Fair memories

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Summer always brings back memories of the fair.

Bob Adams writes, “As the county fair season will soon be starting, it brings back a memory that I have and has stayed with me for many years.

“My career as an auctioneer spanned a period of over 50 years and took me into several states, where I collected a lot of good memories. But none has stuck with me anymore than the memory of a little girl, crying her eyes out, at the Hancock County 4-H livestock sale, as I sold her lamb.

“I sold the Hancock County 4-H livestock sale for many years and on one memorable night, a little girl, heart broken, brought her lamb into the sale ring to sell, crying her heart out.

“I was lost for words. I don’t know if I said anything. My heart went out to her. Having been in 4-H myself, I knew how tough it was to be separated from an animal that I had spent the summer with. The next day, on the front page of the Reporter, was a picture of her reaching through the openings on the side of the stock trailer that was going to take away all of the lambs to be slaughtered. She was trying to pet her lamb one last time.

“That was maybe 10 to 15 years ago. I have always wondered what happened to that little girl who would most likely be in her twenties by now. If she reads this, or if anyone knows of her, I would love to share that memory with her of that night many years ago. My email is [email protected].”

Are you out there? Let us all know.

The first agricultural association in Hancock County was organized in the Courthouse June 21, 1835. Little else is known about it.

In 1856, another was organized for the purpose of holding fairs. In 1856, the first county fair was organized east of town on the north side of U.S. 40, the National Road. It was probably around the current site. A new fairgrounds was chosen Dec. 21, 1885. The location was Boyd’s Grove, the current hospital site. When constructing the hospital, workers would tell about finding the foundations of the cow barns.

Enough. I have told you everything that I know and some things I don’t. Talk to me.