Charger News

Putnam County fair

Will Harris, Charger Staff

Amazing lights, cotton candy, long lines to the ticket booth and even to the gates. It was the 78th annual Putnam County Agricultural & Industrial Fair held Aug. 5-14. “There are over 4,000 people that go to the fair on a given day,” said Bill Dyer, the president of the Putnam County Fair Board. He and fourteen other board members have upgraded the fairgrounds by paving the midway and adding a new ride called the Spin-out to keep people coming back year after year. The bright lights and the fast thrilling rides were at 155 Fairgrounds Lane off Jefferson Ave. Geren Rides came back for the ten-day celebration. Rides included Bullet, Zipper, Cobra, Ring of fire, Himalaya, and many other rides for children. Nightly events included horse shows, motorcycle races, wrestling, and demolition derby. This year also showcased the World’s Smallest Lady, the World’s Biggest Rat, and the World’s Longest Snake.

Jessie Holloway was crowned the Fairest of the Fair, a senior at Cookeville High School.“The reason the fair was in August is because it’s an agricultural fair, and garden crops are at their peak.” said Bill Dyer. The Putnam County Fair is selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's top-twenty events for the month of August. Eleven-year-old Kelly Johnson, from Prescott Central Middle School, described the fair as loud, exciting, and bright. There was no free concert this year. Instead, local country and rock bands competed for prizes.“ Chris Norton won the talent show with “Piano Man.” I had fun at the fair again this year. My favorite ride is and always will be the zipper. I went, I ate funnel cakes, and rode till I got sick,” said John Teague, a junior at CHS.

That is the essence of the Putnam County Fair.