As we take part in that annual icon of the southeast Colorado prairie, the 2026 Baca County fair it seems appropriate to talk a little about the culture, history and present-day issues surrounding the event.  Some circles of society might question the relevance and value of a county fair when less than 2 percent of the population is actively involved in production agriculture, but in Baca County there has been no question about the fair.   Many of us partially count time with the annual Baca County Fair.  Sun rises in the east, the sun sets in the west, and the fair is the first weekend in August.  For as long as I can remember the first weekend in August is penciled in as a time to come home, watch the parade, eat a little BBQ, renew friendships and see the relatives.   It has always been a small piece of Americana to me and many others.  No matter the amount of crazy in the world, this event comes to us, same time, same place, year after year.

“The Community—The Seed Bed of Society,” appeared in the February 1942 issue of the Atlantic Magazine, and was later expanded into a book called The Small Community: Foundation of Democratic Life. Both the essay and the book were arguments on behalf of communities, especially small towns, which the author believed had been abandoned by modernity to become “an orphan in an unfriendly world … despised, neglected, exploited, and robbed. The roots of civilization are elemental traits—good will, neighborliness, fair play, courage, tolerance, open-minded inquiry, patience.”

 These traits are best transmitted from one generation to the next in small communities, he argued, from where they are then spread throughout entire societies. To erode small-town culture was to erode the culture of the nation.

 However, thinking about the question of the relevancy of the county fair, in fact, leads me to the conclusion county fairs are more important than ever. Fairs and livestock exhibitions are the foundation for agriculture promotion in our society and, as our population continues to shift to a more urban demographic, it is the responsibility of a county fair to remind the public of the key role that agriculture, and rural communities, will continue to play in economic and daily lives. It is not just a fair,  county fairs are rural America and even more so fairs are the connecting point of the people and products that showcase our heritage. I wholeheartedly believe in fairs and what they can do for a community and the participants. 

Years ago, this gathering for commodity trade and celebration in agrarian communities began to bring friends and neighbors together to showcase said commodities along with the participants hard work and effort.  In our part of the world the first evidence of the local fair appears to have occurred in Springfield in October 1888.

The January 28, 1910 issue of the Springfield Herald says,  

“John Minter showed us a photograph of an exhibit of farm and garden products which he showed at the first state fair held in Pueblo in 1889 at Pueblo, Colo. Jt consisted of corn, wheat, oats, maize, millet, cain, potatoes, onions melons etc., and the ribbons show plainly that a number of first and second premiums were awarded to him. Mr. Minter also made exhibits at our county fair held in 1888 which plainly showed the fertility of Baca county soil and his ability as a farmer.” 

Many other fairs and festivals are noted as having occurred during the early boom of Southeast Colorado in the late 1880s.  There was a time during the what early Baca County writer J. R. Austin referred to as “dormant years” of the 1890s and the early 1900s when not a lot was happening on the Southeast Colorado prairie.  During that time the county population fell drastically, and no fair appears to have taken place.   

The first reference to the question of  resuming a Baca County Fair appears in the March 17, 1911 issue of the Springfield Herald with this small notice,

Many other fairs and festivals are noted as having occurred during the early boom of Southeast Colorado in the late 1880s.  There was a time during the what early Baca County writer J. R. Austin referred to as “dormant years” of the 1890s and the early 1900s when not a lot was happening on the Southeast Colorado prairie.  During that time the county population fell drastically and no fair appears to have taken place.   That makes sense as those still around were 

The April 21, 1911 issue of the Springfield Herald asked the question in the title of this  column and it was repeated in several issues.  It seems there were many who were interested in holding a Baca County Fair as one hadn’t been held in many years.   A May 12, 1911 letter from L. H. Alberti was the first lengthy call for the renewal of the Baca County Fair,

County Fair for Baca County— By Citizen of Maxey

Maxey, Colo., Mar. 27, ’ll. Editor Herald: Dear Sir:—Not long ago I saw an article in the Herald from one of your correspondents recommending the holding of a COUNTY FAIR. I believe that we are all interested in building up Baca County, not only one place but the whole county; for the advancement of one precinct without the growth of the others will not be of lasting value, and every building erected in Springfield, Blaine, Stonington, Vilas or or any other precinct adds an increased value to every acre of land in the county, and as the land value advances so does the value of town property. Therefore, the cooperation of all is necessary to the real growth of – the whole county. 

And in no other way can we get together, become acquainted, exchange ideas, as well as at a County Fair. The knowledge of one individual, like his physical power, is not very much, but the combined strength of the whole becomes stupendous, both intellectual and physical. Then again we must not forget the social side of such gatherings. We come in contact with those who have had much experience in all phases of life; we learn new methods of tilling the soil; of feeding and caring for stock; Bankers, merchants, doctors, lawyers, and in fact all professional and business men and men trained in the arts and sciences, all have their conversations when they assemble and exchange ideas, then why not the farmer? 

I do not believe that any person of average intelligence ever attended a County Fair where there was a reasonably good exhibit but what he learned was something of more value to him than the time he spent in attending the same. How many men in a new county have lost a whole season’s work because they did not understand the conditions as they existed there, and Baca Co. is no exception?  We all know that there are thousands of acres of land in Baca county subject to homestead entry; we all desire to see those acres improved; it would add to the value of our land; it would lessen our taxes, increase our school advantages, enlarge our towns arid create a better market for our products; bring us better transportation facilities and better communication with other parts of the world. Would a County Fair help to bring about these results? Here is the answer: It would call the attention of thousands to Baca county. There is hardly a newspaper in the state but what would make a news item of it.  People would talk about it and write it to their friends; visitors would carry the news to other states. A photograph of a good exhibit would be gladly published by the Immigration Department of the R. R., and thus advertise Baca county, its products and possibilities. The time to begin the preparation of that exhibit is now. L. H. Alberti.

By July 7,  1911 they were even talking of a Baca County Fair in Lamar.     However, it wasn’t until 1913 when Sam Konkel purchased the Springfield Herald that the talk of holding a fair reached a fever pitch.  By early 1914 Konkel, through the Springfield Herald, increasingly called for a renewal of an annual exhibition of crops, animals.  

A meeting was held June 13, 1914 in Springfield discuss the possibilities and by the end of June 2014 the beginning steps were taken to hold a September 2014 county fair.  With that we will close for this week with a little more in the works for next week.  I encourage everyone to take time and tell everyone about your  local Baca county fair.  

Make plans to take a stroll through the barns, strike up a conversation with a young exhibitor about his, or her, project. Watch the 4-H auction, maybe bid on an animal, and see how the hard work put in by the owner truly pays off.   Come for your class reunion,  come to the demolition derby.  Whether you are a lifetime attendee or have never set foot on a fairgrounds, now is the best time to get involved in one of our countries oldest traditions and a tradition in Baca since 1914 – you will not regret it.