e s t f a i r s e n t e r t a i n m e n t f o c u s e d l e s s o n a c i r c u s atmosphere a n d m o r e a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s . E v e n t o d a y , t h e c o m p e t i t i o n s f o r the b e s t p r o d u c e a n d / o r l i v e - s t o c k a r e s t i l l v e r y e n t e r t a i n i n g . E v e n t h e f i r s t f a i r i n 1 9 4 7 introduced r i d e s as a r e g u l a r p a r t o f t h e f a i r as evidenced by t h e f e r r i s wheel and carousel. T h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r w i l l never b e s h o r t o f entertainment s i n c e t h e r e i s s u c h a smorgasbord o f a c t i v i t i e s .

Members o f t h e L e o n a r d t o w n P u b l i c a t i o n s C l a s s mug f o r t h e camera w h i l e r i d i n g t h e c a r o u s e l , a f a v o r i t e a t t h e f a i r . L. t o R . B e t h A l t o n , M a t t O l s o n , A n d y S t o n e , C l a y t o n H a r t l e y, Amy Q u i n l a n , a n d K a r e n R a l e y.

Rides a t t r a c t e v e r y o n e f r o m age t w o to e i g h t y - t w o . F r o m a t r a d i t i o n a l pony ride t o t h e incredible Gravitron, t h e r e is something t o a r o u s e e v e r y person's f a n c y. S c r e a m s o f j o y c r y o u t a s contagious l a u g h t e r w o r k s w o n d e r s o n everyone a r o u n d . T h e c a u s e o f t h i s constant j o y s e e m s t o b e i n c r e a s i n g l y evident. " T h e F a i r " i s t h e cause, and everyone, y o u n g o r o l d , l a r g e o r s m a l l , contributes t o the f e e l i n g .

A view of 1988's entertainment T h u r s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , 1 9 8 9 , w a s " Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e D a y " , a n d among t h e amusement o f f e r e d t o f a i r - g o e r s w a s t h e D i x i e R a m b l e r s . T h i s b l u e g r a s s b a n d p l a y e d i n t h e P a v i l i o n a t 6 p m a n d t h e down-home s t y l e p r o v e d t o b e a r e a l c r o w d p l e a s e r. T h a t e v e n i n g , t h e s k y w a s i l l u m i n a t e d w i t h a b a r r a g e o f c o l o r f u l f i r e w o r k s . T h e d i s p l a y r a i s e d e y e s t o t h e s k y a n d d r o p p e d a f e w j a w s among t h e awestruck audience. "A t r e a t o f $ 3 , 3 0 0 f i r e w o r k s w a s p r e sented b y t h e Z a m b e l l i B r o t h e r s o u t o f New C a s t l e , P e n n s y l v a n i a , " s a i d J o h n Richards, f a i r b o a r d p r e s i d e n t . " T h e y built t h e fireworks a n d o u r licensed fireworks e x p e r t , L u t h e r Horne, s e t them off. W e a r e s h a r i n g t h e c o s t w i t h Rosedale C a r n i v a l A t t r a c t i o n s w h o r u n s our f a i r c a r n i v a l . "

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A c a r n i v a l h a s t h r i l l e d f a i r g o e r s a s f a r b a c k a s t h e 1 9 4 7 f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t . S u z a n n e Henderson r e c a l l e d how a M r. J a c k G a l l i g e r and h i s w i f e s e t u p t h e i r c a r n i v a l each year a t t h e f a i r . " M r . G a l l i g e r would s t o r e a l l h i s c a r n i v a l equipment i n V i r g i n i a a n d o n e y e a r h e d i d n ' t h a v e t h e m o n e y t o g e t h i s e q u i p m e n t o u t o f s t o r a g e a n d m y f a t h e r , B a r n a r d S m i t h , a f a i r b o a r d member h i m s e l f , l o a n e d Mr. G a l l i g e r t h e money t o b r i n g t h e e q u i p m e n t t o S t . M a r y ' s . T h e y d i d t h e carnival up u n t i l he d i e d . H e would a d v e r t i s e f o r us, and p u t up posters a l l over S t . M a r y ' s , C a l v e r t , C h a r l e s a n d P r i n c e G e o r g e ' s C o u n t i e s . T h e y a l s o g a v e away t i c k e t s a n d s t u f f e d a n i m a l s t o n e e d y c h i l d r e n . " "Each y e a r w h e n t h e f a i r s e a s o n w a s o v e r , h e w o u l d p a c k u p h i s e q u i p m e n t , g o down t o B e l l M o t o r Company, b u y a n e w c a r a n d g o t o F l o r i d a f o r t h e w i n t e r . T h e y made g o o d money g o i n g f r o m f a i r t o f a i r , " r e c a l l s H e n d e r s o n .

"After t h e G a l l i g e r s , another company c a m e i n - I t h i n k i t w a s Snyder, then w e c o m m i s s i o n e d Rosedale Amusement Company out o f R o s e d a l e , M a r y l a n d , and t h e y a r e s t i l l w i t h us. T h e y come i n , s e t t h e c a r n i v a l u p a n d we g e t a commission o n t h e t i c k e t s a l e s , " Henderson s a i d .

F r i d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 3 w h i c h w a s " S c h o o l D a y " , d r e w s t u d e n t s t o t h e f a i r b y the hundreds. T h e D o u b l e D u t c h R o p e Jumpers p e r f o r m e d w i t h a m a z i n g s k i l l a n d e x p e r t i s e t w i c e d u r i n g t h e d a y, t o t h e d e l i g h t o f t h e i r a u d i e n c e s .

Each y e a r n e w a t t r a c t i o n s a r e a d d e d t o t h e f a i r s u c h a s t h e s e e x p e r t r o p e j u m p e r s f r o m Wa s h i n g t o n , D C . T h e y a r e s e e n h e r e s t r u t t i n g t h e i r "Double-Dutching s t u f f " f o r f a i r g o e r s .

L a t e r, p i n k t u - t u e d c h i l d r e n f r o m t h e N o r m a J e a n S c h o o l o f Dance e x e c u t e d p i r o u e t t e s and arabesques p e r f e c t l y, w h i l e a p u p p e t s h o w p u t o n b y B l u e Sky Puppet T h e a t e r , a m u s e d c h i l d r e n i n t h e P a v i l i o n . T h e D i x i e R a m b l e r s w e r e i n v i t e d back f o r a n e v e n i n g p e r f o r m a n c e , n o d o u b t d u e t o p o p u l a r demand. S a t u r d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 4 w a s " P a r a d e D a y " ; t h e p a r a d e b e g a n l a t e i n t h e morning i n L e o n a r d t o w n a n d w o r k e d i t s w a y down t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . V i e w e r s d i d not seem t o m i n d t h e m i n o r t r a f f i c p r o b l e m s a s t h e y l i n e d t h e s t r e e t t o w i t n e s s a wide v a r i e t y o f f e s t i v e f l o a t s a n d v e h i c l e s a s t h e y p a s s e d . L a t e r i n t h e a f t e r n o o n , t h e A r k a n d Dove Square Dancers p u t o n a c l a s s i c s q u a r e d a n c e r o u t i n e to t h e amusement o f t h e i r v i e w e r s . A t 4 o'clock the Jazzercise "dancers" illustrated t h e simplicity involved i n physical f i t n e s s a n d weight l o s s . Wrapping u p S a t u r d a y ' s a c t i v i t i e s , t h e S t . M a r y ' s A d u l t W i n d E n s e m b l e l u l l e d t h e i r l i s t e n e r s i n t o t r a n q u i l i t y w i t h t h e i r gentle rhythm a n d b e a u t i f u l melodies as t h e f a i r d r i f t e d p e a c e f u l l y i n t o t h e t w i l i g h t .

NOTE: (The 1990 St. Mary's County Fair w i l l feature Cissy Lynn, Loretta Lynn's

daughter, as a highlight. A large turnout is expected to see the Nashville Star.)

M r. a n d M r s . D a l l i s H i l l , members o f t h e A r k a n d Dove s q u a r e dancers show off t h e i r "down-home" costumes. Dallis i s president of t h e organization.

"The f i t t e s t a t t h e f a i r . " T h e s e J a z z e r c i s e d a n c e r s c a n g i v e a t i r i n g demonstration a n d s t i l l manage a s m i l e f o r the camera.

The f a i r w a s c a p p e d o f f o n S u n d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 5 , a s t h e i n c r e d i b l e v o i c e s o f the B l a c k w e l l B r o t h e r s a n d t h e Z i o n M e t h o d i s t Men G o s p e l S i n g e r s e n t i c e d t h e i r listeners w i t h t h e i r musical expertise. After a l l t h e e x h i b i t s w e r e dismantled a n d the l a s t o f the prize-winning l i v e s t o c k was t a k e n b a c k t o t h e f a r m o r t o t h e s l a u g h t e r h o u s e , e v e r y o n e h a d t o come t o g r i p s w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t 1 9 8 8 ' s f a i r w a s o v e r . E v e n t h o u g h t h e y w e r e saddened, a l l l o o k e d f o r w a r d t o w h a t t h e f a i r h e l d i n s t o r e f o r t h e y e a r s t o come.

Carnival workers a r e always on hand i n c a s e o f a b r e a k d o w n . "Ah, c o m e o n ! I t c a n ' t b e t h a t bad!" Leonardtown High S c h o o l s t u d e n t To n y K n o t t p r e p a r e s t o board c a r n i v a l r i d e .

The Lottery Comes To town Mr. Z e r o , t h e l o t t e r y m a s c o t , a c c o m p a n i e d b y c e l e b r i t y p i n g - p o n g b a l l s a n d television personalities, attended t h e Maryland S t a t e L o t t e r y drawing o n September 2 4 , 1 9 8 8 . T h e y managed t o a t t r a c t a l a r g e c r o w d t o s e e t h e " P i c k Three", " P i c k F o u r " l o t t o d r a w i n g s a t t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r g r o u n d s . T h e l o t t o had an estimated a n n u i t y value o f 1 . 2 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s .

--'i-,i,i..:,..• . • .4:1g4:,'i;.:.:.E,••••., :•.:••••.',........ .

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Bike Rodeo!

Top a n d b o t t o m . P a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e b i k e r o d e o w a i t f o r a t u r n t o show t h e i r b i k i n g s k i l l s t o t h e crowd. ( 1 9 8 7 )

L . t o R t . S t u d e n t s W a r r e n W e i s m e r, Sharon H o p k i n s , G l e n L e s k i n e n , W i l l A r i c k , a n d K a r e n McAloon t r y t h e i r l u c k a t o n e o f t h e m a n y games a t the f a i r .

The c l o w n s a r e a favorite w i t h children at t h e f a i r .

Thrills a b o u n d f o r youngsters a t t h e f a i r .

Catching t h a t g r e a s e d p i g a t t h e f a i r i s n e v e r e a s y, b u t i t sure i s f u n . ( 1 9 7 5 )

The W i n s l o w F a m i l y p e r f o r m s a t the f a i r .

The o l d t i m e r s g e t i n t o t h e act a s w e l l . ( 1 9 7 3 )

CASINO.SKYFARK AMUSEMENT PARK P01111

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" T h i s was a f u n c a r w e i g h t e d down i n t h e b a c k ; i t w o u l d r e a r u p a n d g o on i t s b a c k w h e e l s , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c . ( 1 9 6 0 )

A g o - c a r t t r a c k once e x i s t e d o n t h e grounds - now grown u p i n woods. ( 1 9 6 0 p h o t o )

Top. T h e p o l i c e d o g d e m o n s t r a t i o n i s a l w a y s a n e x c i t i n g e v e n t . B o t t o m L . Wheel o f F o r t u n e . R . M e a s u r i n g u p .

Volunteers, Without Them There Would Be No Fair In t h e s p i r i t o f t r u e community s p i r i t , volunteers l i t e r a l l y b u i l t t h e county f a i r f r o m t h e g r o u n d u p . W i t h o u t t h e i r e f f o r t s t h e f a i r a s we k n o w i t today w o u l d n o t e x i s t . N o t o n l y have m a t e r i a l s a n d s u p p l i e s b e e n d o n a t e d and equipment l o a n e d b u t c o u n t l e s s h o u r s o f h a r d w o r k a n d s w e a t h a v e g o n e i n t o e v e r y aspect o f t h e f a i r . T h e f o l l o w i n g a r t i c l e s w h i c h d a t e b a c k t o t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t a n d t h e A l m s H o u s e p r o p e r t y ( n o w k n o w n a s t h e F a i r Grounds) t e l l t h e s t o r y o f v o l u n t e e r i s m a n d i t s r o l e i n o u r f a i r .

R a i n y, m u d d y w e a t h e r a l w a y s p r e s e n t s a p r o b l e m a t t h e f a i r . Vo l u n t e e r s s m o o t h t h e r o a d - 1 9 7 5 .

FRIDAY, J U LY 8, 1949 •

00.-,The- Ye a r I n Advance !

ites on New Fair GroundSelected: esand Entertainment Chairmen ppoint A

-4-474; -.Plans f o r holding the S t M a r y ' s .County..Fair are n o w w e l l und` way. M r. D a n .Davis, Chairman o f t h e B u i l d i n g .Cqmnaittee, announCe.4.1 , at the last meeting o f the board , o f directors ;that the location o f , t b building, sites o f _the n e w f a i r ground h a d been selected and definitelY, _there would b eat least three buildings erected rin t i m e f o r this .;•ear's' fair .f These-buildings w i l l , be used.i.7-TtYrt-theli l s . c t ' the. farm exhibits. , F o r r t h e . , : housrng of the cattle, probabliii4e.ii -"Illawaimi ' tents w i l l . 4 a v e t o be brought back / i n t a ' p l a r o r this season. 3 3 3 3 3

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lousewivse, Farmers, Cattlemen nvited To Exhibit At St. Mary's Fair 'Banquet In Honor Of Sen. Barkley At Lcrcal , Wharf Club. Miss Kitty Bailey To Be Crowned' "Queen Of :Tolerance", A t Seminary d••

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(Special to T h e BEACON) ' "Pick y o u r b e s t preserves o f f ae s h e l f a n d g e t y o u r husband's est tobacco and corn and b r i n g !m to the f a i r " were the words on iany lips this week as the Second nnual: St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r ets u n d e r w a y . R e s i d e n t s o f outhern Maryland, and especially t. M a r y s County, w e r e asked t o xhibit as much as possible and to upport t h e f a i r b y attendance as ften as possible o n S e p t e m b e r From t h e Henry F o w l e r, S r . f i l e s . 7, 18, and 19. (Courtesy Henry F o w l e r, J r . ) Announcements o f e v e n t s t o )me and reminders of deeds to be Crie came f a s t and furious t h i s Week as t h e workers started t h e rection o f shelves, tents and pens t. t h e Camp Calvert site. 99

Lumber Needed

In..order to erect these buildings; naturally materials a're n e e d e d t a • do t h i s . -The m o s t i m p o r t a n t i t e m •being l u m b e r. ; I r v i n g - H e w i t t ' o f H e w i t t L u m b e r C o m p a n y, . C a l l oway, has. generously, consente44df saw, f r e e o f charge, a n y l o g s ' : brought to his m i l l . ."'Many other have 'joined I n t h i s •Worthy..move-: ment t o s t a r t t h e l o g s t r o l l i n g . AmongAmong,there: - . a r e M r s . . . _Susan. Greenwell, M r s . M a u d e G a r d i n e r, Mrs.' M a t t i n g l y G u i a n d . M r s . Frank Hayden. E a c h has- donated 1000-feet ef l i l t r b e r to the c a u s W i t h 'this 4000:feet, .. your County F a i r is' off t o a good start. • •

Volunteers In Action These Clippings From The St. Mary's Beacon Show the Power Of Volunteerism

tikzi New Buildings Highlight Plans For Ste Mary's Fair , Civic groups, merchants and individuals a r e w o r k i n g h a n d -inhand toward the success of the St. Mary's County Fair, Even at this early date, many details o f buildings, entertainment, concessions, etc., have already been ironed out and are ready for operation. "74*- New exhibit buildings w i l l soon be under w a y, w i t h m a n y :local, merchants chipping in wi'h materials for construction. . .. The Leonardtown S a n d a n d Gravel Company and the Leonardtown Concrete Company have donated cement f o r the foundations. H. E . Buckler o f Oraville has a l -

.26

P-1(fci

ready delivered his 1000 feet o f lumber to the saw mill. Bradfcird Reeves o f Chaptica, assisted b y Mrs. Susan- Greenwell, i s soliciting lumber i n t h e upper p a r t o f the county, while Robert A . Stevens h a s been designated f o r the lower section. , Among the new attractions to be offered a t the F a i r is a Marathon sponsored b y t h e Little Theatre Group. M r s . Nancy Robinson reports that this will highlight Saturday's entertainment. Many concessions a n d 11/11118eâ&#x20AC;˘ments will be added t o the, 1949 agenda. J o h n Gardiner i s i n charge o f arrangements f o r .con.cessions as well as special exhibits of farm machinery, electrical appliances, furniture a n d similar The Soroptomist Club will be responsible f o r running the gapes and Dickie Duke will again take on the job of supplying food. O f course, the Leanardtown Volunteer Firemen will be there with a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other amusement devices.

Volfinteer-Labor' Needed To Erect V4it Buildings The sills f o r the buildings to be used a t t h e F a i r a r e now being laid, thus setting the stage for the coiCstruction. Actual erection of the buildings . w i l l b e g i n n e x t week. Si:nce the F a i r Js a non-profit or. g nization and has small amounts af money, the most of. this *building vkll have to be done with volunteer labor. So all of you who can weild a shammer an.d pull a saw come on 'old 'and 'give ,a days' work to your St. Mary's County Fair. For information-as to the time, you may get in touch w i t h ' M r . Dan Davis of Chaptico or. Mr. Irving H e w i t t o f Calloway. .

The plea f o r lumber h a s met with good response. Among the latest donors a r e M r s . Pearl Boyd, Mr. Guy Herbert, M r . Nick Hall, Mr. Sprigg Reeves, M r s . 'Mary Reeves, a n d Mr. Harry Moreland. Also M r s . Claude Guy a n d Zach Fowler have donated nails. v---The- printers- of- this_yeaes Fair Catalogslia,Ve completed the books.

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Top. L . V e t e r a n F a i r B o a r d Member R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s ; To p R . F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t John R i c h a r d s ; ( c e n t e r ) F a i r S e c r e t a r y , M a r y P f e i f f ; R . B i l l H o l l e y , V e t e r a n F a i r Board M e m b e r . B o t t o m : J a m e s O w e n s ( P a s t F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t ) t a l k s t o P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s f r o m Leonardtown H i g h School a s t h e y r e s e a r c h f a i r h i s t o r y .

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Top. H e n r y F o w l e r , S r . o f f i c i a t e s a t t h e h o r s e s h o w - - o n e o f h i s many d u t i e s a t t h e C o u n t y F a i r .

L. t o R . P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s , B r i a n N e v a l a , S h a r o n Dunn; MaGuire M a t t i n g l y ; E l w o o d C u s i c ; T i n a W e l a n d e r, S w e d i s h foreign exchange student on the P u b l i c a t i o n s s t a f f ; a n d B i l l H o l l e y.

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Volunteers In Action L. C l y t h e n e H a l l i s presented a w i n n i n g r i b b o n by K a r i n e I n g e r s o l i n 1975. T o p . R . B e r n a r d Johnson, S p e e c h C o n t e s t Chairperson, o f f i c i a t e s the c o n t e s t e a c h y e a r.

Bottom L . t o R . B u c k B r i s c o e , J a m e s O w e n s (Fair B o a r d P r e s i d e n t 1 9 7 9 - 8 1 ) , a n d G l e n n Wood ( F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t 1 9 7 1 - 7 4 ) . Bottom R . J a m e s F o r r e s t ( V e t e r a n F a i r Board M e m b e r a n d P a s t P r e s i d e n t o f S t . Mary's County's B l a c k F a i r b e f o r e i n t e g r a t i o n .

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It's Friday And School's Out! Yipee, Let's Go To The Fair. Every f a i r F r i d a y d a t i n g a l l t h e w a y b a c k t o t h e f i r s t f a i r h e l d C a l v e r t i n 1947 i s " K i d ' s D a y. " S t u d e n t s w e r e a d m i t t e d f r e e o f c h a r g e f i r s t f a i r a l s o a c c o r d i n g t o The S t . M a r y ' s Beacon newspaper: " S t u d e n t s admitted f r e e o f charge o n F r i d a y. C h a r g e s f o r admission a f t e r t h a t w i l cents f o r t h o s e u n d e r t w e l v e a n d 5 0 c e n t s f o r a d u l t s . "

a t Camp at that w i l l be l be 25

Not o n l y d o t h e s t u d e n t s come t o t h e f a i r b u t t h e i r t e a c h e r s , p r i n c i p a l s , and t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f s c h o o l s . I n t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s , h o w e v e r , t e a c h e r s a r e not p e r m i t t e d t h e d a y o f f a s s t u d e n t s a r e . T h e y must r e p o r t t o w o r k a s u s u a l . For t h e s t u d e n t s , f a i r F r i d a y i s f i l l e d w i t h e x c i t i n g r i d s a n d t a s t y t r e a t s a s well as e x h i b i t s and animal a n t i c s .

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Impressions Of The Children by Tina Welander

Every y e a r , t h e p r i n c i p a l s o f S t . M a r y ' s elementary and s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s r e c e i v e a n invitation f o r t h e i r school t o e n t e r t h e County F a i r . The e x h i b i t s a r e d i v i d e d i n t o t w o d i v i s i o n s , elementary and s e c o n d a r y. E a c h d i v i s i o n has different categories w i t h s e v e r a l l e v e l s . Children i n p r e k i n d e r g a r t e n t o f i f t h g r a d e show t h e i r t a l e n t s i n s c i e n c e , s o c i a l s t u d i e s , language a r t s , m a t h e m a t i c s , m u s i c , a n d a r t . Sixth g r a d e s t u d e n t s t o high school seniors enter t h e i r w o r k i n a r t , h o m e e c o n o m i c s , horticulture, m e t a l shop, music, p r i n t i n g , science f a i r p r o j e c t s , s c u l p t u r e , woodshop, and c o m p u t e r p r i n t o u t s . The C o u n t y S u p e r v i s o r s a r e i n c h a r g e o f t h e exhibits, b u t each i n d i v i d u a l s c h o o l h a s t o take c a r e o f i t s own d i s p l a y s . T o f e a t u r e t h e various p r o g r a m s w i t h w h i c h t h e school has been i n v o l v e d , s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s c a n s e t u p a booth t h a t w i l l n o t b e j u d g e d . E v e r y p u b l i c school i n t h e c o u n t y a s w e l l a s p a r o c h i a l schools e n t e r t h e f a i r .

L. Dwight Chakales, Principal of Leonardtown High School and R. Linda Patton, Supervisor of Art and Music.

See previous page â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Top L . L e o n a r d t o w n M i d d l e S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l , George K i r b y ; T o p R t . , R e t i r e d p r i n c i p a l Francis Bodine ( L ) a n d P a s t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t of S c h o o l s , M a r v i n J o y ( R ) ; L e f t C e n t e r , Chopticon H i g h S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l , S t e v e O l z a k ; Bottom l e f t , L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h S c h o o l M e d i a Specialist B r u c e Perrygo and h i s w i f e Linda, who i s C h o p t i c o n H i g h S c h o o l ' s M e d i a Specialist; i n b o o t h , v o l u n t e e r s m a n n i n g booth; f a r r i g h t , Nathan Perrygo and f r i e n d . Bottom R . D r . S a l v a t o r e R a s p a , S u p e r v i s o r of I n s t r u c t i o n f o r Science, S t . M a r y ' s County P u b l i c S c h o o l s ( L ) We n d y S t i c k e l w i t h w i n n i n g Aberdeen A n g u s .

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Art, language a r t s , a n d science f a i r p r o j e c t s a r e the c a t e g o r i e s w i t h t h e most e n t r i e s . J u d g e s o f these e x h i b i t s i n c l u d e experts o n a r t a n d E n g l i s h a n d o f t e n members of t h e r e t i r e d t e a c h e r s association. F i r s t place i n each c a t e gory a t e a c h l e v e l g e t s a blue r i b b o n ; second p l a c e red; t h i r d p l a c e , w h i t e ; and a l l p a r t i c i p a n t s a r e given r e c o g n i t i o n .

To p . L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h School A r t i s t S h a r o n Dunn puts f i n i s h i n g t o u c h e s o n her d r a w i n g .

Bottom and o p p o s i t e p a g e : Students g e t a c h a n c e t o see t h e i r w o r k e x h i b i t e d at t h e f a i r .

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11CI N DE RGA T E NI

Students f r o m a l l g r a d e l e v e l s a r e encouraged t o e n t e r t h e i r work a t t h e f a i r .

LANGUAGE ARTS

LETTER C O M P O S I T I O N

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Shaky Knees And Butterflies In The Stomach (The Speech Contest) Imagine b e i n g i n a c r o w d e d a u d i t o r i u m o n a w a r m September a f t e r n o o n , s t a n d i n g o n a s t a g e , c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n r e c i t i n g a s e l f -composed s p e e c h . Experience t h e f l u t t e r i n g s t o m a c h , w o b b l y knees, a n d s h a k y v o i c e , a n d p i c t u r e being " t a c k l e d " d u r i n g y o u r speech as a young b o y , sneaks u p f r o m t h e audience and g r a b s y o u r k n e e s . T h i s a c t u a l l y d i d h a p p e n t o someone a c c o r d i n g t o M r . Bernard Johnson, C h a i r m a n o f t h e f a i r s ' s p e e c h c o n t e s t s i n c e t h e 5 0 ' s . In 1954, t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r Board decided t o h o l d an a n n u a l speech contest f o r s c h o o l age c h i l d r e n i n t h e upper grades. I n 1955, Bernard Johnson took o v e r a s Speech C o n t e s t C o o r d i n a t o r and has " r u n t h e s h o w " e v e r s i n c e . I n the f i r s t y e a r , t h e c o n t e s t was h e l d o u t d o o r s , a n d t h e o n l y t h i n g s e p a r a t i n g t h e s t a g e f r o m t h e a u d i e n c e w a s a r o p e . T h a t i s h o w t h e y o u n g man w a s a b l e t o r e a c h the s p e a k e r . M r. J o h n s o n i n s u r e d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e n o r e c u r r e n c e o f s u c h i n c i d e n t s b y having l o c a l h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s a c t a s guards d u r i n g t h e c o n t e s t . T h e r e have been n o m o r e s i m i l a r i n c i d e n t s i n t h e c o n t e s t s i n c e i t s o r i g i n . N o w t h e c o n t e s t i s h e l d i n a p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n n e r. "The s p e e c h c o n t e s t i s d i v i d e d i n t o t w o sections, t h e S e n i o r d i v i s i o n f o r high school students, and t h e J u n i o r d i v i s i o n f o r middle school s t u d e n t s , " s t a t e d J o h n s o n . " E a c h county s c h o o l s e l e c t s o n e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f o r the c o n t e s t , a n d awards a r e g i v e n t o t h e t h r e e top s c o r i n g s p e a k e r s i n b o t h d i v i s i o n s , a n d a n honorable m e n t i o n i s g i v e n t o t h e l a s t p e r s o n in the Senior d i v i s i o n s i n c e t h e r e a r e only four schools a n d therefore o n l y f o u r students on s t a g e f o r t h a t g r o u p . " H o n o r a b l e m e n t i o n , according t o M r . J o h n s o n , i s a commendation f o r t h e h a r d w o r k o f t h e s t u d e n t , a n d a way t o show t h e s t u d e n t t h a t h e / s h e h a s b e e n recognized f o r a c h i e v e m e n t a n d f o r s t a n d i n g alone o n t h a t s t a g e i n p a r t i c i p a t i o n . The S p e e c h C o n t e s t h a s a l m o s t a l w a y s b e e n an " o p e n t o p i c " e v e n t . S t u d e n t s h a v e presented o r a t i o n s o n s u b j e c t s v a r y i n g f r o m world e v e n t s a n d p o l i t i c s t o r e l i g i o n , personal e x p e r i e n c e s , i n t e g r a t i o n , a n d abortion. A c c o r d i n g t o M r . J o h n s o n , " t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a p r o b l e m w i t h t h e s p e e c h e s given, t h e r e h a s never b e e n t o o s t r o n g o f a need f o r l o c a l t e a c h e r s t o c e n s o r t h e s t u d e n t ' s speeches a l t h o u g h i t i s suggested that teachers r e a d student speeches and give guidance when needed. I h a v e b e e n i m p r e s s e d by t h e s e n s i b i l i t y w i t h w h i c h s u c h d i f f i c u l t subject m a t t e r has been presented."

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L. B e r n a r d J o h n s o n l i s t e n s a s Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e , J e n n i f e r Kirby speaks t o t h e audience.

One p a r t i c u l a r y e a r , t h e s p e e c h e s w e r e t o b e g i v e n o n a n a s s i g n e d t o p i c f o r a s p e c i a l 3 5 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y s p e c i a l f o r t h e c o u n t y. M r . J o h n s o n s a i d , " e v e n though I p r e f e r t h e c o n t e s t t o b e a n o p e n t o p i c e v e n t i n o r d e r t o p r o m o t e o r i g i n a l i t y and t o s p a r k i n t e r e s t , I f e l t t h e 3 5 0 t h theme was a s u i t a b l e t r i b u t e to t h e c o u n t y a n d was p r o u d o f t h e s t u d e n t s f o r a l l o f t h e r e s e a r c h i n v o l v e d a n d the c r e a t i v i t y a n d i n d i v i d u a l i t y e a c h speech emanated.

Top R . B e r n a r d J o h n s o n o f f i c i a t e s a t a speech c o n t e s t ( i n t h e 7 0 ' s ) i n t h e auditorium o f t h e fairgrounds. Bottom: P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s A n g e l a Coblentz a n d L i s a G r e e r g e t t h e h i s t o r y behind t h e speech c o n t e s t .

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Speeches a r e j u d g e d o n t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n , d e l i v e r y , o r g a n i z a t i o n o f m a t e r i a l , knowledge o f t h e s u b j e c t , s u i t a b i l i t y o f t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r , a n d o n o r i g i n a l i t y . A l l speeches a r e w r i t t e n e n t i r e l y b y t h e s t u d e n t s , w i t h o n l y r e v i s i o n h e l p f r o m t h e i r s c h o o l i n s t r u c t o r s , a n d each speech i s between t h r e e and f i v e m i n u t e s i n length.

Below: T h e w i n n i n g 1 9 8 9 s p e e c h a s i t a p p e a r e d i n t h e E n t e r p r i s e n e w s p a p e r. M i c h a e l B o n d s w a s a s e n i o r a t L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h S c h o o l at t h e t i m e h i s speech was g i v e n .

Se/V, / 9 7 9

My Speech, Our Flag By J. MICHAEL BONDS This is my speech. This is my pen. These are my words. These are my ideas. This is my life...and I'm not afraid. I lie comfortably in bed listening to the hum of my little brother's fan in the next room. I am trying to think of how I can express myself to you, how I will give this speech, how you will react.. and I look out my window into the darkness knowing that after this speech no one will break in, punish me or kill me because of what I say. In this country I can use my ideas, in this country I can use my words, in t h i s c o u n t r y I c a n use m y thoughts. I can express myself to you in any way I feel. I can even burn the American flag.. .but I never would. My right to say this to you is in that flag, your right to hear this is in that flag, and our rights to talk about rights are i n that flag. I bet m y grandfather never fought in World War II so his grandson could stand up here at a county fair and talk about burning his flag. Thank you,

Grandpop, for giving me this freedom. My dad and I disagree on a lot of things. Once we were arguing over an issue. My dad said to me, " I f you don't like it, then get the hell out!" I bet that's what Hitler told the Jews. That's a great thing about this country; if Ite don't like what we're being told tnen we don't have to listen. They ,:an't burn flags in China. They dor 't have the right to disagree. L i July thousands of dead corpses of young men and women my age rotted around Tiananmen Square. Well thank God we can burn flags here! Have you noticed it's the fascist, terroristic, totalitarian nations that kill people for expressing their beliefs? Is that the fate of America--today a flag, which is a symbol; tomorrow books, which arewords; then maybe lives, for we speak the words which create the symbols. Two hundred thirteen years ago we burnt our flag, unashamed and openly we set our nation's flag on fire. It's a good thing ,Great Britain couldn't stop it or we'd still be a part of them. I wonder why they were fightingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; to protect their ideas or to allow us to have our own? I'm sure they didn't

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fight for me; my family didn't make it over on the boat until the 1800s. But why was everyone fighting for or immigrating to this land? Freedom, the freedom millions of American men and women died for to preserve, the men and women who saw World War I, who heard Hitler's words, who fought in Korea and still cry for Vietnam. I thank them for this freedom. For me, a 17-year-old boy in St. Mary's County to stand here and share my beliefs to you about burning flags. Not that it's right, not that it's wrong.. .but it's m y freedom, o u r freedom. Yours and mine. When I see the American flag I salute. Not because I'm forced to, but it's my choice to proudly do so. I know after this speech, tonight, when I'm lying in bed comfortably, listening to The hum o f m y little brother's fan, I'll look out into the darkness knowing that no one will break in and punish me or kill me because of my beliefs. Because this is America, people don't get killed for their beliefs. ..right? These are my ideas, these are my words, this is my pen, this is my speech...and this is our flag. (J. Michael Bonds is a 12th-grader at Leonardtown High School.)

Top: C h o p t i c o n H i g h School band d i r e c t o r , D a r w i n E n g l e , c o n d u c t s his s t u d e n t s i n t h e a u d i t o r i u m a t t h e f a i r . ( m i d - 1 9 6 0 ' s ) Bottom: G e r a l d C o n j e l k o , Esperanza M i d d l e School b a n d d i r e c t o r and h i s s t u d e n t s have a n a t t e n t i v e audience a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r .

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Babies, Babies And More Babies

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Ruffles And Smiles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Baby Contest by Tina Welander (Swedish Foreign Exchange Student) A l i t t l e g i r l i n a white dress, t i r e d o f waiting f o r her turn r o l l s i n the d i r t o n t h e f l o o r . H e r mom p u l l s h e r u p , b r u s h e s t h e d i r t o f f h e r d r e s s a n d s h e gets j u d g e d . Another l i t t l e g i r l , h o l d i n g a h e l i u m b a l l o o n , l o s e s h e r g r i p o n i t and i t f l i e s u p t o t h e c e i l i n g , c a u s i n g a t r a n s f o r m e r t o b r e a k . A f t e r more t h a n a n h o u r of w a i t i n g i n t h e d a r k , t h e c o n t e s t c a n go o n . Ye s , y o u ' r e r i g h t . I ' m t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e b a b y s h o w. T h e b a b y s h o w i s presented o n Sundays i n t h e a u d i t o r i u m o n t h e F a i r g r o u n d s . T h e b a b i e s a r e j u d g e d on n e a t n e s s , b e a u t y , g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e , a n d p e r s o n a l i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o M r s . Nancy W o l f e , i n c h a r g e o f t h e s h o w , t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y s h o w s i n " c u t e - a c t i n g " - like f l i r t i n g w i t h the judges.

Boys c o m p e t e a g a i n s t b o y s , a n d g i r l s against g i r l s , i n 6 d i f f e r e n t categories. 0-6 m o n t h s ; 6 m o n t h s - 1 y e a r ; 1 - 2 y e a r s ; 2-3 y e a r s ; 3 - 4 y e a r s ; a n d 4 - 5 y e a r s . Twins a r e i n a s e p a r a t e c a t e g o r y . Three t o f i v e j u d g e s c h o o s e t h e w i n n e r. T h e y m u s t c o m e f r o m o u t o f c o u n t y, s o t h e y a r e n o t l i k e l y t o k n o w the b a b i e s i n t h e c o n t e s t . T h e j o b i s v o l u n t a r y , b u t i f t h e y come a l o n g w a y they g e t a m i l e a g e reimbursement. The n e a t e s t , m o s t b e a u t i f u l b a b y with t h e b e s t p e r s o n a l i t y, gets a blue ribbon, $ 5 , and a t r o p h y . N u m b e r two gets a r e d r i b b o n a n d $ 3 , a n d number three g e t s a w h i t e r i b b o n a n d $ 2 . Beginning t h i s y e a r , a l l p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l g e t an honorable mention. The V e n t u r e C l u b w a s t h e f i r s t sponsor o f t h e B a b y S h o w , t h e n t h e Catholic D a u g h t e r s t o o k o v e r --1982 was t h e i r l a s t y e a r . T h e F a i r Board t o o k o v e r i n 1 9 8 3 , t h a t y e a r t h e B a b y Show h a d Brandywine G r a n g e h a s 90 e n t r i e s . show s i n c e 1 9 8 5 . sponsored t h e made b y m a i l i n a d v a n c e , Registration i s The e n t r y f e e i s o n e or a t t h e F a i r . d o l l a r.

114

Deciding w h i c h baby i s cutest i s n o t a l l t h a t easy w h e n t h e y ' r e " a l l " cute.

During t h e 1 9 8 8 f a i r , 3 2 0 e n t r i e s were r e g i s t e r e d , t h e most c o n t e s t a n t s e v e r. A b o u t 98% o f t h e b a b i e s a r e w h i t e b a b i e s . S a i d G l a d y s H i l l L o n g , a f o r m e r c o n t e s t a n t o f t h e 1 9 4 9 b a b y s h o w, " I r e m e m b e r g e t t i n g m y f i r s t n e w d r e s s b e c a u s e , coming f r o m a f a m i l y o f 1 4 , w e d i d n ' t g e t b e a u t i f u l , f r i l l y , n e w d r e s s e s v e r y o f t e n . " S h e r e m e m b e r e d , " . . . t h e y t o l d me t o s h o w my k n e e s a n d I d i d . F o r m e , being i n t h a t c o n t e s t was a b i g d e a l ! " A f t e r 4 1 y e a r s , a p e r s o n c a n s t i l l remember b e i n g a t h r e e - y e a r - o l d c o n t e s t a n t i n t h e i r f i r s t b e a u t i f y p a g e a n t . T h e baby s h o w i s a w o n d e r f u l o p p o r t u n i t y f o r b a b y - l o v e r s t o g o a n d c o o a t n e r v o u s c h i l d r e n o u t t o make a n i m p r e s s i o n a s t h e c u t e s t k i d i n t h e c o u n t y .

115

Babies At The Fair by Tina Welander S m a l l human b e i n g s r u n n i n g a r o u n d To g e t h e r m a k i n g a l o u d h a p p y s o u n d . Mothers a n x i o u s l y l o o k i n g a t t h e c l o c k Only t o g e t a n u n p l e a s a n t s h o c k . Trying t o f i n d t h e i r dressed-up d a r l i n g s They l o o k a r o u n d u n t i l t h e b e l l c h i m e s Chaos a b a t e s a s m a n y l e a v e Some t o h a v e f u n , o t h e r s t o a c h i e v e . Many w i l l l o s e , o n l y o n e w i l l w i n , Honor a n d G l o r y , b l u e a n d g o l d o n a p i n .

Winners s h o w t h e i r s t u f f i n t h e f a i r ' s B a b y C o n t e s t .

116

No m a t t e r w h a t t h e a g e , b a b i e s a r e a l w a y s a f a v o r i t e w h e t h e r t h e y w i n a ribbon o r not. T h e y ' r e a l l winners!

117

00*

118

A Time Capsule Unlocked â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Farm Museum â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by Clayton Hartley

A n c i e n t p l o w s , d e c a y e d m a c h i n e r y, a n d d u s t y b a b y d o l l s w i t h c r a c k e d b l u e eyes a r e a l l a r t i f a c t s t o b e f o u n d i n t h e " F a r m Museum". T h e museum i s f o u n d o n the c o u n t y f a i r g r o u n d s a n d h o l d s many m e m o r i e s f o r t h e r e s p e c t e d e l d e r s o f o u r area. M a n y , many p e o p l e e n t e r t h e b u i l d i n g a n d a r e t r a n s p o r t e d t o y e s t e r - y e a r when t h i n g s w e r e s i m p l e r a n d e a s i e r t o u n d e r s t a n d . T h e p a s t i s n i c e t o v i s i t a n d f u n t o remember f o r a l l o f u s .

The F a r m M u s e u m i s operated b y t h e S t . M a r y ' s Historical S o c i e t y. T h e collection o f a r t i f a c t s w a s o r i g i n a l l y brought t o g e t h e r by Aloysius F e n w i c k . W i t h t h e help and d e d i c a t i o n o f Norvey Greenwood a n d C o l . T h u r s t o n B a x t e r, w h o p i l f e r e d t h r o u g h many a b a r n i n Southern Maryland, t h e c o l l e c t i o n h a s grown t o b e w h a t i t i s t o d a y . The museum i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o everyone i n t h e c o u n t y, a f t e r a l l we a l l w a n t t o know where we came f r o m .

119

120

Fair Catalog: Insight Into Events To Come "We w o u l d s i t f o r d a y s a d d r e s s i n g e n v e l o p e s ; m y l i v i n g r o o m w a s c o v e r e d w i t h books, e n v e l o p e s , e t c . W e u s e d t o m a i l t h e m t o p e o p l e i n t h o s e d a y s a f t e r t h e y were p r i n t e d . W e w o u l d p r e - s o r t t h e m a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t a r e a i n t h e c o u n t y t h e y would g o t o , t h e n t i e t h e m i n t o b u n d l e s a n d t a k e t h e m t o t h e p o s t o f f i c e i n b o x e s t o m a i l , " s a i d S u z a n n e H e n d e r s o n , v e t e r a n f a i r b o a r d member. " T h e c a t a l o g s h a d to b e o u t t o t h e p u b l i c s i x weeks p r i o r t o t h e f a i r . " "Each y e a r a g r o u p o r o r g a n i z a t i o n w o u l d t a k e c h a r g e o f t h e c a t a l o g . T h e y would b e i n c h a r g e o f s o l i c i t i n g a d s f r o m l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s a n d t h a t was t h e i r only r e s p o n s i b i l i t y. V a r i o u s p r i n t e r s would t h e n b i d o n t h e j o b . D o i n g t h e catalog became a n i m p o s s i b l e t a s k w h i c h w a s e v e n t u a l l y t a k e n o v e r b y t h e E n t e r p r i s e . T h e y s o l i c i t t h e a d s , make i t u p , a n d p r i n t i t a t n o c o s t t o t h e f a i r b o a r d . T h e y h a v e b e e n d o i n g t h e c a t a l o g f o r a b o u t f i v e y e a r s n o w. I d i d the f a i r b o o k ( c a t a l o g ) f o r 1 0 - 1 2 y e a r s f r o m t h e m i d - 1 9 5 0 ' s t o t h e m i d - 1 9 6 0 ' s . We w o u l d t h e n p u t t h e m i n g r o c e r y s t o r e s , b a n k s , a n d o t h e r p l a c e s w h e r e p e o p l e were l i k e l y t o v i s i t o f t e n . T h e y w e r e s t i l l m a i l e d t o s t a t e o f f i c i a l s , a n d 4 - H leaders w o u l d d i s t r i b u t e t h e m t o 4 - H g r o u p s . A t o n e t i m e anyone who e n t e r e d a f a i r e x h i b i t would g e t a c a t a l o g ; t h a t ' s how w e g o t o u r m a i l i n g l i s t , " s t a t e d Henderson. "A man o n t h e E a s t e r n S h o r e i n D e n t o n , M a r y l a n d , n a m e d C h a r l e s ' D o c ' B a k e r printed t h e book f o r years, never m i s s i n g a d e a d l i n e . I h a v e s e e n my f a t h e r , B a r n a r d S m i t h , f l y o v e r , p r o o f t h e b o o k , t h e n f l y b a c k . F r a n k Guy p r i n t e d t h e f a i r b o o k b a c k i n t h e e a r l y 5 0 ' s . H e t y p e s e t i t b y h a n d a n d d i d some o f t h e freehand w o r k . I t e v e n t u a l l y g o t t o o b i g f o r h i m . W h e n we s t a r t e d g e t t i n g 2 , 5 0 0 copies, i t was t o o l a r g e a n o r d e r f o r h i m , " r e m i n i s c e d H e n d e r s o n . S h e a l s o remarked t h a t t h e c o v e r d e s i g n i s s e l e c t e d f r o m a r t w o r k s u b m i t t e d b y t h e a r e a schools. T h e f i r s t p l a c e w i n n i n g e n t r y goes o n t h e c o v e r , second p l a c e goes o n t h e f l y e r a n d u s u a l l y t h e t h i r d p l a c e e n t r y g o e s i n t h e b o o k somewhere. "People have t a k e n t u r n s s i n c e Henderson s t o p p e d d o i n g t h e c a t a l o g i n t h e mid- 6 0 ' s , " s a i d R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s , c u r r e n t f a i r b o a r d R e c o r d i n g S e c r e t a r y . " I d i d i t a t o n e t i m e w i t h Te r e s a S t e r l i n g a n d L i b H o f f a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r f a i r b o a r d members h a v e t a k e n t u r n s d o i n g t h e c a t a l o g . " A c c o r d i n g t o A n n R i c h a r d s w h o s e husband i s t h e c u r r e n t f a i r b o a r d P r e s i d e n t a n d w h o i s n o w i n c h a r g e o f t h e c a t a l o g s " s i n c e t h e E n t e r p r i s e d o e s t h e c a t a l o g f o r u s , a l l we d o i s s e n d i n a n y changes t h a t a r e t o b e m a d e i n t h e v a r i o u s c a t e g o r i e s . I c h e c k w i t h t h e committee c h a i r p e o p l e t o s e e w h a t a d d i t i o n s o r d e l e t i o n s m u s t b e m a d e , p r o o f t h e f i n a l , a n d a p p r o v e f o r p r i n t i n g . " T h e same p r o c e s s w a s u s e d i n t h e m i d - 1 9 7 0 ' s according t o S h i r l e y C o l l e a r y, who c h a i r e d t h e c a t a l o g i n 1974 o r 5 t h r o u g h 1978. "The c a t a l o g a t t h a t t i m e w a s 5 " x 8 " , s a i d C o l l e a r y . "A f e w p e o p l e i n t h e c o u n t y h a v e c o m p l e t e s e t s o f f a i r c a t a l o g s . S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r , S r . h a d a c o m p l e t e s e t , a s d o e s E l w o o d C u s i c , " s a i d H e n d e r s o n . "Rayetta McWilliams h a s a complete s e t except f o r t h e y e a r 1963. S h e would v e r y much l i k e t o c o m p l e t e t h e s e t . P e r h a p s s o m e o n e o u t t h e r e r e a d i n g t h i s w i l l contact h e r.

The following pages contain copies of a complete set of fair catalog covers supplied to us by Henry Fowler, Jr. and catalog covers from the Black Fair before integration belonging to James Forrest, current fair board member.

121

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St. Mary's County Fair September 26. or, 28. 29,1529

St. Mary's County Fair St. Mary's County Fair

St. Mary's County Fair S t . Mary's County Fair m Septeber 2 5 , 2 8 , 2 7 , 2 8 /976

Septembe: 25. 25. 24.27

Sept. 27, 28. 29, 30. 1984

Sept 2 2 , 2 3 . 2 4 . 2 5 . 1 9 8 3

1988 St. Mary's County F a i r September 22 23, 24, 25 N M : E l

St. Mary's County Fair 1989

September 20, 21, 22, 23

St. Mary's County Fair

1990

September 21, 22, 23, 24

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FIRST ANNUAL

SAINT MARY'S COUNTY

FAIR

Second Annual

Third Annual

SHN II FAIR

L E O N A R D TO W N , M D .

SEPTEMBER19, 20, 21, 1947

ST.MARYS ' COUNTY

FOURTH 'ANNUAL

FIFTHANNUAL

SIXTHANNUAL

St. Mary's County St.Mary's County

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Leonardtown, Maryland

LEONARDTOWN,MD.

Leona:drown, Maryland

September17,18,19

September23 -24 - 25 1949

1948

LEONARDTOWN,MD.

September21, 22, 23

1951

SEVENTHANNUAL

September19, 20, 21

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1952

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September 16, 17, 1 9 6 0 LEONARDTOWN

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The Black Fair was held on the fairgrounds one week after the white fair until integration in 60s. The Black Fair was first held on the grounds of the Cardinal Gibbons High School then it was moved to Loveville and eventually to the current fairgrounds. (See article pages 66 - 70) Fair catalog covers courtesy James Forrest, fair board member.

124

Quilting: A n Ancient Art by Kim Miner The homemaker o f y e s t e r y e a r h a d t o b e a v e r y r e s o u r c e f u l p e r s o n . H e r d u t i e s included r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n , g r o w i n g a garden, c a n n i n g f o o d , c l e a n i n g house and cooking meals. S h e a l s o had t o h e l p h e r husband o n t h e f a r m , s e w t h e f a m i l y ' s clothing, curtains, and f u r n i t u r e covers. Winters c o u l d be b i t t e r i n Southern M a r y l a n d , s o q u i l t s were m a d e t o h o l d the w a r m t h o n c o l d w i n t e r n i g h t s . Q u i l t i n g bees we re h e l d o f t e n t o g a t h e r neighboring farm wives t o g e t h e r so t h a t t h e tiresome t a s k might go f a s t e r. T h i s was a t i m e o f s o c i a l i z a t i o n a s w e l l a s a t i m e f o r w o r k f o r women c o u l d c a t c h u p on t h e l a t e s t n e w s d u r i n g t h e s e g a t h e r i n g s . Louise Dean, H o m e A r t s C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n , i s i n c h a r g e o f t h e F a i r b u i l d i n g . T h i s h a r b o r s t h e needlework, s e w i n g , a n d baked and canned goods.

"Baked g o o d s a n d some c a n n e d g o o d s s u c h a s p i c k l e s a r e tasted. P i c k l e s f o r example m u s t be f i r m and c r i s p . Canned g o o d s a r e j u d g e d o n l o o k s , u n i f o r m i t y , c o l o r , h o w the p i e c e s a r e c u t ( r i g h t s i z e ) , w h e t h e r t h e j a r i s f i l l e d t o t h e r i g h t a m o u n t , t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e produce t h a t w e n t i n t o t h e j a r , e t c . , " s a i d M r s . D e a n Home A r t s Committee C h a i r p e r s o n .

125

Sewing and Baking

"We t a s t e a l l t h e b a k e d g o o d s . T h e contestants can then t a k e t h e m home o r take 1 / 2 home. M a n y j u s t l e a v e t h e m there w h o l e , " a c c o r d i n g t o L o u i s e Dean, Home A r t s C o m m i t t e e C h a i r p e r s o n .

"Machine s e w i n g h a s s e e n a s h a r p d e c r e a s e . M o s t p e o p l e j u s t d o n ' t have t i m e t o sew any more. W e s e e more d o l l s and household i t e m s ( p i l l o w s , n a p k i n s , p l a c e m a t s , l i n e d b a s k e t s , e t c . ) - more c r a f t y t h i n g s , " s a i d M r s . Dean.

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Ms. D e a n s t a t e d t h a t a s f a r b a c k a s s h e r e m e m b e r s t h e r e h a v e a l w a y s b e e n q u i l t s entered i n t h e f a i r . " T h e r e a r e t h i r t y c a t e g o r i e s f o r q u i l t s and d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of p a t t e r n s ( e m b r o i d e r e d , a p p l i q u e d , e t c . ) . M a n y a r e h a n d s e w n o r a r e a combination o f hand sewn ( p i e c e d b y h a n d ) a n d m a c h i n e sewn, w i t h machine sewn q u i l t s p a y i n g l e s s e r premiums t h a n hand s e w n , " s a i d Dean. "There a r e a l s o s e v e r a l t y p e s o f q u i l t e d w o r k s sewn: q u i l t e d p i l l o w s , vests, w a l l hangings, s k i r t s , e t c . W e have a l s o had a n t i q u e q u i l t s displayed from t i m e t o t i m e --some u p t o 7 5 t h r o u g h 100 y e a r s o l d , " s t a t e d Dean. The o r i g i n o f q u i l t i n g g o e s b a c k much f a r t h e r t h a n m o s t o f u s w o u l d s u s p e c t . The a n c i e n t a r t o f q u i l t i n g b e g a n d u r i n g t h e r i s e o f E g y p t , C h i n a , a n d I n d i a a c c o r d i n g t o R a c h e l P e l l m a n a n d J o a n n e R a n c k who r e s e a r c h e d q u i l t i n g d u r i n g a study o f t h e Amish and Mennonites. T h e y also wrote t h e b o o k , Q u i l t s Among t h e P l a i n P e o p l e . T h e v a l u a b l e warmth o f three l a y e r s o f f a b r i c w a s l e a r n e d q u i c k l y a n d u s e d f r e q u e n t l y . I t came t o England a s q u i l t e d c l o t h i n g u n d e r t h e armor o f t h e C r u s a d e r s r e t u r n i n g f r o m t h e Middle E a s t . T h o u g h b o t h q u i l t i n g and patchwork were s e p a r a t e c r a f t s i n Europe, the j o i n i n g o f t h e t w o o c c u r r e d f i r s t i n America, i n t h e p a t c h w o r k q u i l t . W h e n t h e y came t o A m e r i c a , w o m e n w e r e f o r c e d to b e r e s o u r c e f u l w i t h imported f a b r i c . Patches o f o l d c l o t h e s w e r e s e w n t o g e t h e r t o make b e d c o v e r s a n d b l a n k e t s m a i n l y f o r warmth. W h e n f a b r i c s b e c a m e m o r e available, t h e o l d i d e a g r e w, and the c r a f t t o o k o n a more d e c o r a t i v e a i r . To d a y, m a n y d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s a n d designs a r e c o m b i n e d i n t h e a r t o f quilting. N o t only quilts are made, but wallhangings, d r a p e r i e s , t a b l e c l o t h s , and clothes a r e m a d e a l s o . Q u i l t i n g has become a s i m p l i s t i c s t a t e m e n t o f b e a u t y that c a n b e r e l a x i n g a s a h o b b y o r p r o f i t a b l e a s a m o n e y -making v e n t u r e . Quilts c a n b e s o l d f r o m $125.00 t o $800.00 o r m o r e a n d c a n t a k e m o n t h s o r years t o f i n i s h , d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e f r e e time o f t h e q u i l t e r . In t h e s e m o d e r n times, q u i l t i n g i s a l i v e a n d w e l l . I t i s covered b y S e c t i o n 11, u n d e r D e p a r t m e n t 0- - N e e d l e A r t , i n Fair g u i d e . T h e the S t . M a r y ' s County rules o r r e g u l a t i o n s concerning needle art are: a) A r t i c l e s s h o u l d b e c l e a n a n d i n new c o n d i t i o n ;

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b) P i c t u r e s s h o u l d b e f r a m e d a n d w i r e d f o r h a n g i n g ; c) E n t r i e s t h a t a r e p a r t o f a s e t s h o u l d b e p i n n e d o r a t t a c h e d t o p r e v e n t loss; d) E n t r i e s m u s t b e t h e w o r k o f t h e p e r s o n i n whose name i t i s e n t e r e d . Monetary p r i z e s a n d r i b b o n s a r e g i v e n a n d t h e j u d g i n g i s b a s e d o n appearance, w o r k m a n s h i p , a n d d e s i g n . " A s o f 1 9 8 8 a s e p a r a t e p r i z e i n n e e d l e w o r k i s g i v e n f o r q u i l t i n g , " a c c o r d i n g t o L o u i s e Dean. " T h e b e s t i n t h e show a l s o gets a b i g p u r p l e r i b b o n . Q u i l t i n g w i l l c e r t a i n l y remain one o f A m e r i c a ' s f a v o r i t e h o b b i e s , a n d w i l l no d o u b t l e a d t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f m a n y b e a u t i f u l , a s w e l l a s p r a c t i c a l w o r k s o f art.

"As f a r a s n e w c a t e g o r i e s i n o u r b u i l d i n g , w e n o w h a v e a d d e d , as o f l a s t y e a r ( 1 9 8 8 ) , h a n d s p u n y a r n s . M a n y r a i s e t h e i r o w n sheep ( f o r t h e w o o l ) , o r t h e y c a n b u y t h e w o o l ; t h e y d o t h e i r own c a r d i n g , s p i n n i n g , d y i n g , a n d t h e n m a k e t h e i r o w n c l o t h e s , " s a i d L o u i s e D e a n , Home A r t s C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n .

128

Produce, Tobacco, Grains Staples In Southern Maryland Farm Life

Norris S h e p h e r d k e e p s track o f a w i d e a r r a y o f fruits a n d vegetables in the F a r m a n d G a r d e n exhibit.

Bottom. T o b a c c o f a r m i n g is a family t r a d i t i o n .

Tobacco h a s b e e n a s t a p l e o n S o u t h e r n M a r y l a n d f a r m s s i n c e t h e A r k a n d D o v e . Farmers t a k e g r e a t p r i d e i n t h e y e a r r o u n d c a s h c r o p t h a t consumes u n t o l d h o u r s of t h e f a r m e r ' s t i m e s i n c e e v e r y l e a f i s handled b y hand s e v e r a l t i m e s . I t is cut b y hand, s p e a r e d by h a n d , h u n g b y â&#x20AC;˘ h a n d , i n the a i r cured b a r n s t o d r y , and t h e n s t r i p p e d b y hand a n d p a c k e d i n t o bales f o r market.

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Some o f t h e many e x h i b i t s d i s p l a y e d a t t h e f a i r i n 1 9 6 0 .

B r i g h t , s h i n y apples and green l e a f y k a l e l i n e t h e shelves i n t h e Farm a n d G a r d e n b u i l d i n g i n 1 9 6 7 .

Bees, c h e s t n u t s , h a z e l n u t s , p e a n u t s , tobacco- - a l l a p a r t o f t h e f a i r .

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L. L o c a l f a r m e r s B o w l e s ( l e f t ) a n d Nelson h o l d a s t i c k o f q u a l i t y , a i r cured t o b a c c o . Middle: P a t r i c i a Shepherd ( l e f t ) , 10 y e a r s , a n d J e f f r e y S h e p h e r d 1 4 years, o f L e o n a r d t o w n , h o l d t h e winning 34 pound watermelon grown b y J e f f r e y.

Bottom: L . t o R t . N o r r i s S h e p h e r d ; Gene H i l l (who won f i r s t p r i z e f o r t h e l a r g e s t pumpkin); s i t t i n g o n pumpkin, G e n e ' s s o n B i l l y Joe H i l l , 1 3 m o n t h s ; a n d B i l l y ' s Grandfather D a l l i s H i l l .

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133

Suzanne H e n d e r s o n ( c e n t e r ) c h a t s w i t h v i s i t o r s t o t h e F l o w e r B u i l d i n g a s R o b e r t Thompson s t a n d s t o right.

Oh, The Beauty Of A Rose (or Petunia, or Marigold or Mum or . . .)

"The F l o w e r B u i l d i n g w a s n ' t a l w a y s the f l o w e r b u i l d i n g , " s a i d Suzanne Henderson w h o s e f a t h e r b u i l t t h e b u i l d i n g when t h e f a i r f i r s t o p e n e d on t h e c u r r e n t f a i r g r o u n d s . " I t w a s one o f t h e f i r s t t h r e e b u i l d i n g s t o be b u i l t o n t h e g r o u n d s , t h e f i r s t to have d r y w a l l s , t h e f i r s t t o have a cement f l o o r , " r e c a l l e d Henderson. "My f a t h e r h a d i t b u i l t r i g h t o u t o f h i s own p o c k e t â&#x20AC;&#x201D; d i d n ' t c o s t t h e f a i r board a c e n t . T h e b u i l d i n g h a s now been d e d i c a t e d t o h i m b y t h e f a i r b o a r d , " s t a t e d Henderson.

134

Bottom. 1 9 8 7 P u b l i c a t i o n ' s s t u d e n t Shannon Rhodes examines James O w e n ' s w i n n i n g mum.

135

Fading Beauty by Kim Kliner A whisper echoes, t h e b u i l d i n g bare is empty o f a l l b u t a ghost crowd once t h e r e . A s i n g l e f l o w e r o f a c l a s s unknown w i t h e r s a w a y, i t s c r e a t o r a t h o m e . The f l o w e r h a d o n c e p e r f o r m e d a g r e a t d u t y , by t a k i n g f i r s t p l a c e w i t h a w a r d - w i n n i n g b e a u t y . Now, m e r e l y a h i n t o f i t s p r e v i o u s s t a t e i s s e e n b y t h e p e o p l e who p a c k u p e a c h c r a t e . Slowly and p a i n f u l l y each p e t a l does f a l l , t h e moment o f g l o r y g o n e , a f t e r a l l .

136

Outside Space â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Enough To Go Around Outside space i s r e n t e d t o groups a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s who s e t u p t h e i r w a r e s o n the f a i r g r o u n d s .

George C o p p a g e , k n o w n t o many c o u n t i a n s a s " M r . George" p r o m e n a d e s a s a lion throughout the f a i r grounds w i t h h i s l i t t l e dog.

Bottom: E v e r y o n e w a n t s t o be a c l o w n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e youngsters.

137

Get y o u r h o t r o a s t e d p e a n u t s f r o m D o n S t i l l m a n , f r o m S e l m a , N o r t h C a r o l i n a . F o r the p a s t 4 4 y e a r s , h e h a s b e e n w o r k i n g f a i r s u p a n d d o w n t h e e a s t c o a s t . " I s t a r t t h e f a i r s e a s o n i n New J e r s e y , t h e n g o o n t o New Yo r k , t h e n b a c k t o N o r t h Carolina, and then on t o Maryland." F o r 1 8 years h e has b e e n the S t . Mary's County F a i r ' s " p e a n u t m a n " .

The 1 9 8 4 E x c a l i b u r , o w n e d b y D u k e H e n d e r s o n , h a s v i s i t e d t h e c o u n t y f a i r i n recent y e a r s . B u i l t i n Milwaukee, Wisconsin, i t i s #8 f r o m a s i g n a t u r e s e r i e s o f only 50 m a d e t h a t y e a r . T h e o r i g i n a l c o s t o f t h e v e h i c l e was e s t i m a t e d between 60 a n d 7 0 t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s . H e n d e r s o n i s p r o u d o f t h e f a c t t h a t i t i s a n original, not a k i t .

138

Dotting t h e f a i r g r o u n d s a r e vendors w i t h t r i n k e t s f o r s a l e .

A p o t e n t i a l buyer hops i n t o t h e seat o f a H o v e r c r a f t .

139

ork

The c o m m e r c i a l b u i l d i n g i s a v a i l a b l e f o r b u s i n e s s e s t o s e t u p t h e i r d i s p l a y s . In y e a r s p a s t a c c o r d i n g t o T h e B e a c o n ( S e p t e m b e r 1 0 , 1 9 4 8 ) , o t h e r s p a c e w a s made available. I n 1948 two l a r g e Q u o n s e t t y p e b u i l d i n g s w e r e u s e d f o r c o m m e r c i a l buildings.

140

Olivers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Restoration Of A Memory

A n t i q u e t r a c t o r s seem t o a t t r a c t t h e notice and a t t e n t i o n o f t h e l o c a l farmers a s w e l l a s t h e n o t - s o agrarian people o f t h e c o u n t y. T w o o f t h e m o s t f a m o u s e x h i b i t o r s who truck t h e i r a n t i q u e s i n t o t h e fairgrounds a r e R i c h a r d W a y n e P i l k e r t o n a n d Guy T i p p e t t . Pilkerton s t a r t e d h i s h o b b y o f collecting a n d r e s t o r i n g O l i v e r tractors i n 1974. H i s interest i n O l i v e r s b e g a n a s a y o u t h when h i s uncles used them on t h e f a m i l y f a r m in Clements, M a r y l a n d . H e h a s restored f i f t e e n O l i v e r t r a c t o r s with models r a n g i n g f r o m 1 9 3 8 t o 1953. " T h i s w a s q u i t e a t a s k considering m o s t o f t h e m w e r e 'buckets o f r u s t ' h a v i n g b e e n abandoned o f u s e y e a r s a g o , a n d w e r e

Guy T i p p e t t s i t s a t o p h i s antique O l i v e r t r a c t o r .

Guy T i p p e t t h a u l s h i s antique O l i v e r s t o t h e f a i r each y e a r.

141

found i n m a s s i v e o v e r g r o w t h o f u n d e r b r u s h a n d h o n e y s u c k l e v i n e s , " s a i d P i l k e r t o n of h i s accomplishments. I n a d d i t i o n , h e a l s o c o l l e c t s 1 / 1 6 s c a l e m o d e l t o y tractors. P i l k e r t o n h a s w o n numerous a w a r d s a n d r i b b o n s f o r h i s antique tractors. Tippett a l s o s t a r t e d c o l l e c t i n g O l i v e r s i n 1 9 7 4 . H i s r a r e s t t r a c t o r i s a model " G T - 1 2 5 " , w h i c h t o o k h i m r o u g h l y t e n y e a r s t o f i n d . T h i r t e e n O l i v e r s h a v e been r e s t o r e d b y T i p p e t t , a n d s e v e n h a v e b e e n r e p a i n t e d . M u c h t i m e a n d e f f o r t has b e e n d e v o t e d t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f e a c h t r a c t o r . L o c a t i n g r e p a i r p a r t s i s frequently a major t a s k s i n c e m a n y p a r t s a r e n o l o n g e r a v a i l a b l e f o r the t r a c t o r s . " M a n y phone c a l l s and m a n y l e t t e r s a r e r e q u i r e d t o r e s t o r e one o f these t r a c t o r s b a c k t o i t s o r i g i n a l c o n d i t i o n . " T i p p e t t s a i d o f h i s h o b b y , " I f e e l l i k e I am k e e p i n g a n o l d p a r t o f U . S . H i s t o r y a l i v e , a n d I ' m p r o u d o f t h i s fact." As o f t h i s w r i t i n g , T i p p e t t h a s j u s t p u r c h a s e d t w o n e w O l i v e r s w h i c h w i l l b e on d i s p l a y a t t h e 1 9 9 0 f a i r .

P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s B r i a n N e v a l a ( l e f t ) , T i n a Welander ( c e n t e r ) , f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e s t u d e n t f r o m Sweden, a n d S h a r o n Dunn ( r t . ) m u g f o r t h e c a m e r a o n G u y T i p p e t t ' s a n t i q u e Oliver t r a c t o r. 142

The Fair Has Never Been Lacking For Dignitaries! "We've a l w a y s h a d d i g n i t a r i e s a t t h e f a i r , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c . " O n e y e a r a h e l i c o p t e r b r i n g i n g G o v e r n o r Ta w e s l a n d e d i n t h e h o r s e r i n g . " C u s i c h a s s e e n d i g n i t a r i e s come a n d g o s i n c e t h e 1 9 4 7 f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t . "Buck B r i s c o e u s e d t o g e t p e o p l e d o w n f r o m t h e W h i t e H o u s e , " s a i d Suzanne Henderson. " T h e r e w e r e s e n a t o r s a n d c o n g r e s s m e n , a d m i r a l s a n d s u c h . " P o l i t i c i a n s seem t o f r e q u e n t t h e f a i r a s p a r t o f t h e i r campaign t r a i l .

L . t o R t . R o b e r t Thompson ( F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t f r o m 1 9 6 1 - 6 6 ) ; G o v e r n o r ' s b o d y g u a r d s ; t h e Q u e e n o f T o l e r a n c e ; G o v e r n o r Ta w e s a n d B u c k B r i s c o e , M r . S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. T h e h e l i c o p t e r l a n d e d i n t h e h o r s e r i n g . ( 1 9 6 0 )

143

Maryland S t a t e C o m p t r o l l e r, L o u i s G o l d s t e i n r i d e s i n t h e b a c k o f a F o r d Model T t o u r i n g c a r i n 1 9 6 0 .

Louise Gore campaigns f o r g o v e r n o r.

Governor M a r v i n M a n d e l c h a t t i n g with f a i r g o e r s holding up h i s favorite pipe.

L. t o R . B u c k B r i s c o e , M r . S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y ; 2 n d f r o m l e f t , f o r m e r County C o m m i s s i o n e r, L a r r y M i l l i s o n , M i s s M a r y l a n d ( 1 9 7 3 ) , t h e 1 9 7 3 Queen o f To l e r a n c e a n d J u d g e J o h n H a n s o n B r i s c o e .

145

Ik' 'ffht:1/!,4e0C/g4.316k4rIstYtiVolkoor S'' IIPPeP4' roGeptek 4-4 e r r e k sr. MARY' S .l.Aq._ ROY DYSON km, smiPsofii a c e e weltuel .POICs'IfoLoGeS "...IONA/ SZPOE ""k WE (MCC P / 4 16,11 P f r r i r A v a l e mosan WAITER DORSEY Z O O S e t e s w, FA; ;ve. .5:94,841,4,sâ&#x20AC;¢ i m k V $E(C P m PATT,PGLY Raffecor JARBOE 4 ' o A m 4 017141,5'04, 7/4141 PhOnteh, E D 8 A / L E V J O N I / 4CPEY p r 4 k A i P P A W N C O / C P. 5 W C A W WI CARPER #4110n00,5/70 JOHN W O O D 0 0 R O T N Y P.41fy j o i t * p i e , ; i e

DMI NEADM GRA OPEh

MONDA Si Il

Congressman R o y D y s o n w e a r i n g h i s f a m o u s "boot" p i n o n h i s l a p e l . T h e b o o t was a symbol h e u s e d t o i n d i c a t e h i s g r a s s roots a p p r o a c h t o campaigning t o work h a r d a n d g e t o u t t h e r e among t h e p e o p l e .

Democratics a n d R e p u b l i can's e x h i b i t l a t e s t information. P e o p l e c a n always r e g i s t e r t o v o t e at t h e f a i r .

P o l i t i c i a n s abound a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r .

REPUBLICAN WOMAN'S CLUB

John L a n c a s t e r , R e t i r e d C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n Agent d u r i n g i n t e g r a t i o n ( w o r k e d w i t h 4 - H ) and c u r r e n t C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r. 146

Beauty In Motion by Sara Jenkins With elegance, b e a u t y, s t y l e , a n d g r a c e , With r i p p l i n g muscles, t h e wind he d i d r a c e . H i s e b o n y mane a n d f l o w i n g b l a c k t a i l f l y through the a i r l i k e a boat s e t f o r s a i l .

With p o w e r f u l s t r i d e s h e s e t s f o r t h e s u n - The w i n d i s n o m a t c h , t h e s t a l l i o n h a s w o n . H i s p o w e r f u l b o d y, h i s e y e s b l a c k a s c o a l R e f l e c t i n g a beauty s e t deep i n h i s s o u l .

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Horses and Riders: Strutting Their Stuff by Sara Jenkins (Publications Student and Horse Show Participant) "One o f t h e many i n t e r e s t i n g a t t r a c t i o n s a t t h e C o u n t y F a i r i s t h e h o r s e show w h i c h h a s b e e n g o i n g o n s i n c e t h e e a r l y f i f t i e s , " s a i d B e t t y T a y l o r . M a n y people e n j o y w a t c h i n g t h e h o r s e s a n d r i d e r s p e r f o r m and t h r o u g h a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h B e t t y T a y l o r , M a r y Wood, a n d A n n D r u r y , w e g a i n e d a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t goes o n . A l l t h r e e w o m e n h a v e b e e n c h a i r m e n o f t h e h o r s e s h o w s - - a t v a r i o u s times. Mary Wood, c u r r e n t h o r s e s h o w c h a i r p e r s o n , g o t h e r f i r s t h o r s e w h e n s h e w a s seven y e a r s o l d . " I s t a r t e d s h o w i n g i n t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s , t h e f a i r b e i n g m y f i r s t s h o w. B a c k t h e n , t h e r e w e r e h a r d l y a n y i n s t r u c t o r s o r p l a c e s w h e r e y o u could even l e a r n t o r i d e . "

Mary Wood, c u r r e n t H o r s e Show C h a i r p e r s o n i s p r e s e n t e d a winning t r o p h y i n 1960.

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Mary Wood, H o r s e Show C h a i r p e r s o n , i s i n t e r v i e w e d i n h e r Leonardtown L i b r a r y O f f i c e b y P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t , M a r y Clark. Ann D r u r y a n d B e t t y T a y l o r a l s o u s e d t o r i d e a n d s h o w. " A n n u s e d t o s h o w i n the e a r l y 5 0 ' s , " s a i d h e r s i s t e r , Ta y l o r . T a y l o r a l s o s t a r t e d d r i v i n g ( h o r s e a n d c a r t ) i n 1 9 7 8 . " W e were b o t h chairmen o f t h e h o r s e shows a t v a r i o u s t i m e s . W e were a l s o s e c r e t a r i e s w h e r e w e r e c e i v e d e n t r i e s , t o o k c a r e o f e n t r i e s a n d c l a s s e s before t h e s h o w , a n d g o t a r e g i s t e r e d j u d g e , u s u a l l y f r o m o u t o f t h e c o u n t y. I can remember w h e n G e n e r a l D u k e w a s t h e o n l y j u d g e , " s a i d T a y l o r . The s h o w s a r e d i v i d e d i n t o d i v i s i o n s a n d t h e n f u r t h e r d i v i d e d i n t o c l a s s e s . There a r e b a s i c a l l y t h r e e d i v i s i o n s i n a n E n g l i s h h o r s e s h o w. T h e s e a r e t h e H u n t e r, P l e a s u r e , a n d E q u i t a t i o n d i v i s i o n s . E a c h o f t h e s e d i v i s i o n s i s j u d g e d based o n d i f f e r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s . I n t h e h u n t e r d i v i s i o n , t h e h o r s e s h o u l d h a v e a b o l d , b u t c o n t r o l l e d pace a n d s h o u l d b e a good j u m p e r.

Karine I n g e r s o l presents a f i r s t p l a c e t r o p h y t o C l y t h e n e H a l l f o r t h e Hunter Class i n 1 9 7 5 . 149

I n t h i s d i v i s i o n , t h e jumps a r e u s u a l l y h i g h e r and t h e c o u r s e i s more d i f f i c u l t . The p l e a s u r e d i v i s i o n a s k s t h e h o r s e a n d r i d e r t o c r e a t e t h e i d e a t h a t a n y o n e could g e t u p o n t h a t h o r s e a n d r i d e i t w i t h o u t any problem. T h e h o r s e s h o u l d have a n i c e , e a s y , a n d c o m f o r t a b l e p a c e a n d s h o u l d n e v e r r u n o f f o r b u c k . L a s t l y, e q u i t a t i o n m e a n s t h e r i d e r ' s p o s i t i o n w h i l e mounted o n t h e h o r s e . I n this d i v i s i o n , t h e r i d e r ' s p o s i t i o n i s j u d g e d a s w e l l a s h o w w e l l he/she communicates w i t h t h e h o r s e . In each d i v i s i o n , t h e r e a r e u s u a l l y t h r e e o r f o u r classes. T h e r e a r e t h r e e types o f c l a s s e s : o v e r f e n c e , f l a t , a n d t r a i l .

The o v e r f e n c e s c l a s s c o n s i s t s of a c o u r s e o f j u m p s t h a t t h e r i d e r must j u m p . I n t h e f l a t classes, everyone p a r t i c i p a t i n g i s i n t h e r i n g a t t h e same t i m e and t h e y a r e t o p e r f o r m commands t h a t t h e j u d g e c a l l s out s u c h a s w a l k , t r o t , o r c a n t e r. L a s t l y , t h e t r a i l class i s a l w a y s a p a r t o f t h e pleasure d i v i s i o n and t h i s asks the h o r s e a n d r i d e r t o negotiate a s e r i e s o f obstacles. E a c h o f these classes i s j u d g e d w i t h r e s p e c t to t h e d i v i s i o n , b u t t h e r e a r e other t h i n g s t h a t t h e j u d g e w i l l look f o r . I n the jumping classes, t h e j u d g e w i l l l o o k for a consistent pace, how w e l l the h o r s e j u m p s , a n d h o w w e l l the r i d e r m a n e u v e r s a r o u n d t h e turns and approaches t h e jump.

Sara J e n k i n s r i d i n g H i g h l i g h t i n a flat class.

The f l a t c l a s s e s a r e j u d g e d o n h o w f a s t a n d c o r r e c t l y t h e r i d e r c a n p e r f o r m t h e commands. T h e h o r s e ' s o b e d i e n c e i s t h e m a i n c r i t e r i a f o r t h e t r a i l c l a s s .

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Tommy L i s k a o n S p a r k l e P l e n t y i n t h e J u m p i n g C l a s s .

Judging t h e s e c l a s s e s g e t s more p r e c i s e and t h e r e a r e t h r e e main t h i n g s t h a t the j u d g e s l o o k f o r : m a n n e r s , w a y o f g o i n g , a n d s u i t a b i l i t y . M a n n e r s a r e h o w responsive t h e h o r s e i s t o i t s r i d e r and h o w w e l l t h e r i d e r communicates w i t h his/her horse. W a y o f going refers t o t h e horse's g a i t . A horse w i t h a long graceful s t r i d e would p l a c e above one w i t h a s h o r t choppy s t r i d e . S u i t a b i l i t y i s how w e l l t h e h o r s e a n d r i d e r l o o k t o g e t h e r . Y o u w o u l d n ' t w a n t a s m a l l c h i l d r i d i n g a b i g t h o r o u g h b r e d o r a l a r g e r p e r s o n r i d i n g a p o n y.

The w a l k t r o t c l a s s i s o n l y o p e n t o c h i l d r e n u n d e r 1 0 y e a r s o l d .

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Each c l a s s i s p l a c e d a n d t h e r i d e r s w i n r i b b o n s f o r f i r s t t h r o u g h s i x t h place. W i t h f i r s t p r i z e u s u a l l y c o m e s a t r o p h y and f o r each r i b b o n won, t h e rider earns a c e r t a i n number o f p o i n t s : h i g h e r points f o r the higher places. The r i d e r w i t h m o s t p o i n t s i n t h e i r d i v i s i o n w i n s t h e c h a m p i o n r i b b o n f o r t h a t d i v i s i o n . T h e r e a r e s p e c i a l a w a r d s o f f e r e d a l s o a t t h e s h o w. T h e b e s t c h i l d r i d e r w i n s t h e Agnes T . Duncan Award w h i c h h a s t o b e r e t u r n e d t h e n e x t y e a r .

Karen C o a t e s ( t h e f i r s t winner o f t h e A g n e s T . Duncan A w a r d ) p r e s e n t s Clythene H a l l ( G u y ) t h e award f o r t h e b e s t c h i l d r i d e r. R i d e r s k e e p t h e award f o r o n e y e a r a n d then pass t h e award o n t o the n e x t w i n n e r . A replica i s t h e n given t o the p a s t w i n n e r.

Frank Lantham was a n e a r l y h o r s e s h o w e n t h u s i a s t i n t h e c o u n t y a n d t h e F r a n k Latham M e m o r i a l T r o p h y i s g i v e n f o r t h e b e s t h o r s e a n d r i d e r c o m b i n a t i o n . T h e J . L . McNey M e m o r i a l T r o p h y i s g i v e n t o t h e b e s t p o n y a n d r i d e r c o m b i n a t i o n .

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Ann D r u r y ( R t . ) p a s t C h a i r m a n o f t h e H o r s e S h o w, p r e s e n t s Scotty C o f l i n a f i r s t p l a c e t r o p h y i n t h e Pony H u n t e r Division.

I n c l u d e d i n t h e s h o w a r e some W e s t e r n a n d d r i v i n g c l a s s e s . " B a c k w h e n I w a s showing, w e h a d a We s t e r n s h o w , " s a i d M a r y W o o d . T h e W e s t e r n c l a s s e s a r e generally p l e a s u r e a n d t r a i l c l a s s e s , b u t t h e r e i s a big difference i n the Western h o r s e ' s w a y o f g o i n g c o m p a r e d t o t h e E n g l i s h h o r s e s . T h e y a r e g e n e r a l l y kept o n a v e r y l o n g r e i n a n d a r e much more e a s y - g o i n g a n d g e n t l e . "They u s e d t o h a v e b a r r e l r a c i n g a t t h e f a i r a l s o , " s a i d Wood. " T h i s i s a n event f o r t h e w e s t e r n r i d e r s a n d t h e o b j e c t i v e i s t o g e t a r o u n d s e v e r a l o b s t a c l e s (barrels) i n t h e s h o r t e s t t i m e . " T h e r e a r e t w o d r i v i n g classes which are pleasure a n d a n o b s t a c l e c l a s s where t h e d r i v e r maneuvers h o r s e a n d c a r t t h r o u g h o b s t a c l e s s u c h a s b r i d g e s a n d o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t m i g h t b e r u n i n t o o n a Sunday drive.

"Is i t our turn yet?" Both h o r s e a n d r i d e r are u s e d t o t h e w a i t i n g game.

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B e t t y Ta y l o r l o o k s h e r v e r y Sunday B e s t a s s h e p r e p a r e s f o r the D r i v i n g D i v i s i o n .

The h o r s e s h o w s a t t r a c t p e o p l e n o t o n l y f r o m t h i s c o u n t y , b u t f r o m C a l v e r t and C h a r l e s a s w e l l . T h i s i s a l s o a t i m e w h e n p e o p l e w h o w a n t t o s e l l t h e i r horses c a n s h o w t h e m o f f . " S o m e t i m e s i f s o m e o n e l i k e s t h e way y o u r h o r s e performs, t h e y m i g h t o f f e r t o b u y i t , " n o t e d B e t t y Ta y l o r . T h e o n l y r e q u i r e m e n t s are t h a t t h e r i d e r m u s t w e a r t h e i r p r o p e r a t t i r e . T h i s i s m o s t p r e v a l e n t i n t h e English classes where t h e r i d e r has t o wear b r i t c h e s , b o o t s , a c o a t , a n d a hard hat. T h e r e i s n o age l i m i t a t i o n e x c e p t i n t h e 4 - H show where t h e r i d e r must b e under e i g h t e e n . M o s t o f a l l , t h e m o s t b a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t i s t h a t y o u h a v e f u n .

A bond develops between h o r s e a n d h a n d l e r.

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Jolly Gents Add Spice To Life by Amy Quinlan Helping t h e c o m m u n i t y was t h e b a s i s f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e J o l l y Gents, a service o r g a n i z a t i o n dedicated t o h e l p i n g S t . M a r y ' s countians i n need. A l o n g w i t h t h e i r g e n e r o s i t y , t h e J o l l y Gents d i s h o u t o n e o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r ' s most delectable concessions. T e d Newkirk, a former president o f t h e c l u b r e l a t e s t h e story o f t h e J o l l y Gents. "When w e f i r s t s t a r t e d , t h e r e w a s n o b u i l d i n g , t h e n t h e f a i r b o a r d s u p p l i e d the m a t e r i a l s a n d t h e J o l l y G e n t s c o n s t r u c t e d t h e b u i l d i n g a t t h e f a i r . S i n c e then t h e f a i r b o a r d h a s t a k e n o v e r a n y c o n s t r u c t i o n . W e s t a r t e d s e r v i n g barbeque a t t h e f a i r a r o u n d 1 9 6 6 a s a f u n d r a i s e r . O u r o r g a n i z a t i o n r a i s e s money s o w e c a n help t h e c o m m u n i t y m a i n l y i n e m e r g e n c y s i t u a t i o n s , f u e l i n w i n t e r s , h e l p f o r young p e o p l e f o r c o l l e g e , e t c . "

Boy, t h a t b a r b e q u e s m e l l s g o o d ! Ted N e w k i r k g i v i n g J o l l y G e n t s barbeque t h a t s p e c i a l t o u c h .

"I b e l i e v e t h e g r o u p was organized b a c k i n 1958, a n d I joined i n 1959. I s e r v e d as vice-president t o George Fenwick, t h e f i r s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e J o l l y G e n t s , t h e n I became the s e c o n d p r e s i d e n t , " s t a t e d Newkirk. "We g e t o u r m e a t f r o m w h o l e s a l e d i s t r i b u t o r s a n d we u s e a s l o w cooking p r o c e s s t o c o o k t h e meat. W e u s e d t o u s e o a k wood but n o w w e u s e g a s , " s a i d Newkirk.

Newkirk t a k e s a b r e a k f r o m c o o k i n g t h e d e l i c i o u s barbeque s o l d b y t h e J o l l y Gents e a c h y e a r a t t h e f a i r .

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Ted N e w k i r k t a l k s w i t h Leonardtown H i g h S c h o o l students about J o l l y Gents.

When a s k e d a b o u t t h e b a r b e q u e s a u c e recipe, h e smiled then stated t h a t " i t i s made b y t h e J o l l y G e n t s a n d o n l y t h e y know t h e i n g r e d i e n t s . " W h e t h e r w e k n o w how t h e t a n t a l i z i n g f l a v o r c o m e s a b o u t o r not, f a i r g o e r s c o m e back year a f t e r y e a r for another " t a s t e o f the f a i r " .

Rescue Vehicles

_ Rescue S q u a d s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n o n h a n d a t the f a i r g r o u n d s t o a s s i s t w h e n e v e r needed. T h e i r p r e s e n c e l e n d s a f e e l i n g of s e c u r i t y t o a l l f a i r g o e r s , young and old.

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Maryland's Jousting Song Jousting's the sport, Marylander's claim And w e p r o u d l y b o a s t o f i t s H a l l o f Fame, Our m a i d s a n d k n i g h t s a r e s t a n d i n g b y A s t r i d e t h e i r mounts i n s t i r r u p s h i g h . Our p a g e a n t r y a s d a y s o f o l d Our c o l o r s a r e b r i g h t , s o m e r e d , s o m e g o l d , And a s w e w a i t t h e b u g l e ' s c r y , Three c h e e r s f o r y o u a s y o u r i d e b y . Henry's t h e k i n g we a d o r e , A l i c e t h e Queen f o r e v e r m o r e . The f r i e n d s w e ' v e made b o t h f a r a n d n e a r , No o t h e r s p o r t c o u l d e r e c o m p a r e . Charge o n ! C h a r g e o n ! F a i r m a i d s a n d k n i g h t s Just spear those r i n g s w i t h a l l y o u r m i g h t . We ' r e p r o u d t o r e p r e s e n t o u r S t a t e , Oh! M a r y l a n d w e t h i n k y o u ' r e g r e a t ! Yes, M a r y l a n d ' s t h e " J o u s t i n g S t a t e " !

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Jotlithig- n e raws 5,000atSt.MarysFair SpecialDispatchtoTheStar

• LEONARDTOWN, M d . , S e p t . 25.—A c r o w d o f 5,000 shrugged off a c h i l l i n g w i n d a t :the A l m s House grounds yesterday to watch a jousting tournament w h i c h ended t h e t h r e e - d a y S t . M a r y s County F a i r. Joseph B r a d y o f B a l t i m o r e County w o n i n t h e professional class, w h i l e H o w a r d G a t e s a n d his b r o t h e r L a w r e n c e o f P r i n c e Georges County t o o k second a n d third places. Bernard C l a r k o f Hollywood, Md.,- speared o u t a w i n i n • the amateur c l a s s o v e r H e n r y J . Fowler, p r e s i d e n t o f t h e f a i r board, w h e n , the t w o r o d e t h e course f o r t h e seventh . time t o break —a- tie...-. George p i t m a n o f Westminster was third. • - •

Jousting T h e Maryland Sport by Karen Raley

Top R t . H e n r y F o w l e r d a n c e s w i t h his L a d y E d w i n a d u r i n g t h e jousting tournament on the f a i r grounds i n 1 9 7 5 .

"Somewhere i n B a l t i m o r e C o u n t y, M a r y L o u Bartram found a L a n d a u s t y l e d c a r r i a g e . Dad f e l l i n l o v e w i t h i t , " s a y s H e n r y F o w l e r, J r . , t h e s o n o f t h e l a t e S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r . " H e u s e d h i s g i f t o f g a b to h e l p t h e f a i r i n m a n y w a y s . " T h i s t a l e n t was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r o b t a i n i n g t h e c a r r i a g e , made a r o u n d 1 7 1 0 , a s w e l l a s f o u n d i n g t h e M a r y l a n d J o u s t i n g To u r n a m e n t Association. H e n r y S r. s p e n t t i m e i n t h e Maryland G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y, s e r v i n g S t . Mary's County f o r s i x t e e n y e a r s .

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Are t h e d a y s o f c h i v a l r y , s p l e n d o r , p a g e a n t r y , a n d t r a d i t i o n l o s t i n t h e ever c h a n g i n g m o m e n t s o f t i m e ? D o m e n l i v e w i t h o u t t h e m y s t i q u e t h e i r f o r e f a t h e r s once o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e i r horsemanship and s k i l l f u l accuracy w i t h a lance? T o d a y , j o u s t i n g i s l o s t i n t h e t r e m e n d o u s a d v e r t i s e m e n t o f more p o p u l a r sports, y e t , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y i s u n i q u e i n i t s i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e distinguishable sport.

Jousting i s nothing l i k e t h e f a m i l i a r p i c t u r e w e i m a g i n e o f t w o knights c h a r g i n g a t e a c h o t h e r i n a b l o o d - t h i r s t y m a n n e r. T h e g o a l o f t h e s p o r t i s f o r the r i d e r t o b e a b l e t o s p e a r t h r e e r i n g s o n e a c h r i d e i n a t o t a l o f n i n e seconds. T h e r i d e r m u s t r i d e a t o t a l o f e i g h t y y a r d s t o s p e a r a l l t h r e e r i n g s . Each k n i g h t i s g i v e n t h r e e c h a r g e s f o r t h e i r f i r s t c l a s s . A f t e r t h e i r f i r s t three r i d e s , t h e r i d e r w i l l t h e n go t o t h e n e x t s m a l l e s t s i z e i n r i n g s which a r e reduced a q u a r t e r o f a n i n c h a t a t i m e . R i n g s r a n g e i n s i z e f r o m one a n d t h r e e quarters o f a n i n c h t o one h a l f o f a n i n c h , and on occasion one q u a r t e r o f a n inch s i z e r i n g w i l l be used. There i s m u c h m o r e t o t h e s p o r t t h a n j u s t a b i d i n g b y t h e r u l e s . T h e r i d e r s must a l s o m a i n t a i n t h e i r e q u i p m e n t a n d e v e n c o n s t r u c t t h e i r o w n l a n c e s . A k n i g h t ' s l a n c e i s a l w a y s homemade s i m p l y b e c a u s e t h e r e i s n o p l a c e t o b u y o n e .

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The l a n c e s r a n g e i n s i z e f r o m f i v e t o s e v e n f e e t i n l e n g t h a n d u s u a l l y w e i g h between o n e a n d f i f t e e n p o u n d s . T h e p o i n t o f t h e l a n c e i s m a d e o f e i t h e r aluminum o r s t a i n l e s s s t e e l , a n d a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f c o n s t r u c t i n g a l a n c e i s t o establish a balancing p o i n t . F i n a l l y , a k n i g h t must l e a r n t o use h i s / h e r lance e f f e c t i v e l y. A r i d e r ' s s k i l l l a r g e l y depends o n h i s h o r s e a s w e l l a s l e a r n i n g t o use h i s l a n c e . H e m u s t e f f e c t i v e l y l e a r n h o w t o t r a i n h i s h o r s e t o r e s p o n d t o his voice. A knight can j o u s t very w e l l but h i s horse can j u s t as e a s i l y decide between a w i n o r a l o s s f o r t h e t e a m . T h e h o r s e h a s t o b e a b l e t o k e e p a s t e a d y pace w i t h o u t b o u n c i n g t h e r i d e r . S o m e t i m e s i t c a n t a k e u p t o t h r e e y e a r s t o t r a i n a h o r s e t o become a c c u s t o m e d t o t h e r i d i n g p a t t e r n . A k n i g h t l o o k s f o r a horse t h a t i s n o t s k i t t i s h o r t e m p e r a m e n t a l . T h e h o r s e m u s t n o t s h y a t a n y t h i n g during t h e r i d e , s o t h e r i d e r s t r a i n them t o g e t u s e d t o a n y d i s t r a c t i o n . N o breed o f h o r s e i s c o n s i d e r e d b e t t e r t h a n a n o t h e r, j u s t a s l o n g a s i t i s w e l l trained.

(Top R . ) P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t A n d y S t o n e ( L ) a n d B r i a n N e v a l a ( R ) p o s t w i t h P h i l C l a r k e , K n i g h t o f t h e L i t t l e R e d Wagon, a m i d a w a l l f u l l o f t r o p h i e s . C l a r k e d i s p l a y s a mounted b r o a d s w o r d w h i c h i s the t r a d i t i o n a l p r i z e awarded t o t h e n a t i o n a l j o u s t i n g champion. He w o n t h e p r i z e i n 1 9 7 0 . ( B o t t o m R . ) P h i l C l a r k e a t home w i t h h i s t r u s t y s t e e d .

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State and National Jousting Champion, Phillip A. Clark Famous M a r y l a n d j o u s t e r a n d r e s i d e n t o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, P h i l l i p C l a r k , who h a s b e e n j o u s t i n g f o r some 5 0 y e a r s s a y s o f h i s c h i l d h o o d , " I l i v e d o n a f a r m and w e a l w a y s h a d h o r s e s . " C l a r k t o l d u s d u r i n g o u r i n t e r v i e w , " I n t h e o l d d a y s , they used t o have j o u s t i n g tournaments a t a l l t h e churches i n t h e c o u n t y . T h e y had b i g c h u r c h s u p p e r s f o l l o w e d b y a d a n c e . N o w m o s t p e o p l e l i v e s o f a r a w a y that t h e y c a n ' t s t a y f o r a dance. S t . J o s e p h ' s , S t . J o h n ' s , H o l y A n g e l ' s , and f i r e departments would have them. T h e y used t o have a charge, f o r c h a r i t y. " M r . C l a r k r e m e m b e r s , " T h e y u s e d t o t e l l m e , t h a t ' s h o w some o f t h e m o n u m e n t s i n S t . M a r y ' s C i t y w e r e p a i d f o r . " M r . C l a r k h a s a l w a y s e n j o y e d j o u s t i n g m o r e t h a n some o t h e r h o r s e c o m p e t i t i o n s . " W i t h j o u s t i n g , i f y o u made t h e t i m e a n d s p e a r e d t h e r i n g s , t h e r e was n o q u e s t i o n . " Some p e o p l e m i g h t r e m e m b e r P h i l l i p C l a r k a s t h e K n i g h t o f t h e L i t t l e R e d Wagon, h i s j o u s t i n g t i t l e . H e c l a i m s t h a t t h e name s t a r t e d o u t a s a j o k e b u t that i t j u s t s t u c k w i t h him. " I b u i l t t h i s horse t r a i l e r and painted i t r e d , s o I d e c i d e d t o u s e t h e K n i g h t o f t h e L i t t l e R e d Wagon a s m y t i t l e . " Tr o p h i e s c o v e r o n e w h o l e w a l l o f M r . C l a r k ' s l i v i n g r o o m . G l a s s c a s e s a r e f i l l e d w i t h s i l v e r t r o p h i e s a n d numerous a w a r d s . O n e , " F t . F r e d r i c k S t a t e P a r k 1988", h a d t o b e w o n t h r e e t i m e s i n o r d e r t o k e e p i t . A c c o r d i n g t o M r . C l a r k , t h e w i n n e r ' s n a m e i s p r i n t e d o n t h e t r o p h y f o r e a c h w i n u n t i l someone w i n s i t three t i m e s . H i s l a r g e c o l l e c t i o n a l s o i n c l u d e s a l a r g e number o f p l a q u e s w h i c h hang i n m o r e t h a n o n e r o o m . M r . C l a r k m e n t i o n e d t h a t h e h a d w o n a t l e a s t o n e hundred t r o p h i e s . " I t r y t o p r a c t i c e a b o u t h a l f a n h o u r , a c o u p l e o f t i m e s a week." "The h o r s e i s t h e b i g g e s t p a r t o f i t . P e o p l e p r e f e r d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f horses, s i z e , e t c . T h e r e a r e n o r e s t r i c t i o n s . " M r . C l a r k t o l d u s t h a t t h e y k e y was t o h a v e a h o r s e w i t h a v e r y s t e a d y g a i t , s o t h e j o u s t e r c o u l d c o n c e n t r a t e o n spearing t h e r i n g s . " M y l a s t h o r s e , Specks, l i v e d t o b e 36 y e a r s o l d , t h a t i s 144 i n human y e a r s . T h e n I h a d L a d y . " a f e w y e a r s b e f o r e 1 9 4 8 , t h e n I b u i l t a horse t r a i l e r and "I r o d e f o r competed a l l o v e r M a r y l a n d . " M r . C l a r k t o l d u s t h a t c o m p e t i t i o n s w e r e h e l d f r o m e a r l y Summer t o l a t e F a l l , t h e S t a t e a n d N a t i o n a l To u r n a m e n t s a r e u s u a l l y h e l d i n O c t o b e r. M r . C l a r k won t h e S t a t e C h a m p i o n s h i p t i t l e i n 1 9 6 8 , a n d i n 1 9 7 0 , t h e N a t i o n a l To u r n a m e n t w h e r e h i s p r i z e w a s a m o u n t e d b r o a d s w o r d . M r . C l a r k a n d h i s w i f e a r e b o t h i n t h e j o u s t i n g H a l l o f Fame i n t h e S e v e n C h i m n e y s S t a t e P a r k i n Mt. S a l o n , V i r g i n i a . H e h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n T i m e W o r l d B o o k E n c y c l o p e d i a , under S t a t e S y m b o l s , P a r a d e m a g a z i n e , a n d h a s b e e n o n t h e M i k e D o u g l a s s h o w. His w i f e , M a r y E t h e l C l a r k , w a s a l s o v e r y i n v o l v e d i n M a r y l a n d j o u s t i n g . " T h a t ' s h o w I m e t m y w i f e , I c r o w n e d h e r Queen o f a j o u s t i n g t o u r n a m e n t a t S t . Joseph's i n Morganza." C l a r k s a i d , " S h e n e v e r r o d e , b u t s h e helped k e e p s c o r e . She w a s v e r y m u c h i n v o l v e d i n w h a t I d i d . " M a r y C l a r k i s t h e a u t h o r o f t h e Maryland J o u s t i n g Song. S h e passed away i n 1986. M r . C l a r k m e n t i o n e d t h a t f o r every w i n , h e p i c k e d Mary a s h i s queen.

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Giants Of The Equine World by Karen Raley For c e n t u r i e s , d r a f t h o r s e s h a v e b e e n a s y m b o l o f g r e a t w i l l a n d s t r e n g t h . According t o N e a l Boyden, t e a m s o f C l y d e s d a l e s , B e l g i a n s , a n d Percherons were f r e q u e n t l y used f o r l o g g i n g a n d p l o w i n g a c r e s upon a c r e s . W i t h t h e advance i n farm m a c h i n e r y, t h e m i g h t y h o r s e s a r e m o r e o f t e n e n g a g e d i n s h o w s a n d competitions r a t h e r t h a n f o r e s t r y and a g r i c u l t u r e .

Leonardtown H i g h S c h o o l s t u d e n t , S h a u n C o n n o r, h a s b e e n subjected t o d r a f t horses a l l his l i f e . R i s i n g b e f o r e t h e sun, S h a u n h e a d s t o t h e b a r n t o feed, w a t e r, a n d groom " t h e b i g babies." A t night, Shaun returns t o t h e s t a b l e s where he works w i t h t h e g e n t l e creatures. " T h e y a r e s o f r i e n d l y ; t h e horses f o l l o w you around l i k e d o g s ! " C a r i n g f o r the h o r s e s does n o t t a k e a b a c k seat o n C h r i s t m a s m o r n i n g , when most f a m i l i e s a r e n e s t l e d i n t h e i r homes. F r o m t h e s t e a m y months o f J u l y a n d A u g u s t r i g h t through t h e b l u s t e r y c h i l l s o f J a n u a r y a n d F e b r u a r y, t r a i n e r s religiously practice with their horses. S h a u n s a i d he " w o u l d rather b e o u t s i d e w i t h t h e horses t h a n b e h i n d a d e s k , a n y d a y. "

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The t e a m s o f h o r s e s c o s t a n y w h e r e b e t w e e n $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 t o $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 . A s w i t h a n y investment, h o r s e buyers l o o k f o r s p e c i f i c q u a l i t i e s i n t h e horses. S h a u n does not l i k e h o r s e s w i t h l o n g b a c k s ; h e l e a n s t o w a r d t a l l , p o w e r f u l a n i m a l s , o r s h o r t and s t o c k y o n e s . D r a f t h o r s e s t h a t c a n s o m e t i m e s w e i g h a r o u n d 3 , 2 0 0 p o u n d s l u n c h on " h a y a n d s t r a i g h t o a t s m i x e d w i t h m o l a s s e s , n o t h i n g e x t r a , " s a i d S h a u n . T h e horses a r e know t o b e g e n t l e g i a n t s w i t h m i l d d i s p o s i t i o n s . A f t e r days and days o f strenuous work, t h e h o r s e s a r e w e i g h e d according t o Maryland l a w , t h e n h i t c h e d t o a s l e d f o r a p u l l i n g c o n t e s t . T h e t e a m has t h r e e t r i e s t o p u l l cement b l o c k s , a l s o known a s a " s l e d " o r a " b o a t " 2 7 f e e t 6 i n c h e s . "The h a n d l e r s , o n e t o d r i v e a n d o n e t o l e a d , a r e a l l o w e d t o t a l k t o t h e h o r s e s but d o n ' t have r e i g n s t o s t e e r , n o r c a n t h e y s l a p o r j e r k t h e h o r s e s . " E v e r y entry i n t h e c o n t e s t must please t h r e e t o f i v e l i n e j u d g e s . Not o n l y i s t h e r e r e w a r d i n t h e p r i z e s t h e t e a m s b r i n g h o m e , b u t t h e r e i s reward i n t h e l o v i n g a f f e c t i o n f r o m t h e h o r s e s a n d t h e f e e l i n g o f a c c o m p l i s h m e n t . According t o Robert L . Anderson, S r . o f Clements, Maryland, " T h e h o r s e p u l l i t s e l f i s n o t w h a t ' s h a r d o n t h e h o r s e s , i t ' s t h e months o f p r e p a r a t i o n ahead o f t i m e t h a t i s h a r d e s t o n t h e m . I w o r k my h o r s e s t w o t o t h r e e h o u r s m o s t d a y s . They n e e d t h i s p r a c t i c e t o d e v e l o p t h e p o w e r t h e y n e e d . T h e y l o v e t o p u l l b u t i n t h e summer t h e h e a t i s h a r d o n t h e m . I t t a k e s o n e y e a r o f w o r k t o m a k e a g o o d p u l l i n g h o r s e a n d y o u h a v e t o f e e d h i m a l l h e c a n e a t . I f e e d my h o r s e s a 1 0 quart bucket f u l l t h r e e t i m e s a day o f f e e d g r a i n c o n s i s t i n g o f s w e e t horse f e e d or o a t s o r a m i x t u r e w i t h c o r n . M y b i g g e s t h o r s e weighs a r o u n d 2 , 2 0 0 l b s . " Each y e a r A n d e r s o n g o e s a r o u n d t o s L a t e f a i r s a n d c o u n t y f a i r s t o e n t e r h i s P e r c h e r o n a n d B e l g i a n t e a m s a n d o f t e n comes home a w i n n e r .

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To The Arena by Julie Miles

Taken t o t h e A r e n a Connected w i t h a r o p e o f c h a i n s To a b l o c k o f c i n d e r . As t h e w h i s t l e b l o w s The w h i p c r a c k s h a r d o n t h e s p i n e A piece o f hide breaks loose. The w h i p s t h r u s t h a r d a g a i n , The w o u n d i s d e e p e r . Gravity snaps t h e i r necks a s t h e team p u l l s h a r d . The g r a s s t r a i l i s m a t t e d b y t h e immense w e i g h t , The d i r t i s c l u s t e r e d i n l a r g e m a s s e s Inscribed b y t h e hooves o f t h e o v e r s i z e d work horses. Another heave a n d t h e team s t o p s . They b r e a t h e h a s t i l y k n o w i n g o n c e t h e w e i g h t i s a d j u s t e d , T h e y ' l l s t a r t a g a i n , when a t once, The w h i s t l e b l o w s , The w h i p c r a c k s h a r d o n t h e s p i n e .

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Bridging The Generations by Andrew Stone A c h i l d s t a n d s by t h e dusty r o a d , next t o an o l d , faded b l u e Ford. H e g r a s p s t h e h a n d h e l d o u t t o h i m b y a man w h o s e f a c e i s a g e d w i t h d e e p l i n e s l i k e rivers from his eyes, t h e seas. They w a l k t o w a r d a g a t e c o v e r e d w i t h i v y g r o w i n g t h r o u g h t h e l i n k s . T h e soft breeze l i g h t l y s t i r s t h e leaves exposing rusted j o i n t s . The o l d man g i v e s t h e k e e p e r o f t h e g a t e t h e p a y m e n t f o r t h e i r e n t r y a n d they p r o c e e d . T h e b o y ' s stomach c h u r n s a s h e w a l k s a l o n g t h e t h o r o u g h f a r e : h i s heart races and h i s f e e t a r e t o o s m a l l t o proceed a t t h e p a c e necessary t o t a k e i n a l l o f t h e s i g h t s o f t h i s e x t r a v a g a n z a . H i s mind i s overwhelmed b y h i s feelings as sounds o f games, r i d e s , s h o w s , and a n i m a l s f l o w t h r o u g h the a i r. Huge, m o v i n g , m e t a l m o n s t e r s o r c h e s t r a t e s o u n d s o f c a l l i o p e m u s i c w h i c h m i n g l e w i t h r o a r i n g m a c h i n e r y. F u r t h e r a l o n g t h e p a t h t h e c r a c k o f a s h o t a n d t h e r i n g of a b e l l sound o u t , f o l l o w e d b y shouts o f g l e e . The c h i l d ' s m i n d a n d s e n s e s a r e o v e r w h e l m e d b y t h e s c e n t s o f c a n d y, h o t d o g s and p o p c o r n , b l e n d i n g w i t h t h e s m e l l o f c o w s a n d h o r s e s . O c c a s i o n a l l y c h i l d r e n saunter b y w i t h c o t t o n c a n d y s t i c k i n g t o t h e i r f a c e s o r i c e c r e a m d r i p p i n g down their chins. The b o y ' s g r a n d f a t h e r h a n d s h i m a t i c k e t a n d t h e y w a l k t o w a r d a m a s s i v e w h e e l t h a t seems t o s t r e t c h upward to t h e c l o u d s and f i l l t h e s k y. H e hands t h e a t t e n d a n t h i s t i c k e t a n d t h e y b o a r d t o g e t h e r . A moment l a t e r t h e y are d r a w n b a c k a n d t h e n l i f t e d , s u s p e n d e d o v e r t h e m a s s of scrambling f i g u r e s t h a t were once people b u t a r e now mere i n s e c t s . T h e w i n d w h i p s t h r o u g h t h e b o y ' s h a i r a n d gives h i m a n i n s e c u r e f e e l i n g a s h e l o o k s t o h i s companion f o r r e a s s u r a n c e . The s l o w r o c k i n g o f t h e i r c a r , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e vibration o f t h e engine c a u s e t h e b o y ' s heart t o race and h i s m i n d t o s i n g w i t h a n t i c i p a t i o n o f e a c h n e w moment. H e c l u t c h e s t h e s a f e t y b a r i n e x c i t e d g l e e . H e peers o v e r , s t r e t c h i n g h i s n e c k t o s e e t h e s p o t s t h a t move t o a n d f r o , i n a n e n d l e s s maze o f t e n t s a n d r i d e s u n t i l , f i n a l l y , t h i s a r r a y o f motions d i e s , along w i t h the s t r a n g e t i n g l i n g ; a n d t h e companions d i s e m b a r k . Once a g a i n t h e y s t r o l l a l o n g t h e t h o r o u g h f a r e a s the b o y ' s m i n d r e v e l s a t t h e e m o t i o n s t h a t f l o w o v e r him l i k e a h u g e w a v e . T h e m a r v e l s t h e g a m e s a n d a t t r a c t i o n s seem t o c a l l t o h i m a l l a t o n c e . H i s grandfather buys him a h o t d o g a n d t h e y p r o c e e d through t h e haze, i n t o t h e e v e r l a s t i n g c o m m o t i o n o f the c o u n t y f a i r , s o

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L i o n Ed R u s s e l l t a k e s time out f r o m manning t h e main gate t o w a t c h h i s grandn o n t h e merry-go-round.

To My Grandad by Clayton Hartley

My t h o u g h t s o f G r a n d a d were o f a s t e r n o l d m a n . He w o r k e d me r e a l h a r d with a cane i n h i s hand. He t a u g h t me t o d r e a m and s e e p i c t u r e s i n c l o u d s . Compared t o h i s s i l e n c e , I must seem q u i t e l o u d . I t h o u g h t h e was wrong; he k n e w h e w a s r i g h t . I j u s t wish I ' d listened to h i s r a m b l i n g i n t h e n i g h t . You s e e , m y g r a n d a d i s s i c k - Cancer s t r i k i n g h i m d o w n , but n o m a t t e r what - he s a i d , " N e v e r f r o w n " . Perhaps w h e n h e ' s g o n e , I w i l l s e e w i t h my e y e - I f I look r e a l hard- His c l o u d i n t h e s k y.

;

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All s i z e s , shapes, colors, a n d b r e e d s imaginable a r e welcome t o e n t e r t h e pet s h o w . P r o fessionals a r e n o t allowed. T h i s one i s for the kids!

(The Pet Show) 168

From Alligators To Dace The d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a s p e c i a l i z e d , c o m p e t i t i v e p e t s h o w a n d t h e o n e h e l d at t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r c a n be e x p l a i n e d w i t h o n e word: c h i l d r e n . " N o Adults" i s a phrase c h i l d r e n l o v e t o h e a r, a n d i t i s a r u l e s t r i c t l y enforced a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r ' s a n n u a l p e t s h o w. " O t h e r w i s e i t becomes t o o c o m p e t i t i v e , " s a y s pet show c h a i r m a n , J o e R i d g e l l . " P e o p l e u s e d t o b r i n g i n t h e i r p e d i g r e e a n i m a l s and e x p e c t t o c o m p e t e w i t h k i d s w h o h a d t u r t l e s . " The s h o w g i v e s c o u n t y c h i l d r e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e i n t h e s p o t l i g h t a n d show o f f t h e i r f a v o r i t e p e t . A c c o r d i n g t o R i d g e l l , " t h e f a i r i t s e l f i s r u n f a i r l y s i m p l y. C h i l d r e n b r i n g i n t h e i r p e t s ( w h i c h range f r o m a l l i g a t o r s t o mice) t o b e j u d g e d . A l m o s t a n y k i n d o f a n i m a l i s a l l o w e d , b u t t o p r e v e n t t h e spread o f d i s e a s e , t h e S t . M a r y ' s H e a l t h Department o r d e r e d t h a t a l l a n i m a l s m u s t have u p d a t e d s h o t s . V o l u n t e e r s a r e t o b e s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e a u d i e n c e t o b e t h e judges; t h i s way t h e j u d g i n g process i s k e p t f a i r . W i n n i n g p e t s and t h e i r owners r e c e i v e r i b b o n s ; a l t h o u g h a t o n e t i m e t h e y r e c e i v e d b o t h money a n d r i b b o n s . "

" I have been involved Madsen became p r e s i d e n t o f R i d g e l l who t r a v e l s t o o t how t h e y d o t h e i r s . M a n y specialize.

i n t h e p e t show s i n c e b e f o r e Hazel the county f a i r i n 1 9 6 9 , " stated h e r s t a t e and county f a i r s " t o see d o n ' t d o e v e r y t h i n g we d o ; many

The S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r P e t Show p r o v i d e s a n e n t e r t a i n i n g , e d u c a t i o n a l , not- t o o - c o m p e t i t i v e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r c h i l d r e n t o show o f f t h e i r f a v o r i t e p e t . N o t to m e n t i o n t h e t h r i l l p a r e n t s g e t w a t c h i n g c h i l d r e n t r y i n g t o c o n t r o l t h e i r own c h i l d r e n . F o r , a s M r. R i d g e l l s a y s , " A n i m a l s a r e r e a l l y f u n n y y o u k n o w . T h e y always a c t u p a t t h e w r o n g t i m e . . . J u s t l i k e k i d s . "

iffiV433iiiiii, WOIWIWOkt

M r. J u l i u s J o h n s o n , C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t ( s e c o n d f r o m l e f t ) , h i s wife, A n n a ( f a r l e f t ) , a n d W i l e y H a r t w e l l t a k e a l o o k a t young John B a r n a r d H e n d e r s o n ' s p e t m i c e t h a t h e e n t e r e d i n t h e f a i r ' s amateur p e t s h o w i n 1 9 5 6 . ( G i r l , r i g h t , u n i d e n t i f i e d ) "At one point the mouse ran up Hartwell's sleeve and we had a heck of a time getting him out, "said Suzanne Henderson, John's mom. 169

St. Michael's Manor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Revisited (A Working Farm In The 1800s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Today Bed And Breakfast) Many o l d m a n o r h o u s e s s t i l l s t a n d a s a c o n s t a n t r e m i n d e r o f t h e d a y s w h e n agriculture, o y s t e r i n g , f i s h i n g , a n d c r a b b i n g f l o u r i s h e d a s t h e m a i n source o f income i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. T o d a y many o f t h e s e o l d homes a r e o n t h e h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y ' s l i s t o f b e a u t i f u l o l d homes t o v i s i t ; h o m e s w h i c h a r e a l o o k i n t o a past w h i c h n o l o n g e r e x i s t s . A p a s t when t o b a c c o was packed i n t o hogsheads a n d loaded o n t o b a r g e s d e s t i n e d f o r f o r e i g n a n d d o m e s t i c p o r t s . A p a s t w h e r e m u l e s t i l l e d t h e f i e l d s a n d s l a v e s w e r e n e c e s s a r y t o k e e p t h e economy s t a t u s q u o . A place where l i f e was s i m p l e and l e s s h a r r i e d a n d p e o p l e h a d t i m e t o v i s i t one a n o t h e r, e n j o y t h e f r u i t s o f t h e i r l a b o r s , a n d s p e n d t i m e w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s . Today l i f e i n S t . M a r y ' s i s s l o w l y j o i n i n g t h e h e c t i c p a c e o f o u r m e t r o p o l i t a n n e i g h b o r s i n Wa s h i n g t o n , D C , B a l t i m o r e , a n d A n n a p o l i s . T h e f a r m s have l e s s a n d l e s s a c r e a g e u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n . M o s t f a r m e r s o r t h e i r w i v e s h a v e second j o b s t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e i r i n c o m e s a n d a r e f i n d i n g i t h a r d e r a n d h a r d e r t o make a l i v i n g b y f a r m i n g . Y e a r s a g o , h o w e v e r , f a r m s s u c h a s S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r were s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t a n d m a i n t a i n e d a t r a n q u i l a i r o f p r o s p e r i t y .

P u b l i c a t i o n s S t u d e n t s A n g e l a C o b l e n t z ( L ) a n d S h a r o n Dunn stand w i t h Nancy D i c k ( R t . ) w h o a l o n g w i t h h e r h u s b a n d Joe h a v e t u r n e d S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r i n t o a b e d a n d breakfast h a v e n w i t h v i n e y a r d s , sheep and a w a t e r f r o n t v i e w.

St. M i c h a e l ' s i s l o c a t e d o n e m i l e f r o m S c o t l a n d a n d a m i l e a n d a h a l f f r o m P o i n t L o o k o u t . I t i s c u r r e n t l y owned b y C a p t . J o s e p h L . D i c k a n d h i s w i f e , N a n c y, w h o are e n l a r g i n g t h e i r v i n e y a r d i n h o p e s o f p r o d u c i n g m o r e w i n e t h a n t h e y c u r r e n t l y produce. S h e e p a n d g o a t s r o a m t h e l u s h g r e e n l a w n a n d t h e b o r d e r i n g p a s t u r e .

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Leonardtown H i g h S c h o o l P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s A n g e l a C o b l e n t z ( L ) and S h a r o n D u n n ( R t . ) h e l p N a n c y D i c k ( c e n t e r ) , o w n e r o f S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r, f e e d t w o b a b y g o a t s .

Ducks, d o g s a n d a n a s s o r t m e n t o f o t h e r a n i m a l s g i v e t h e o l d m a n o r h o u s e a f l a v o r o f t h e p a s t , b u t t h e o l d f a r m , l i k e many f a r m s i n t h e c o u n t y , h a s h a d s e c t i o n s sold o f f o v e r t h e y e a r s and no l o n g e r f u n c t i o n s a s a l a r g e s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g f a r m . Today t o u r i s t s f r o m a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y e n j o y t h e b e d a n d b r e a k f a s t h o s p i t a l i t y provided b y Captain and Mrs. D i c k . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e h i s t o r y o f S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r, s u p p l i e d t o u s b y M r s . Dick, " t h e l a n d o f t h e o r i g i n a l e s t a t e was one o f t h e t h r e e manors s o u t h o f S m i t h Creek g r a n t e d t o G o v. L e o n a r d C a l v e r t i n 1 6 3 9 , " w i t h t h e r i g h t o f C o u r t B a r o n a n d Court L e e t . The m a n o r w a s p r o b a b l y b u i l t b y J a m e s R i c h a r d s o n a b o u t 1 8 0 5 . T h e r e i s a b r i c k i n t h e house, f o r m e r l y i n t h e cornerstone, t h a t says J . L . R . , 1805. T h e two- a n d - a - h a l f s t o r y h o u s e l i e s w i t h i n f i f t y f e e t o f t h e w a t e r i n a meadow a l m o s t l e v e l w i t h t h e c o v e . T r a d i t i o n h a s i t t h a t t h e b r i c k s i n t h i s h o u s e came f r o m England, a n d i t i s s a i d t h a t o n e c a n s e e t h e r e m a i n s o f t h e b o a t w h i c h c a r r i e d them, s u n k i n t h e c o v e . A u n t M a r y P i d g e o n , a n a g e d n e g r e s s l i v i n g n e a r t h e M a n o r and r e p u t e d t o b e o n e h u n d r e d a n d f i f t e e n y e a r s o l d , q u o t e s h e r g r a n d m o t h e r a s supporting t h i s s t o r y ( H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y ) .

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A v i n e y a r d now d o t s t h e landscape o n S t . M i c h a e l ' s Manor- - a f a r m n o w owned b y J o e a n d N a n c y D i c k . S h e e p g r a z e i n t h e a d j o i n i n g f i e l d s . P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s T i n a Welander ( L . ) and A n g e l a C o b l e n t z p o s e w i t h N a n c y D i c k ( R t . )

Produce f r o m f a r m s s u c h a s S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r w a s a g r e a t s o u r c e o f p r i d e f o r t h o s e who h a d a p a r t i n g r o w i n g i t . F a l l w a s a s p e c i a l t i m e f o r h a r v e s t i n g and c e l e b r a t i o n s . F a m i l i e s w o u l d o f t e n g e t t o g e t h e r f o r s q u a r e d a n c e s , q u i l t i n g bees, h o g k i l l i n g s a n d o t h e r s u c h a c t i v i t i e s e m a n a t i n g f r o m f a r m l i f e . T h e s e were o f t e n f a m i l y a f f a i r s a n d r e l a t i v e s w o u l d g a t h e r t o w o r k a n d t o c e l e b r a t e . Produce s u c h a s t h a t g r o w n a t S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r w o u l d t h e n b e b r o u g h t t o the f a i r t o b e a d m i r e d b y f r i e n d s , n e i g h b o r s a n d r e l a t i v e s . H o u s e w i v e s w o u l d bring t h e i r j a r s o f f r e s h l y canned peaches, p e a r s , s t r i n g beans, p o r k t h e l i k e t o compare w i t h j a r s c a n n e d b y o t h e r l o c a l w i v e s . Such w a s t h e l i f e i n d a y s p a s t o n t h e f a r m s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y - - a l i f e that i s s l o w l y being a b s o r b e d b y development, h i g h t e c h i n d u s t r y and a computer revolution.

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Animal Antics

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174

Stop! Is That Food I Smell? by Sharon Dunn and Clayton Hartley

My f e e t g o p i d d e r - p a d d e r , p i d d e r - p a d d e r , shuffling through the dust. A l l o f a s u d d e n my b r a i n s h o u t s " S t o p ! " , and m y l e g s q u i t m o v i n g . Wiggle, w i g g l e goes my n o s e , I s m e l l t h e s w e e t a r o m a o f c o t t o n c a n d y, the s p i c y s c e n t o f t h e barbeque, the s m e l l o f p o p c o r n , h o t d o g s , r o a s t e d p e a n u t s . My s t o m a c h g r o w l s , a s a r e m i n d e r o f t h e n e a r n e s s o f l u n c h t i m e I l i c k my l i p s i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f s t r i n g s o f c h e e s e , s t r e t c h i n g t o my mouth f r o m a p e p p e r o n i p i z z a .

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Fair Food Junkie by Julie Miles Hunger s e t s i n , m y s t o m a c h g r o w l s l o u d l y From t h e f r u i t f u l a r o m a s t h a t w h i s p t h r o u g h t h e a i r . What t o e a t ? C o t t o n c a n d y, o y s t e r s , f u n n e l c a k e s Candy a p p l e s , f r e s h f r e n c h f r i e s , o r p o s s i b l y a Chewy c h o c o l a t e c h i p c o o k i e . The p e a n u t s s m e l l h e a v e n l y, t h e p i z z a d i v i n e , Newly r o a s t e d h o t d o g s , d r e n c h e d i n c h i l i . P l e a s e c a n I make t h e m a l l m i n e ? An u p s e t s t o m a c h ? S t r a n g e l y , I d o n ' t c a r e , For I k n o w i t ' s a l l b e c a u s e I s p e n t t h e d a y At t h e c o u n t y f a i r .

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Activities Year Round On The Grounds by Karen Raley

The S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r g r o u n d s a r e used f o r m a n y a c t i v i t i e s o t h e r t h a n the c o u n t y f a i r . O t h e r organizations sponsor competitions, c l i n i c s , a n d y e a r. festivals that t a k e place throughout the The Humane S o c i e t y s p o n s o r s a rabies c l i n i c , t h e S t . M a r y ' s Riding c l u b sponsors horse shows, and i n summers past t h e l o c a l y o u t h g a t h e r e d f o r r o c k c o n c e r t s o n Saturday n i g h t s sponsored b y A l l M u s i c ' s Yo u t h . M a n y o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s s p o n s o r a c t i v i t i e s o n t h e g r o u n d s a s well. A major extravaganza which t a k e s place a n n u a l l y on the fairgrounds i s t h e St. M a r y ' s County O y s t e r F e s t i v a l . T h e O y s t e r F e s t i v a l began i n 1967, w h e n t h e Rotary Club w a s s t i l l a young c l u b l o o k i n g f o r a p r o j e c t i n which t h e e n t i r e membership c o u l d i n v o l v e i t s e l f f o r t h e g o o d o f a l l c o n c e r n e d . S i n c e t h e n , t h e f a i r g r o u n d p r o p e r t y h a s b e e n t h e home o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y O y s t e r F e s t i v a l . A c c o r d i n g t o a r e c e n t summary i n t h e A p r i l 5 , 1 9 8 9 M e m o r a n d u m t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s County C o m m i s s i o n e r s , t h e f e s t i v a l a t t r a c t s a n a v e r a g e o f 2 2 , 0 0 0 v i s i t o r s ' e a c h y e a r.

Seventy t o e i g h t y p e r c e n t o f t h e v i s i t o r s come f r o m o u t s i d e t h e c o u n t y . S i x t e e n l o c a l n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o t a l e d $145,000 o f n e t proceeds i n t h e p a s t f i v e years, g r o s s r e c e i p t s t o t a l e d $485,000. T h i s i s a good example o f how o u r c o u n t y has g r o w n a n d c h a n g e d s i n c e t h e i n c e p t i o n o f t h e f i r s t c o u n t y f a i r .

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The N a t i o n a l O y s t e r S h u c k i n g C h a m p i o n s h i p C o n t e s t i s f e s t i v a l . C o n t e s t a n t s come f r o m a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y .

a grand event a t t h e

TER SHUCK MPIONSHI

M r. D a v i d S a y r e ( l o c a l w a t e r m a n a n d f o r m e r C o u n t y Commissioner) i s t h e o f f i c i a l j u d g e . H e t e l l s t h e amateur c o n t e s t a n t s t o " m a k e t h e m l o o k a s n i c e a s you c a n . I k n o w y o u c a n ' t m a k e t h e m l o o k a s n i c e as a p r o f e s s i o n a l , b u t m a k e t h e m l o o k n i c e e n o u g h t o s e r v e t o s o m e b o d y. "

Prizes o f $150 and $300 g o t o t h e f i n a l i s t s w h o shuck 24 o y s t e r s w i t h a n emphasis on " a p p e a r a n c e o v e r s h a d o w i n g r a w s p e e d " . T h e o v e r a l l w i n n e r becomes t h e N a t i o n a l Champion a n d g e t s a n a l l - e x p e n s e t r i p t o I r e l a n d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e U . S . i n t h e International Oyster S h u c k i n g Contest. A major a d d i t i o n t o t h e f e s t i v a l i s t h e O y s t e r C o o k - O f f t h a t b e g a n i n 1 9 7 9 w h e n L u c y W i n g , t h e n F o o d E d i t o r o f Good Housekeeping m a g a z i n e t o l d B u c k B r i s c o e o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y E c o n o m i c Development C o m m i s s i o n t h a t w e n e e d e d a n o y s t e r c o o k i n g c o n t e s t ( O y s t e r F e s t i v a l h i s t o r y b y E s l e y N. S c h w a r t z ) . I n a t y p i c a l y e a r 500 r e c i p e s f o r e n t r e e s ; soups and s t e w s , a n d h o r s d ' o e u v r e s a r e r e c e i v e d f r o m a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 s t a t e s . W i n n e r s receive p r i z e s w o r t h up t o $500. ( S e e r e c i p e n e x t page)

178

Fiesta Oyster 'N' Corn Chowder Ole Shirley De Santis, E. Windsor, N.J.

1 q u a r t ( 4 cups) m i l k 1 package ( 3 ounces) cream cheese, cubed 1 can (15 o r 16 ounces) cream- s t y l e c o r n 6 s t r i p s bacon, d i c e d 1 o n i o n , chopped 4 medium p o t a t o e s , c o o k e d , p e e l e d , d i c e d 1 c a n ( 4 ounces) chopped green c h i l i e s , d r a i n e d , d i v i d e d 1/2 t e a s p o o n s e a s o n e d s a l t 1/8 t e a s p o o n c a y e n n e p e p p e r 1 q u a r t Maryland s e l e c t o y s t e r s 1/2 c u p d a i r y s o u r c r e a m Place m i l k i n l a r g e s a u c e p a n a n d s l o w l y b r i n g t o a b o i l ; l o w e r h e a t . A d d cream c h e e s e c u b e s a n d c o r n . C o o k , s t i r r i n g o f t e n , o v e r l o w h e a t , u n t i l c r e a m cheese h a s m e l t e d . R e s e r v e . In s m a l l s k i l l e t cook bacon and o n i o n u n t i l bacon i s c r i s p ; d r a i n o f f excess bacon f a t a n d d i s c a r d . Add b a c o n , o n i o n a n d p o t a t o e s t o m i l k m i x t u r e . R e s e r v e 2 t o 3 t e a s p o o n s green c h i l i e s f o r t o p p i n g . A d d r e m a i n i n g g r e e n c h i l i e s t o m i l k m i x t u r e a l o n g w i t h seasoned s a l t a n d cayenne p e p p e r. H e a t t h r o u g h . T a s t e ; a d j u s t s e a s o n i n g s , i f n e c e s s a r y. Drain Maryland s e l e c t o y s t e r s ; a d d t o h o t soup and c o o k , j u s t u n t i l edge o f oysters c u r l . Ladle soup/chowder i n t o b o w l s . T o p e a c h s e r v i n g w i t h cream; s c a t t e r r e s e r v e d c h i l i e s o v e r s o u r c r e a m . E n j o y .

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Photography Credits:

Art Credits:

Tom B u r k e Elwood C u s i c Henry F o w l e r , J r . Suzanne H e n d e r s o n James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t A l Gough, J r . Claude J a r b o e Robert J a r b o e Sue N a v a l a Myra R a s p a John a n d A n n R i c h a r d s St. M a r y ' s County F a i r Board

Sharon D u n n Brian Nevala Karen R a l e y

Board of Directors (1990) John R i c h a r d s , P r e s i d e n t J. Elwood C u s i c , V i c e P r e s i d e n t J. MaGuire M a t t i n g l y, J r . , T r e a s u r e r Rayetta McWilliams, Recording S e c r e t a r y Mary M . P f e i f f , F a i r S e c r e t a r y Agnes B i r c h Tom C l a r k James F o r r e s t W i l l y Goddard Suzanne H e n d e r s o n W i l l i a m G. H o l l e y Charles S a s s c e r, J r . N o r r i s Shepherd James R . Owens Philip Scriber Theresa S t e r l i n g Robert Lee Tr o s s b a c h Lloyd Cusic (Honorary) Franklin Hewitt (Honorary) John S l a d e I I I ( F a i r A t t o r n e y )

183

Past Presidents Of St. Mary's County Fair And Dates Served Major General H. C . D a v i d s o n Henry J . F o w l e r J. S . M a t t i n g l y Lester M a t t i n g l y Richard L . S t o u t C. L . L e e John S . M a t t i n g l y Robert H . Thompson Anna S . J o h n s o n Hazel Madsen Glenn W. Wo o d , J r . J. R i c h a r d M a t t i n g l y Howard A . L a n c a s t e r James R . Owens Franklin Hewitt John L. Richards

At., q t

—

1947-1948 1949-1951 1952-1954 1955 1956 1957-1958 1959-1960 1961-1966 1967-1968 1969-1970 1971-1974 1975-1976 1977-1978 1979-1981 1982-1983 1984-

—

1947 -48 Board of Directors (First Board of Directors of Current Fair) Howard C . D a v i d s o n Susan P. G r e e n w e l l Heath S t e e l e Frank D. Hayden Roland B . D u k e , S r . John H . B r i s c o e Compton Swann Daniel H. Davis John F . G a r d i n e r Lela C. S t r i c k l a n d Julia Cuniberti L e t t y M. D e n t Joseph M . M a t t i n g l y Leon G r e e n w e l l Henry J . F o w l e r , S r .

184

Fair Committee 1990 AGRICULTURE

i s Shepherd Betty Shepherd Bill Bartlett ART N a n c y Glenn BABY SHOW N a n c y Wolfe BEER STAND ( C h a i r ) To m C l a r k Tim Wa t h e n BIKE RODEO J a m e s Farrell CATALOG A n n Richards CATTLE E l w o o d Cusic Frank Tr o s s b a c h CERAMICS B a r b a r a Allston CRAFTS J e a n Frost DRAFT HORSE PULLING R o y Guy Robert Tr o s s b a c h Jennings Anderson FARM MUSEUM A l Dillow B i l l Clements FLOWER SHOW M r s . R o b e r t Thompson 4-H CLUBS & F FA J e a n C. Dean GATES L i o n s Club GENERAL MANAGER J a m e s Owens B i l l Holley GOATS J e a n i e Rowell HOBBIES B e t h Fedasz HOGS R o b e r t Tr o s s b a c h HOME ARTS L o u i s e Dean HORSE SHOWS M a r y Wood Bobby L i n d s l e y INSIDE SPACE R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s

JOUSTING

H e n r y

J . F o w l e r, J r . Phil Clark LAMBS R o b e r t Tr o s s b a c h LIVESTOCK E l w o o d Cusic LIVESTOCK SALES E l w o o d C u s i c Neal Boyden John R i c h a r d s Tommy B i g g s Tim Wa t h e n Larry L u t t r e l l Eddie B o w l i n g MAINTENANCE ( C h a i r ) P h i l i p S c r i b e r & GROUNDS N o r r i s Shepherd R i c h a r d Owens Tim Wa t h e n Franklin Hewitt OUTSIDE SPACE A g n e s Birch PARADE ( C h a i r ) S u z a n n e H e n d e r s o n PERSONNEL J a m e s Owens PET SHOW J o e Ridgell POULTRY J o h n Campbell PUBLICITY ( C h a i r ) R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s /PROGRAM Elwood C u s i c QUEEN OF TOLERANCE PAGEANT ( C h a i r ) Theresa S t e r l i n g Marion S t e r l i n g SCHOOLS Linda P a t t o n SPEECH CONTEST Bernard Johnson TROPHIES Rayetta McWilliams

Maryland Agricultural Fair Board (1990) P h i l i p Brendel, Chairman Joseph F r e e , V i c e C h a i r m a n Wa l t e r Buck I I I , S e c r e t a r y F r a n k Downey John B a r t o n Edna W h i t e Joy G . S c h w a b John R i c h a r d s Chrine M. B l o o m , E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y

185

Acknowledgements We owe o u r t h a n k s t o m a n y, m a n y p e o p l e f o r h e l p i n g t o make t h i s s p e c i a l project a success.

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w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k M r. D w i g h t C h a k a l e s ,

p r i n c i p a l o f Leonardtown High School f o r a l l o w i n g t h e s t a f f and s p o n s o r t h e t i m e necessary t o complete s u c h a n u n d e r t a k i n g . M u c h o f t h e w o r k f o r t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n took p l a c e o u t o f t h e c l a s s r o o m . S t u d e n t s a n d s p o n s o r, b y n e c e s s i t y, m e t w i t h people a l l o v e r S t . M a r y ' s , C a l v e r t a n d C h a r l e s C o u n t i e s t o r e s e a r c h o r a l h i s t o r y never b e f o r e r e c o r d e d . O u r t h a n k s t o a l l t h o s e w o n d e r f u l v o l u n t e e r s who g a v e o f t h e i r t i m e t o spend hours w i t h us g o i n g o v e r f a c t s and i n f o r m a t i o n . Our s p e c i a l t h a n k s a r e e x t e n d e d t o J o h n a n d A n n R i c h a r d s ( J o h n h a s b e e n F a i r Board P r e s i d e n t f o r s e v e n y e a r s a n d i s

s t i l l s e r v i n g i n t h a t capacity a t

this

w r i t i n g ) whose p h o n e was c o n s t a n t l y r i n g i n g due t o t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n . T h e y were gracious and never s a i d t h e y w e r e t o o b u s y

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our quest for

information. There a r e o t h e r s w h o a l s o d e s e r v e s p e c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n f o r t h e i r d e d i c a t i o n to o u r cause. E l w o o d C u s i c h a s s p e n t h o u r s and d a y s w i t h u s i d e n t i f y i n g p e o p l e i n p h o t o g r a p h s a n d r e - l i v i n g t h e f a i r h i s t o r y f o r u s ( E l w o o d remembers t h e f a i r f r o m i t s e a r l y b e g i n n i n g s i n 1 9 4 7 - - e v e n b u i l t t h e f i r s t l o a d i n g c h u t e a t Camp Calvert). W e are deeply indebted t o him. Without Suzanne H e n d e r s o n ' s p a t i e n c e a n d w i l l i n g n e s s t o h e l p u s s e e k o u t t h e f a c t s a n d t r a c k down i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p h o t o g r a p h s , t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n w o u l d n o t b e as c o m p r e h e n s i v e . H e r p h o t o g r a p h s a n d a c c u r a t e a c c o u n t s o f d a y s p a s t h a v e b e e n i n v a l u a b l e t o u s . O t h e r s who m a d e o u r l i v e s e a s i e r w e r e B i l l H o l l e y , MaGuire M a t t i n g l y , R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s , J a m e s Owens, B e r n a r d J o h n s o n , H e a t h S t e e l e ( w h o s e h a n d w r i t t e n l e t t e r s u p p l i e d u s w i t h much n e e d e d h i s t o r y s u r r o u n d i n g t h e o r i g i n o f the c u r r e n t f a i r ) , C l a u d e a n d R o b e r t J a r b o e , H e n r y F o w l e r , J r . ( w h o w a s e v e r s o

186

h e l p f u l w i t h h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s a n d c a t a l o g u e s ) , N e a l Boyden, A n n D r u r y, B e t t y Ta y l o r , M a r y W o o d ( h o r s e s h o w c h a i r p e r s o n ) , J o h n L a n c a s t e r , J a m e s a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t , a n d Te r e s a S t e r l i n g ( Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e C h a i r p e r s o n ) . S p e c i a l t h a n k s a l s o t o A l Gough, J r . w h o l e d u s t o t h e L e o n a r d H a l l t i e s t o the 1912 f a i r a n d t o J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y , J r . ( a n d R e t i r e d J u d g e J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y , S r . ) w h o s e g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a p a r t i c i p a n t a n d w i n n e r many t i m e s o v e r i n t h e 1 9 1 2 1914 f a i r s a t L e o n a r d H a l l . A v e r y s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o George K l e a r o f The P r i n t i n g P r e s s f o r h i s p a t i e n c e and h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o w o r k w i t h u s a n d o u r d e a d l i n e s a s w e p l u n g e d d e e p e r a n d deeper i n t o o u r r e s e a r c h a n d t o o k m o r e a n d m o r e o f h i s t i m e . T h a n k s

also to

Mary A n n C h a s e n who t y p e d t h e f i n a l d r a f t f o r u s a n d w h o a l l o w e d u s t o i n t e r r u p t her l i f e d a y a n d n i g h t f o r t w o weeks a s we s t r o v e f o r p e r f e c t i o n . A s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o D r . S a l v a t o r e Raspa f o r h i s p a t i e n c e a s h i s w i f e , M y r a (The P u b l i c a t i o n s s p o n s o r / t e a c h e r

i n

charge

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t h i s project) spent countless

weekends, h o l i d a y s , a n d t w o s u m m e r s w o r k i n g o n

t h e publication instead of

spending t h a t t i m e w i t h h e r f a m i l y . Thanks a l s o g o o u t t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d f o r h e l p i n g u s f u n d the p r o j e c t . W e s i n c e r e l y hope t h e y a r e p l e a s e d w i t h

our efforts and will

c h e r i s h t h e memories we have p r e s e r v e d f o r a l l t i m e . Words c a n n o t b e g i n t o e x p r e s s o u r g r a t i t u d e t o t h e c o u n t l e s s v o l u n t e e r s w h o not o n l y h e l p e d u s w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , b u t who f o r y e a r s h a v e trudged t h r o u g h t h e mud, w o r k e d t i r e l e s s l y , g i v e n c o m p l e t e l y o f t h e m s e l v e s a n d s a c r i f i c e d - - o f t e n - - t h e i r p r i v a t e l i v e s t o make o u r c o u n t y f a i r t h e s u c c e s s t h a t i t i s t o d a y.

W e h a v e t r u l y come f u l l t e r m w i t h v o l u n t e e r i s m i n t h e " L a n d o f

Pleasant L i v i n g " .

187

Fair Daze by Beth Alton

I move t h r o u g h t h e g a t e , g l a n c e a r o u n d , Ready t o s t a r t m y t o u r . I ' m w a l k i n g i n t h e f o o t s t e p s made Several y e a r s b e f o r e . The a n i m a l s s t i l l l o o k t h e s a m e . They're making noises t o o . Clucking chickens, p i g s t h a t s q u e a l , And c o w s , o h h o w t h e y m o o . Displays o f a r t s and c r a f t s and such, Are l o o k e d u p o n b y a l l . Canned g o o d s a n d p u m p k i n s i g n i f y That s o o n t o come i s f a l l . Rich aromas f i l l t h e a i r , My s t o m a c h s t a r t s t o g r o w l . I sure would l i k e a f u n n e l cake And r o a s t e d p e a n u t s n o w. Suddenly b e f o r e me s t a n d s A carnival of fun. This new p a r t o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r Is d i f f i c u l t t o shun. Children w i t h great s m i l i n g faces Ride t h e c a r o u s e l . "Mom a n d D a d , l o o k a t m e ! " How g a i l y t h e y d o y e l l . I t u r n a r o u n d , r e t r a c e my s t e p s ; I pause t o s t o p and s t a r e . Until next year farewell t o thee- St. M a r y ' s County F a i r .

188

Matthew Olson

Sara Jenkins Clayton Hartley Elizabeth Alton

Amy Quinlan

Andrew Stone Karen Raley

Contributing - Publications Class of 1988 - 1989 Angela Coblentz

Brian Nevala

Sharon Dunn

Karen Raley

Kimberly Kliner

Andrew Stone

Julie Miles

Christina Welander Sponsor/Teacher - Myra Raspa

Photo courtesy of Al Gough, Jr. From Left to Right: Dr. Charles Hayden (Leonardtown dentist); Father b o o k s and also was one of the originators of the Cardinal Gibbons High School Lawrence Kelly, S.J.; unidentified; Mattingly Swann. Foreground: Father i n Ridge, MD; three boys (unidentified); and boy (far right) last name is Love. John La Farge (sitting), author of America, The Manor is Ordinary and other O x cart entry at St. Mary's County Fair (1913- 1914) held at Leonard Hall.

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