The Richland County Fair has been going strong now for 164 years. For one week every year, Richland County citizens have been able to indulge in cotton candy, deep fried Oreos, elephant ears, the ferris wheel, bumper cars, and rides that continuously spin and test our stomachs’ ability for holding in the fair food ingested just minutes before.
But there is more going on during the fair than the iconic images described above.
There are many skilled individuals in Richland County who decide to put their talents and workmanship on display in the Arts & Craft building. Young Warren Rehburg, for example, made an R2-D2 two-and-one-half-inch model out of scrap metal last year. He also made a cowboy hat out of duct tape.
Many departments are found within the Arts & Crafts building. There is the Needlework Department, the Horticultural Department, the Honey Department, Hobbies Department, Photography Department, Flowers Department, and more. According to Superintendent of the Needlework Department and Home Arts Department Bob Watts, the departments are developed out of popular interest. If there is a strong interest in a particular area of Arts & Crafts, a department can be made.
Watts has been involved with this aspect of the Richland County Fair for 13 years now. His responsibilities have him finding judges for all the different scoring categories, setting up tables and chairs for each display within the building, and answering calls all throughout the year.
“Some of these things take all year to make. So a lot of people might have questions. They have my number in the fair book, they can call me whenever they like for me to answer questions,” said Watts.
It is rumored that the Needlework Department is the biggest within the Arts & Crafts building, according to Superintendent of Hobbies Sallie Hoak.
“He’s (Watts) had 800 entries before,” noted Hoak.
This year the Needlework Department had 192 entries and the Home Arts Department had 403. Managing a group that large requires Watts to begin planning for fair week three months in advance.
All superintendents of departments are volunteer positions, but Watts invests in this for more than the money. He said he enjoys seeing all the different entries and seeing the joy in individuals who win an award for their hard work.
Another not-so-noticed aspect of the fair is the Swine Showmanship competition. Swine Showmanship is a sector of 4-H and attracts youth of all ages from all over Richland County. Danny Murray is one of them.
“It’s just a good thing to do. I’ve learned to have good sportsmanship,” said 14-year-old Murray. The Shelby High School student has been showing pigs since he was nine-years-old, and does not plan on stopping.
His family have all been involved with showing and owning livestock. His mother used to show horses when she was Danny’s age. According to Danny Murray, he puts in about one hour of preparation work everyday leading up to fair week. He received his pig when it weighed 65 pounds, and now it weighs in at around 200 pounds. But the work devoted to raising a show-pig was not just making sure it was fed.
There are guidelines and recommendations on how to best show your pig found on The Pig Site. Some of these include how to steer your pig in the show arena for the judge(s), and the importance of making eye contact. It also advises to use a “driving tool,” which is used to guide the pig where to go. The site recommends making an eight shape right in front of the judge(s).
The Richland County Fair is packed with activity. With 164 years behind its history, it is rare to find a space on the premise that is not being used for something. Whether you enjoy trapeze artists, ferris wheels, loud engines in demolition cars and tractor pullers, sewing and needlework, or feeding a goat; or pig, or chicken, or duck, or … well, you get the picture – the Richland County Fair caters to almost every interest. There’s still time to see the animals and displays tonight.
