Pachyderm club: The Bethany Fair Board from the 1950s got a ride on the back of an elephant during a grandstand performance in this picture provided by longtime board member LaVerne Madison. Valorie Wheeler, daughter of board member Raymond Wheeler, was hanging on the front of the elephant in the arms of the trainer. Pictured from left to right are board members John Taggart, Chick Osborn, Bert Cornelison, LaVerne Madison, Raymond Wheeler, Truman Nickerson, the manager and Valorie. LaVerne recalls that the board used a ladder to climb aboard the elephant.
The Northwest Missouri Fair, which celebrated its centennial over Labor Day weekend, was known by many names over the years, according to Madison. It was founded in 1916 as the Harrison County Fair and was known under that name until 1920. From 1921-25, it was the Northwest Missouri District Fair and operated as the Northwest Missouri State Fair from 1926-31. There were no fairs from 1932-39 after the grandstand was destroyed in a fire. It was resurrected briefly as the Bethany Fair for 1940-41. There were no fairs from 1942-45 because of the war. The event came back resumed as the Northwest Missouri State Fair from 1946-16.
The Northwest Missouri State Fair has provided fun for many generations.
It also has involved a lot of hard work from fair board members and volunteers. Once in a while, these volunteers get a treat such as climbing aboard an elephant for their introduction to the crowd in the grandstands such as occurred back in the 1950s.
The fair has always been a family event. Above, a little girl by the name of Valorie Wheeler, sitting on top of the head of the pachyderm, joined her father, the late Raymond Wheeler, for a ride on the elephant along with the rest of the board.
This year was special for all longtime attendees of the fair. Valorie, who is married to Mel Booth, attended the Northwest Missouri State University football game last weekend in Maryville where they saw the Bearcats annihilate the Nebraska-Kearney Lopes. Kathy and I had a chance to join the Booths at the football game. Valorie was interested in learning about how the fair’s centennial came out. She will probably be surprised to see this picture of her on the back of the elephant when she opens up this week’s newspaper.
This year’s fair was an unforgettable experience for Kathy and me. Our 16-month-old grandson, Vicente Baca, of Albuquerque and his parents Rachel and Aaron Baca made the pilgrimage back to Bethany to attend the fair. My brother Mike and his son Max also made their first acquaintance of Vicente.
Kathy had the brilliant idea of purchasing a Red Flyer wagon to haul Vicente around the fairgrounds where he was able to experience the lights of the midway. Those fat tires made it easy to negotiate the rough terrain of the fair. He also stopped by the livestock barn where he got a close look at the cattle and pigs. He wasn’t sure about those large animals but he enjoyed petting the rabbits. He also was fascinated with the fish in the Conservation Department’s aquarium and the huge frog at the entrance to the building.
He was also able to experience his first bite of fair food when he nibbled on a piece of tenderloin and french fries doused in ketchup.
His other set of grandparents said Little V, as we call him, didn’t have to come all the way to Missouri to go to a fair. They have the big New Mexico State Fair right there in Albuquerque.
But there’s nothing quite like the Bethany fair.