Florida Fair News The year was 1941 and the excitement was nearly tangible in the January
air. The Strawberry Festival of Hardee County, which was held in Bowling Green, was scheduled to begin. Many years the county had opted to discontin- ue the festival due to the struggles of our beloved country throughout The Great Depression but now, it was time to bring it back. The Florida Advocate said the men putting on the festival hoped it would be the biggest festival Hardee county had ever had. Excitement had spread through out the entire county. The Festival was going to include choosing a Festival Queen from the young ladies of Hardee High School. There was going to be many exhibits and activities for all ages. The young kids were excited that they would get to take a field trip from school and go to the Fair for free during the school day. They would get to ride the rides at the wonderful carnival at a discounted price. They would also have the oppor- tunity to see many different farm animals, crafts and other exhibits. The teens of the county, that were known to be Jivers and Rug Cutters, were anxious for the Jitterbug contest that would be held. Mrs. Natalie Whidden recalled that you could ride the train from Wauchula to bowling Green for a quarter, that is how she would go to the festival. The men of Hardee County were right, the Festival was what this county needed and it was the biggest festival yet. Many years later the Strawberry Festival changed its location to Wauchula.
Most people do not recall that the Festival was located where the Farr Baseball Fields are now. At that time a rodeo arena was located there. Maurice Hender- son said the festival was only there for a few years before it moved to Legion Field. Tractor Supply is now located where Legion Field used to be. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) owned this land and took on the re- sponsibility of the event. The name was changed to the Cucumber
Festival. At this
time Hardee County was known to be the Cucumber Capitol of the World. Many of the events were the same, the Festival Queen was changed to the Cucumber
Queen. Fair Board on Wednesday of Fair Hump Day
There were buildings built to house the event. There was an exhibit hall that held exhibits
from all over the county. Each school had a booth, the Fish and Wildlife Conser- vation officers had a booth with stuffed wildlife for all to see. Mrs. Natalie Whid- den remembers that the Junior Women’s Club would often raffle off a car that was donated by a local car dealership. There were many craft exhibits and food entries to be judged at the Fair. Livestock shows and sales were held in the afternoon recalls Marcus Shackelford. The carnival was always a draw for the old and the young. Friday and Saturday nights were always nights for special events, rodeos, ranch rodeos and one special event was Wrestling. Ray Gill said it was my grandmother Eva Robertson’s very favorite thing. The food for the Fair attenders was cooked by the school employees and their Parent/Teacher Asso- ciation (PTA) as well as Pam Bishop. The entire county would be involved in this event in one way or another. The Cucumber Festival continued to grow and cause excitement in the county. It was a time for the county to meet together and support each other’s accomplishments. The festival was for all ages. Ray Gill recalls that many of the same events
we have now were done 50 years ago, such as the pageant although it has changed from Cucumber Queen to Miss Hardee County and the second grade Pickle King and queen which is now the Fair Prince and Princess. 1979 would be the last Cucumber Festival. The VFW felt it was time to sell
the land and to let the “younger” men and women take over. They approached Marcus Shackelford who was the President of the Hardee County Cattlemen’s Association about the changes that needed to be made and that would include moving the festival. Mr. Shackelford talked to Maurice Henderson of the Hardee County Board of Commissioners and they took on the project together.
The Cattlemen and
Commissioners and members of the commu- nity knew the importance of a county event that encouraged all to come together. They were not willing to let the county go without an event. The Doyle Carlton family donated a piece of land to Hardee County, the Commissioners were then able give the Cattle- men a 99 year lease. The Cattlemen were able to erect an arena which still stands today and to build an exhibit hall with a full kitchen. The original seating in the arena was acquired by the cattlemen after Ben Hill Griffin donated new seats to the University of Florida stadium. The seat- ing that was acquired came from the infield of the U.F. football stadium remem- bers Wilbur Robertson who was part of the Cattlemen group that went to pick them up. It was at this time of expansion that the men and women renamed the Cucumber Festival to the Hardee County Fair, which is what the name continues to be today. This year The Hardee County Fair will be celebrating it’s 75th year anniver-
sary. Throughout the years, the heart of the Fair has been the community. This still stands true today. Through talking to people it is evident that is the one common thread. Today the Fair still hosts many of the same events. There is a kitchen that serves the Fair goers as it has for many years. The livestock show has grown to include hogs, rabbits and poultry. The exhibit hall still continues to show work of students in the schools and in 4H and FFA. There is still the oppor- tunity for others to show their cooking skills as well as their crafts. The exhibit hall is also a place for business to advertise and provide small tokens for people to take home. The Fair has grown to include the Citrus Tree show which allows student to grow citrus trees and have them judged. The fair ground itself repre- sents many of the county agricultural businesses. The phosphate mines share their information, the 4-H club decorates Hardee County Hay Bales, local Vege- table growers sell their products, local nursery’s donate their plants for decorat- ing the facility. The Pageants have grown through the years to include Miss Hardee County, Junior Miss Hardee County, Little Miss Hardee County, Prince and Princess and the Kindergarten Pageant. Pageants have always been a successful part of the Fair, whether the queens were known as the Festival Queen, Cucumber Queen or Miss Hardee County it has always drawn a crowd. The midway is also something that has always been a constant at the Fair. The past year Hardee County had its largest Midway so far, it was provided by Ar- nold Amusement. The traditions of the past 75 years will continue at the 2016 Fair. In addition
to the traditional activities there will be some special activities planned. The one thing that will never change will be the community that supports the Fair. This community which gives back to the youth of Hardee County. In 1941 the men and women who planned the Strawberry Festival had the hopes that it would be the biggest festival Hardee County ever saw. This year the Hardee County Fair Committee has the same hopes for the 2016 Fair, the hope that THIS will be the biggest Fair Hardee County has ever had.
Volusia County Fair Director Doug Weaver & Sarah (Sally) Owens (wife of Volusia County Fair Interim Executive Director John Owens) visiting the Osceola County Fair.
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