Putnam County Fair celebrated opening day of the 100th anniversary celebration year by honoring multi-generational families and long-term volunteers who have sustained the local heritage event for a century.
Putnam County Fair Vice President Susanna Clouse said the 100th annual Putnam County Agricultural and Industrial Fair serves as a milestone. Clouse said the fair established a new Legacy Fair Families program this year to specifically honor those who have supported the event for at least 50 years.
“With it being the 100th annual fair, there’s a lot of history held within the program,” Clouse said. “Between different locations, wars, fires, and all the highs and all the lows, there is a common thread that holds everything together: family.”
The fair recognized 25 inaugural Legacy Fair Families. Clouse said the board created a special plaque in the shape of Putnam County to display the names of these families, with plans to add more names in future years.
“To be considered for this honor, your family needs to have been a part of and supported the Putnam County Fair for at least 50 years,” Clouse said. “To show our thanks to these families, we have created a plaque in the shape of Putnam County, and as new families are recognized we will add their names alongside the others.”
Fair Board Representative Bill Dyer said the fair also recognized the agricultural roots of the region by highlighting the Century Farm Program. Dyer said Putnam County currently has 22 farms that have been continuously operated by the same family for over 100 years, including three farms that are more than two centuries old.
“A Century Farm is a farm that has been continuously farmed by the same family for over 100 years,” Dyer said. “As we have a couple of 100-year businesses, a farm is essentially a business and to keep that going for 100 years is a great achievement.”
Dyer said the Nash-Myatt Farm, established in 1877, and the Lewis Farm were the most recent additions to the local Century Farm registry. Dyer said it is increasingly difficult to maintain historic farms due to modern development and the loss of local farmland.
“So if we have any more Century Farms that anybody you know of or I know in order to keep on going these days, it’s awful hard with all the development and us losing our farmland and stuff,” Dyer said. “But if there is another Century Farm in given the time frame coming up the 1920s, there may be another 100-year farm in the same family.”
Other honorees included Tommy Young for his work with the beef program since 1981 and Putnam County Road Supervisor Randy Jones for his years of assistance with arena preparation. Clouse said the fair also named Crest Lawn Funeral Home and Cremation Service as the Sponsor of the Year and the UT Putnam County Extension Office as the Friend of the Fair.
“Extension staff play an integral role in livestock events, the 4-H horse show, cultural arts, and 4-H exhibits, providing leadership to our Travel Tennessee exhibit at the Tennessee State Fair and so much more,” Clouse said. “Their dedication, expertise, and willingness to serve help make our fair a success year after year.”
Clouse said the 100th anniversary celebration would continue with the Fairest of the Fair pageant and various agricultural exhibits throughout the week.
