Fair hosts ‘good’ and ‘super’ crowds

By KELLY RICHARDSON

Neal Cardin

Paths worn in the grass from fair goers show where the Midway sat last week as the rides and shows sit on trucks waiting to be transported to another fair in Bowling Green.

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Neal Cardin

Trailers with rides, concession stands and shows sit along the entrance road to the Hardin County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon. The Midway carnival will travel to Bowling Green later this week.

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Neal Cardin

Martha Thomas, left, sorts paperwork as Lauren Thomas hands prize money to Anita Conder for awards won in photography as folks pick up their entries and prizes Sunday afternoon at the Hardin County Fairgrounds.

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krichardson@thenewsenterprise.com

HARDIN COUNTY — With old favorites and new attractions at the Hardin County Community Fair, final attendance numbers likely will show an increase this year.

Fair officials expect to meet their attendance goal after the final numbers come rolling in, said Larry Jaggers, president of the fair board. The board hoped to see between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors this year, and preliminary numbers show about 22,000 went to the fairgrounds this week. That includes paying customers and those with gate passes.

“I think we’ll be up a few from last year,” Jaggers said.

The board works hard to ensure its events and attractions always appeal to community members, Jaggers said. They began planning for next year’s fair last Monday. They analyze how fair week is going and try to address any problems while planning for the following year.

“We just try to visit and talk with as many people” as possible, he said.

The fair offered new events this year, including free monster truck rides, a car-crushing demonstration, caged wrestling matches,  cloggers and bands.

The truck rides were a big hit with children, Jaggers said.

“There was a line of youngsters participating in that constantly,” he said.

Friday night probably had the biggest crowd of the week.

“We had some super crowds on the weekend and good crowds during the week,” he said.

Jaggers said he and the board work to have events that will cover all interests and knows it’s the community that makes the fair successful.

“We’re very appreciative of the support from the county and the surrounding areas,” he said.

Kelly Richardson can be reached at (270) 505-1747.