The FCFA Directors are making final preparations for the 100-Year Traditions and Heritage Celebration of the Freestone County Fair and Rodeo to be held in Fairfield June 13-18 at the W. L. Moody Reunion Fair Grounds. The Parade Grand Marshals for the Centennial Celebration are Don Beene, formerly of Fairfield, and Herbert R. “Herb” Casey Jr. of Teague. Both Beene and Casey have served as past members, directors, and advisors of the Freestone County Fair Association.

Beene served as a FCFA Director from 1983-1988 & 1992-1994 and FCFA Advisor from 1975-2001. Beene came to Fairfield as an Agricultural Science teacher in 1975 when former FHS Ag teacher Jack Cely retired.

Beene’s first “Freestone County World Fair” was in August 1975 where only steers and market pigs were exhibited. Beene stated, “John Pritchard, County Agent oversaw the pig show and Glen Wren, Wortham AG teacher, oversaw the steer show. The livestock show arena and pig pens were wood fencing with dirt floor in the pens and it was very difficult to dress up the pigs to show.”

Just recently, Beene learned that Wendy Chavers Neyland and the Chavers family nominated me for the Texas AG Teachers Hall of Fame.

The Association went forward with the nomination and on July 28th in Corpus Christi I will be inducted into the Texas AG Teacher Hall of Fame. “Wendy was a student of mine and her Dad and I taught together for many years,” he said.

After graduating from Mexia High School in 1958, Beene attended Sam Houston State Teachers College (SHSTC) and majored in Agriculture Education. While attending SHSTC, Beene enrolled in Military Science, as it was required by all male students, and continued with Military Science until he graduated in 1962.

After graduating SHSTC, Beene was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Infantry. After basic training in Fort Benning, GA, he served in the 1st CAV DIVISION in South Korea from 1962-1963. Completing his tour of duty, Beene remained on active duty in the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas until 1965. In the fall of 1965, Beene started his teaching career in Calallen, TX while continuing to serve in the US Army Reserves in the 467th S & S Battalion in Dallas and Houston until 1975. Beene retired in 1985 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 23 years’ service in the US Army.

Herbert R. Casey, Jr., known by many as Herb Casey, was a member of FCFA for 45 years. While Casey served as a FCFA Director for 6 years, he held the office of Vice President in 1989. Casey served as FCFA Advisor for ten years; announcer for the livestock show for three years; and served 27 years supervising livestock and AG Mechanics projects shown by students at the Freestone County Fair.

Casey served in the US Air Force from 1970-1974 during the Viet Nam War. After his service, Casey attended Tarleton State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education in 1977 and a Master of Science Teaching Degree in 1978. Casey began his teaching career in fall of 1978 as the Agricultural Science teacher at Teague High School where he retired in June 2006.

As high school AG teachers, both Beene and Casey worked with the Fairfield Young Farmers and community supporters with the purpose of improving the fair grounds. The first project was redoing the hog pens with the help of local volunteers and donated materials.

Beene stated, “This group of volunteers also built the show arena with pipe and hog panels and made the livestock show ring larger. The group worked on the cattle staging area, built the little office, poured a slab for the tent, poured cement under on of the sheds; and redone the rabbit and poultry staging area.”

During Beene and Casey teaching career and as members of FCFA, the livestock show at the fair was enlarged to include Sheep, Goats, Rabbits and Broilers and the Home Economic area was expanded. The leadership for the exhibiting of animals changed and it involved various members of the community serving as Superintendents for each category of livestock.

Beene added, “Don Weisner, computer teacher in Fairfield High School, developed and wrote the first sale program for the Fair in the late 1980’s as it was written for an Apple Computer. This enabled the county agent, and AG teachers in Teague, Wortham and Fairfield to get the sale order out much quicker.”

Beene stated, “During his 25 years as AG Teacher, FFA Advisor and Young Farmer Advisor, he feels today that the Freestone County Fair really is the Freestone County World Fair.” Both Beene and Casey have helped many students and exhibitors to grow and have a great appreciation of agriculture.

Beene stated, “The Freestone County Fair Association Directors, Members, Volunteers and Community working together to make the Freestone County Fair and Rodeo what it is today, a well-organized Monday through Saturday entertainment.”

(Submitted by FCFA, Kelly Tyus)