Rains County TX - History of Book Fairs and Organizers contributed by : Elaine Nall Bay ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** sources : annual Free Fair books Rains County Free Fair The first annual session of the Rains County Fair, as well as succeeding fairs until the fair grounds were purchased, were held on the courthouse square in Emory.  No entry fees were charged for exhibits.  Ribbons were awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places, with cash prized for the best booths,  $7.50 for 1st place, $4.00 for 2nd place, and a ribbon for 3rd place.  The agricultural exhibits included milo maize, Hegari, Darso, oats, barley, rye, Kaffir, sorghum, soy beans, sweet clover, Sudan grass, peanuts, apples, peaches, pears, persimmons, figs, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, green snap beans, blackeyed peas, cream peas, field peas, onions, bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, cashaw, pumpkins, watermelon, ribbon cane stalks and ribbon cane syrup.  Textiles included fancy sewing, embroidered pillow cases, dresser scarves, vanity set, center piece, embroidered towels, luncheon set, bedspread, needle point tapestry, infant wear, and quilts.  Culinary entries included breads - white, plain biscuits, rolls, pone corn bread; cakes - pound, angel food, tea cakes, doughnuts and chocolate layer; pies - half moon apple fried, potato custard and molasses; candies - date loaf, peanut brittle and chocolate fudge.  Home Dept. entries included preserves, jellies, canned fruits, canned vegetables.  Best School booths were awarded $5.00 for 1st, $2.50 for 2nd, and a ribbon for 3rd; the booths were judged on general appearance, originality, quality and quantity.   Oct 31 - Nov 1, 1930 : 1st fair held in Rains County Officers : J.H. Foster, President                John T. Rushing, V.P.                D.B. Yandell, V.P.                Dr. P.W. Pearson, V.P.                Gill McKay, V.P.                T.N. Winn, County Agent                Sam Braziel, Sec/Treas. Publicity Committee :   Tom W. Hill, Chairman             J.E. Fulkerson                                    Prof. T.H. Howard                     Sam Braziel                                    Miss Ethel Whittle                      Judge H.D. Garrett                                    Judge J.T. Rushing Grounds Committee :   S.H. Hood, Chairman               T.N. Tackett, Jr.                                    J.A. Amis                                   S.P. Cain                                    S.C. Alexander                           C.A. Southerland                                    G.E. Cox                                    Monroe Arrington                                  O.B. Cline                                  A.J. Meyer                                    B. F. Lambert Entertainment Committee :    Morris H. Roach, Chairman       Mrs. Will Harris                                             T.N. Tackett, Sr.                       J.E. Fulkerson                                             Mrs. Emma B. Edwards            Miss Bill Amis                                             Miss Nellie Grey Hill                 Lute Lennon                                             Earl Sybert                                Joel Lennon                                             Mrs. F.S. Alexander                 Will Harris                                             Mrs. S.H. Hood                        Miss Christine Wever Prize Committee :    Sam Amis, Chairman                   H.O. McCallon                                F.C. Montgomery                       Buster Davis                                Eugie Lynch                                A.A. Plaxco                                D.S. Peoples                              H.H. McMillon                                C.V. Ray                                    B.B. Rabb Home Department Committee :    Mrs. R.T. Pearson, Supt.       Mrs. J.A. Amis                                    Mrs. W.R. Huddleston          Mrs. Chas. D. Horton                                    Mrs. Maude Seaton              Mrs. R.M. Pollard                                  Mrs. Alex Humphrey            Mrs. B.B. Davis Agricultural Exhibit Committee :   Russell Gorman, Supt.          Sam Amis                                        A.V. Terry                           Tom Thornton                                    S. Barker                             K.F. Looney                                    S.H. Terry                           George Clements                                    L. Martin                             Jim Kennemer                                      J. Middleton                        J.W. Formby                                      C. Huff                                B.L. Meyer                                  J.A. Abercrombie                W.A. Curtis                                    Bill Scott                              Hick Engleman                                    Dick Clewis                         Rufus Barton                                    A.N. Betts Livestock Committee :          Cattle, M.M. Vincent, Supt.               Alex Humphrey                     W. Pounds                        Robert Hunter                    E.M. Mason                     J.J. Jenkins                      D. King                        H.B. Jones                    John Plaxco         Swine, Fred Blanton, Supt.              M.Y. Willis                    M. Gilley                      C.O. Shultz                   Joe Kennemer                 Cal Williams     Horses & Mules, H. Horton, Supt.                     G. Luckett                            C.C. Freeze                          Gus Osborn                            D.N. Nelson         Poultry, Guy Holman, Supt.                 Charlie Clayborne                    W.R. Huddleston                    Bill Northcutt                     W.W. Gilbert                       C.B. Horton Community Booth Dept.  :   Mrs. G.D. McKay, Supt.       Miss Opal Rushing                              Mrs. T.N. Winn                     Mrs. M.M. Vincent                          Mrs. M.M. Pollard                Mrs. W.A. Harris                            Jim McBride Girls Dept. : Mrs. T.N. Winn, Supt.              Miss Eunice Alexander                 Mrs. Ivy S. Price                Miss Peggy Arnold Boys Club Dept. : Douglas Vincent, Supt.            E. McGee                   L. Neal                       James French                     S.H. Hendrix School Dept. Committee : Miss Della Dorn, Supt.         John Smiley                            Mrs. W.M. McGowan         S.O. Spinks Concession Committe :    R.T. Pearson, Chairman           "Chig" Alexander                          Will Harris                         Mrs. Dave Nabors                         Nellie Grey Hill Entertainment     Friday 10:30 - 11:00  - Grand Parade of School Children - by Schools          11:00 - 12: 00 -  Sight-seeing touring of the exhibits                  12:00 -  1:00 -  Noon meal       1:00 -  2:00 -  Sack Races, Jumping, Running, & other games for girls and boys.  Horse Shoe Pitching and other games for men.         2:00 - Football game, Lone Oak vs. Emory                         A good full evening's entertainment, beginning at 7:00 and lasting until 11:00 Saturday        9:00 - Track events for boys and girls                                     Fat men's races for the men                         10:00 - Mule & Pony races                 12:00 - Noon                1:00 - Games for the girls and boys                          2:00 - Basketball games.       Other features will be added, and 2 full day of clean, wholesome entertainment will be planned for all.  Also, 2 full nights of good programs. Oct 23 -24, 1931 J.H. Foster, President G.D. McKay, V.P. Sam Braziel, Sec/Treas. entertainment :         Friday :       Band Concert by Lone Oak Band                         tarrapin race                 egg race                   sack race   Saturday :     Baby Show               parade of prize-winning livestock               Negro Buck Wing Dance (prizes offered)                   Free Battle Royal                       Old Fiddlers' Contest Oct 27 - 29, 1932 entertainment       Thursday :  carnival     Friday : "Alba, Yantis, Quitman, Lone Oak & Grand Saline Day"           Lone Oak vs. Emory football game             Colt Show                 Stringed Orchestra     Saturday : "American Legion and Old Settlers' Day"             parade of Ex-Service Men of All Wars           livestock parade                 baby show               old fiddlers' contest             carnival                 Bellah's Minstrel Show - Blackface local talent Oct 26 - 28, 1933 entertainment       Thursday : carnival Friday : Grand Parade of School Children             Welcome by Judge H.D. Garrett          Colt Show          football game            Dough Boys              carnival       Saturday : American Legion and Old Settlers' Day            parade of Ex-Service Men of All Wars            Ladies' Riding Contest                Goat Roping Contest Oct 26 - 27, 1934 E.O. Disman, Pres. G.D. McKay, V.P. Earl Hill, Secretary Sam Braziel, Treasurer Executive Committee : Sam Braziel                      Leon Stuart                       G.D. McKay                     R.T. Pearson                       F.C. Montgomery              Tom Tackett, Jr.                       B.B. Rabb                       Joe Hood entertainment Friday : carnival & exhibits          Grand Parade of School children          Colt Show          judging of booths, livestock, poultry & agriculture          dough boys          carnival            free rodeo     Saturday : "American Legion and Old Settlers' Day"              Working an Unbroken Mule             free rodeo             Horse Pulling Contest             Negro Quartet             parades               baby show             old fiddlers' contest