Fair History - Southeast Weld County Fair
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The Southeast Weld County Fair is celebrating its 97th year this August. From its humble beginnings, it has grown into an annual celebration. Established as a non-profit organization with the State of Colorado in 1939, the original name of the association was the Keenesburg Fair Association. The founding Board of Directors consisted of Geo. W. Cooper, N.A. Pippin, G.C. Ohmstede, L.I, Barger, and R.L. Martin. The original intent of the founders of the Southeast Weld County Fair Association was to “establish and conduct county and district fairs, exhibits, experimental grounds, facilities for demonstrations in agriculture, displays of agricultural, dairying, livestock, and poultry products, and household arts; to provide places for the exhibition of agricultural and industrial products, machinery, and improvement of agricultural and domestic arts and sciences; to give premiums for displays; generally to encourage better practices and products of farming, industry, and household arts; to provide and assist in the holding of expositions, fairs, and enterprises for improving the quality and yield of farm products, manufactured goods, and merchandise, and the attractiveness of farm life; and to furnish means and facilities for community gatherings, sports, races, contests of skill, and amusements”. In 1952 the name of the association was changed to the Southeast Weld Junior Fair Association. Today the association consists of 27 members, including some ancestors of the original founders.
The Southeast Weld County Junior Fair Association is the only independently-operated fair in Colorado, with no monies received from either county or state funding. The association relies on ad sales from the fair book, raffle monies, and generous donations received from the community to put on a 4-day event each August for the community. Their main focus is to provide a venue for the 4-H and FFA youth to show and compete in their respective areas. They also provide the community with rodeos, a parade, and barbecue for their enjoyment.
The association could not complete this tremendous task without the hard work put in by the association members and their families. It takes a lot of different skills to put on an event of the magnitude of the SEWCF. Community volunteers also contribute to ensuring that the fair comes off smoothly-from the 4-H volunteers who help with weigh-ins and project judging on Thursday to the Chamber of Commerce members who serve the barbecue on Saturday. Without their help, the fair would not be a success each year,
So, come on down to Keenesburg, Colorado and help us celebrate this year’s theme, “Proud of the Past, Looking to the Future!” We hope to see you there!
