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OPINION
It’s fair time! All across the country counties are holding their annual county fairs, and El Paso County is no exception. Starting this weekend, July 21, the fair will begin! Our fair has its first simple gathering in 1905. The people came by horseback, covered and Conestoga wagons. They gathered at the Calhan’s county schoolyard. The fair was held during Thanksgiving. The farmers had an enormous potato crop. They celebrated with a potato and bean bake, entertainment, and horse races. That first horse race was a relay event in which each of three horses was ridden once around Letterman’s Hill in Calhan, with the saddle changed between each horse. The winner was 15-year-old George Young, still young at 93, and living in his home north of Simla, Colorado (http://www.elpasocountyfair. com/). Fairs were begun by the Romans. Not only were the fairs started for commerce, they were also used for religious celebrations. The Latin word “feria” meaning holy day, would appear the logical root of the word “fair.” Each feria was a day when large numbers of people would assemble for worship. Worship in those early days was centered near temples in great cities much like the medieval town located at the foot of the castle. Because of the great numbers of people attracted by fairs they were often the scenes of riots and disturbances. The privilege of holding a fair was granted by royal charter. At first they were only allowed in towns and places of strength, or where there was some bishop, sheriff or governor who could keep order. The officials were authorized to do justice to those that came to their fair and eventually even the smallest fair would have had a court to judge offenses and disputes arising within the fairground. This was called a pye powder court. In the US, County and state fairs began as a way where people could display their crafts and skills, and sell or trade produce or other items. The fairs combined socialization and amusement, but offered a more serious side of learning and selling. America’s first fairs were promoted by King George II in 1745 in Trenton Township, New Jersey. The King started fairs primarily for the buying and selling of livestock and other products. The fairs were normally held in April and October. They were continued for five years until they were banned by the legislature. As activities and exhibits began to reflect wider interests and were no longer limited strictly to agricultural-related endeavors, more people attended fairs. The backbone of the fairs—competitions between gardeners, cooks, quilters, and seamstresses—has always remained a big draw to the fair events. Other competitions included livestock, crops, rodeos, corn husking by hand, and pie eating contests. Prizes were given for the best exhibits and to event winners (http:// www.answers.com/topic/county-and-state-fairs). Bonnie Nelson is a freelance writer living in Fountain, CO. If you have comments or questions, email her at waltbon@comcast.net
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