Mark your calendars for August 25th through the 30th because you won’t want to miss this year’s Randolph County Fair! We recently had the opportunity to speak with Fair Manager Steven Clements, who, along with the other members of the Fair Board, is responsible for planning and coordinating operations for this storied event, now in its 106th year! We asked Mr. Clements to highlight some of his favorite attractions at the fair and give us an inside look at all the fair has to offer. Let’s check out one of Arkansas’ longest running county fairs!

One feature visitors to the Randolph County Fair will immediately enjoy is that there is no cost for admission, so the fair is an affordable (free!) attraction for even the most thrifty spectators.

According to Mr. Clements, among the top attractions every year are the arts and crafts on display for judging in the June Simington building at the fairgrounds. Here, fairgoers will find everything from flowers, photography, and field crops to pies, preserves, paintings- all cultivated and created by talented local folks hoping to take home a ribbon. Last year’s fair featured more than 2,000 entries. Another popular and patriotic event on the schedule is the annual Veteran’s Appreciation ceremony and luncheon, which takes place on Wednesday morning and drew over 120 local military veteran participants last year. And of course, no county fair would be complete without the livestock and animal exhibits. Randolph County Fair has them in spades. The youth of our community will proudly display their 4H projects in animal husbandry and showmanship skills, handling a wide array of breeds and types in the categories of cattle, horses, goats, sheep, poultry, swine, and rabbits. Those youngsters that succeed in taking the blue rosette not only receive the honor and prestige of a first place win; each blue ribbon is then entered in the fair’s “Blue Ribbon Sale”, where individuals and local businesses can bid to “buy” the winning ribbon. All funds raised in the sale go directly to each of the dedicated young champions in support of their continued involvement in agriculture competition and leadership. Additionally, for the past 8 years, $5,000 in FFA (Future Farmers of America) scholarship funds have been made available to any young person that has participated as a volunteer or exhibitor at the fair, to be used toward the costs of educational supplies.

For attendees who work up an appetite, there will be an excellent selection of classic fair “fare” on offer. Community organizations such as Knights of Columbus, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and local sorority chapters will be cooking up hamburgers, BBQ, funnel cakes, and fresh squeezed lemonade, alongside local vendors selling summertime favorites like pork rinds, kettle corn, fried fish, nachos, and hot dogs, as well as sweet treats like ice cream, sno-cones, and cotton candy. Locally owned and operated food trucks will also be there with menu selections to suit a wide range of tastes. So come hungry!

The fair will kick off in grand style with the traditional parade through downtown Pocahontas arriving at the parade grounds with floats and firetruck escorts, along with last fair’s pageant winners and honored guests. After opening day festivities, the fair boasts live entertainment onstage every evening, featuring performances by local bands, gospel singers, and cloggers. Junior and senior rodeo events will take place Wednesday and Saturday evenings respectively. For a real thrill, on Saturday evening the public can compete in traditional fair games, like the hay bale toss, horseshoes, wood cutting, and a kid-friendly cakewalk. If you are interested in a space to sell your wares or promote your local business, indoor and outdoor vendor spaces are available, but fill quickly. For a full calendar of events, exhibits, and competitions, a copy of the fair catalog, as well as details on how to enter as an exhibitor or vendor, be sure to visit the official fair web page at randolphcountyfair.org

Mr. Clements has been on the Fair Board for over 20 years, and through the years he’s seen the fair grow and change with the times, even managing to weather the storm of pandemic restrictions that sadly forced the permanent closure of many other local fairs. He fondly recalls past exhibits like the cow milking and tractor driving simulator and the Arkansas Fish and Game Board’s mobile aquarium, set to make a return to the fair this year. He also looks forward to the promise of future attractions, like plans to build a dedicated arena for tractor pull events. Each year brings a unique mix of new attractions; for instance, this year the fair will feature horse and pony rides for all ages and a photo booth to capture your fond fair memories.

Certainly, the role of Fair Manager is not without its challenges, and Mr. Clements reckons he and the other 12 board members dedicate thousands hours to preparing for the county fair as it approaches. One major challenge has been finding a replacement for the carnival ride attractions. The family business which formerly supplied those services has been an unfortunate casualty of the aforementioned pandemic restrictions. This has left the fair without rides or carnival games for several years running, leading to some complaints from the public. Mr. Clements continues to actively search for a new carnival company, and in the mean time is working to supply other forms of amusement.

Another challenge the fair has faced in recent years is a loss of funding sources, as businesses have become reluctant to purchase large sponsorships due to a climate of economic uncertainty. Fortunately, the state has stepped up to provide a $13k yearly grant, but funding gaps remain. Advertising spaces of various sizes in the fair catalog, which are available to purchase, have proven popular. Details on this and other forms of fundraising, including direct donations, can be found on the fair website.

Mr. Clements especially wishes to acknowledge the incredible dedication of his fellow board members, along with the 30 to 40 volunteers working onsite during the fair days. In addition, the fair receives generous donations of funds, supplies, and man hours from local political parties, including FFA, 4H, church groups, and the agricultural department of the high school. It’s easy to see why Mr. Clements beams with pride when discussing the fair, a topic dear to his heart and a project he has dedicated so much care and concern to carrying on over the decades. When asked to sum up the Randolph County Fair in a few words, he was thoughtful for a moment and then answered decisively, “It’s a good, clean, educational, quality fair for all ages.” It’s no wonder then that people come from far and wide, some traveling from other states, to experience the strong sense of community and enjoy both the traditions and innovations on display at this special little fair. So come join in the festivities this year; there’s so much to see right here in our own hometown, and the Randolph County Fair is where it all comes together!

Written By – Sally Hausfrau