Fair Week Schedule of Events, as it appeared in The Vidette-Messenger on August 3, 1974
This story originally appeared on page 4 of The Vidette-Messenger from August 1, 1974:
All of us in this area will have the opportunity next week of putting into the background of our minds our fears and frustrations caused by today's troublesome world and national problems – by attending the 102nd Porter County Fair.
We can anticipate with certainty that our young people and their adult leaders – not to mention the Fair Board – will again provide us with a refreshing display of livestock, farm products and of other activities which we will find informative and interesting.
We know that once again we will be able to turn with pride toward the work and efforts of a multitude of our young people and say gratefully "these are our kids.”
As has been its custom through the years, The Vidette-Messenger will be providing blanket coverage of the 1974 Fair in both words and pictures. We do this because we believe in these young people and their 4-H programs which involve those from suburban, as well as rural areas of Porter County.
According to the County Extension office report, there are 1,266 boys and girls involved in 4-H work this year. They are enrolled in 3,757 projects.
Many of these will be seen throughout the week grooming and pampering their fair entries and doing all sorts of other chores. Talk to these young people and their real pride of accomplishment will come through loudly and clearly.
Listed in this year's Fair booklet are 55 different projects which the 4-Hers are displaying in 1974. Two new projects, this time around, are classified as "small animals" and "bicycles."
While it shouldn't be too surprising one of the projects which has ballooned this year are the rabbits. To be shown are 250 of these animals, of various breeds. Because of this growth the Fair Board voted to provide a separate tent for their display.
Previously rabbits were lumped in the same showing area as were poultry – but that's been changed now.
This 102nd Fair continues Porter County's unique record of maintaining the attraction as being free of admission charge – and not many such events can make that statement. Obviously, there will be charges along the Midway and at the nightly Grandstand performances, but that is quite in order. In no way does this take away from the "Free Fair" slogan for our county.
And speaking of the Midway, attractions there will feature the offerings of the James W. Drew organization, which has established such an excellent rapport with the Fair Board that the firm has been a part of the Porter County Fair scene for more than a quarter century.
As usual, a fine card of events has again been booked for the 1974 nightly Grandstand shows. Barring any loud dispute with the weatherman, the seats should be crowded as they have been in other "Good Weather" years.
Queen to reign over festivities during the week will be selected at Tuesday night's grandstand event. Successor to Jill Lynette Long, Miss County Fair of 1973, will be selected at that time.
One problem for participants and visitors this year for those coming to the Fairgrounds from the southeastern part of the county could be the repair work being carried out by the city of Valparaiso along Roosevelt Road, a portion of which is closed to traffic.
However, we don't see this as a major roadblock, but a detour to the site of the fair could become necessary in some instances.
Another "problem" is that for the first time within memory the Porter and LaPorte County fairs are being held in the same week, which could cut down somewhat on attendance, although it is not anticipated that this will have a great overriding effect.
However, the local Fair Board is rightly thinking about moving up its 1975 Fair one week, to avoid such a conflict – which was caused by the moving up of the Indiana State Fair.
For several years now the county is in possession of two fairgrounds, but the one to the south of Valparaiso has not been developed because of the uncertainty as to what to do about selling the grounds in north Valparaiso. We would urgently suggest that county officials as soon as possible tackle this project headlong, and have as its target, development of the new grounds in readiness for 1976 as part of Porter County's observance of America's Bi-Centennial year.
At any rate, we trust the people of Porter County from Aug. 5 to 10 make it a point to visit the 1974 Fair as frequently as possible – if for no other reason than to take their minds off the cares of the world and our nation. But then there are many other better reasons to come to the Fair.
Fairgrounds map, as it appeared in The Vidette-Messenger on August 3, 1974