The 100th Putnam County Fair kicked off with a Thursday Celebratory Luncheon, marking a century of community tradition powered by hundreds of local volunteers.
Fair Board President Brenda Gentry said the milestone represents a significant achievement for the organization and the community. Gentry said the board has decorated the fairgrounds extensively and increased the number of vendors to commemorate the centennial year.
“No doubt, the volunteers,” Gentry said. “The volunteers are awesome, they we volunteer our time. It’s hard work, but when you when the lights come on and everybody’s in the grandstands, you’re just so overwhelmed.”
Gentry said the opening day festivities included free admission for all attendees and a special birthday celebration. Gentry said the event featured a 250-year cake and the firing of a cannon to mark the occasion in place of traditional fireworks.
“I hope they remember the fun they had, the tradition that has been going on for years,” Gentry said. “There has been a lot of great memories. I can’t even begin to pick one out. They’re all marvelous.”
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the fair has earned numerous high-level awards from the state over the years. Porter said the success of the event is a direct reflection of the citizens who live in the county and their willingness to serve.
“And when you can get this many volunteers come together to put on something like the fair year after year after year and an award-winning fair that we’ve been awarded big big titles from the state, that just that speaks highly of our community and the folks that live here,” Porter said.
Porter said the opening night included a military-themed cake cutting ceremony. Porter said the event was designed to honor both the oldest and youngest veterans in the community during the fair’s kickoff.
“Oh, to me if you don’t preserve those traditions they’re going away and there’s going to be generations coming up that will never remember them,” Porter said. “With anything you pass it on from generation to generation. That’s what makes me so happy to see the junior fair board and all those young kids coming in and taking a part of this and they’re going to take it on into the next generation.”
The fair also includes the 70th anniversary of the Fairest of the Fair pageant, which began in 1956. Pageant Coordinator Shannon Hayes said the competition has evolved to focus on community involvement and public speaking.
“And so the focus has not only been being pretty it is being smart it is being involved community members and doing good in your community,” Hayes said. “Tonight they’ll be looking for poise and confidence and how you carry yourself and then for the older ladies that are speaking on stage tonight it will be how you answer your question and your public speaking ability.”
Hayes said contestants participated in a humanitarian effort this year to support Open Door Cookeville. Hayes said the participants collected more than 16,540 feminine hygiene products to be distributed to those in need within the community.
“I’m most proud of how they gave back to our humanitarian effort this year because that is one of the largest needs in our community that is often overlooked,” Hayes said. “I’m proud of how they show up, how they help each other, how they are kind, and how they are smart and how they are good humans.”
Porter said this year represents the final time the fair will be held at the current fairgrounds. Porter said the new fairgrounds are expected to be ready to host the 101st Putnam County Fair next year.
