It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that Marty Fulkerson first attended the Hardin County Fair & Horse Show. He had his tie eaten by a goat.
Fulkerson, through Hardin County Educational & Community Television, had been doing a live show from the fair. It was his first experience and one he wasn’t likely to forget.
From there, he became involved announcing the horse show and then sold ads for the fair catalog. Fulkerson went on to serve as a board member, fair board treasurer and vice president before taking on the role of president earlier this year after longtime president Larry Jaggers decided to step down.
Fulkerson said the board thought there were some things that could be done to further enhance the fair.
“We said, ‘OK, Larry has gotten us here, now we want to move it up here,’” he said, raising his already raised hand higher.
One of the major changes this year will be the leveled and graveled midway. Fulkerson said Miller Spectacular Shows always has told them if the midway was flattened, they could bring in more rides. It’s never really worked out for the board to do anything until this year.
“I think it is something that needed to be done a long time ago and it has worked out well,” he said.
Fulkerson said LED lights also have been placed in certain areas and there will be a new PA system for the motor sports arena, among other upgrades.
The board also has changed up some of the events at the fair this year, such as the demolition derby. Fulkerson said they’ve been struggling with the demolition derby and didn’t know what to do.
Then they went to the state convention and were introduced to John Peck of Top Dog Promotions. He said this year, the derby will be doing big cars and mini cars. There also will be a lawnmower derby and children’s powerwheels.
“It is the largest purse we have ever paid out for a demolition derby,” Fulkerson said, adding more than $3,000 in prizes will be available.
Fulkerson said they’ve added a new class, King of the Hill, to the antique tractor pull.
There also will be a Bullwhip Rodeo.
To kick off the July 9-14 fair, Fulkerson said July 9 there will be a farm to table dinner, which is a fundraiser for Mission Hope for Kids and the Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland BackPack Program.
“We are going to split the proceeds with them,” he said. “We’re hoping to get people out here that have never been to the fair.”
He said tickets for the dinner must be purchased in advance. Tickets will be available at the Hardin County Extension Service.
One of the toughest decisions the board made this year, Fulkerson said, was not to publish a fair catalog.
“We are doing a fair brochure that lists all of our events in it and we were able to do a whole lot more of those to be able to get those out to the community,” he said.
Fulkerson encouraged residents to attend the fair. He said it board has worked hard on taking the fair to the next level.
“We’re blessed these fairgrounds are paid for and we’ve got newer buildings. Fair business is tough,” he said, adding it’s worth it to see the happiness on the faces of those who attend.
“You look up on that midway, you see a little kid with this giant smile on his face – that is why I do it,” Fulkerson said. “For some, this is their Disney World and our fair board gets that.”
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