Freestone County Fair Association Shares History Book Tidbits: 1966-1985

By Kelly Tyus

DEADLINE EXTENDED to May 10, 2022 for any articles and/or fair pictures that you would like to include in the FCFA history book. Contact Kelly Tyus, text 903-388-1813, or email kelly.tyus@gmail.com.

The “100 years of Traditions and Heritage 1922-2022” history book will be printed after the June 13-18 2022 fair and rodeo to include the 100-year celebration photos and articles. To PRE-ORDER your book, mail $75.00 plus $7.95 postage to Freestone County Fair Association, % Sec. Nadine Phillips, PO Box 592, Fairfield, TX 75840.

1966: The 1966 – 1985 Fairfield Recorder, Teague Chronicle or Wortham Journal were NOT on-line nor at the Freestone County Historical Museum at the time of research.

The 1966 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Beverly Blount of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 09.01.1966, page1.)

1967: The 1967 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Glenda Stark of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 09.07.1967, page1.)

1968: The Freestone County Fair was held August 22-24. The parade theme was “Texas Heritage” and coordinator was Donna Patterson.

The 1968 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Diane Kurtz of Fairfield. (Ref: News article from the collection of Mrs. Margaret Ivy Tolar.) The coronation committee were Mrs. Alliene Allen, Miss Willene Jackson and Miss Brenda Glenn.

The 1968 LIVESTOCK SHOW WINNERS were: GRAND CHAMPION STEER: Jimmy Pritchard; GRAND CHAMPION: BREEDING GILT: Gene Chavers; GRAND CHAMPION BOAR: Gene Chavers; GRAND CHAMPION FAT HOG: Ray Lancaster; and GRAND CHAMPION DAIRY HEIFER: Gene Chavers.

1969: Parade theme was “Texas Industries”. Miss Texas 1969 Dana Dowell lead the parade but, also the First Armored Division Band from Fort Hood was one of many bands to march in the parade. The Fairfield High School Band was led by Drum Major, Sissy Willard (Awalt).

The 1969 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Nelma Jo York of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.28.1969, page1.) Coronation Chairman was Clara Barton Miller.

The rodeo chairman was Milton Carroll with committee members Charles Easterwood, Jimmy Nanny, Bradford Ivy, Burt Richards, Bowie Mullen, Thomas Doyle Cannon and Roy Patterson.

The August 22nd rodeo was rained out and rescheduled for September 27th.

1970: The 1970 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Carol Owens of Teague. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.27.1970, page1.)

1971: The parade theme was “Salute to America”. Parade Marshals were Dallas Mayor Wes Wise and Fairfield Mayor Jim Orand.

The 1971 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Genell Fitch of Streetman. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page 1.) Miss Fitch was the first queen to receive cash and certificates.

1972: The 1972 Miss Freestone Queen was Rhonda Mitchell of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.24.1972, page1.)
Bradford Ivy Rodeo Company of Fairfield “will again produce the best of rodeo stock to be found. With this stock, you can witness one of the wildest rodeos and see quite a few top cowboys have dirt for their evening meal.” (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.10.1972, page 1.)

The 1972 Livestock Show Winners were: Danny Pritchard, Dairy Heifer; Helen Johnson, Swine-Barrow; Billy Hayden, Swine-Gilt; and Marsha McLelland, Grand Champion of the heavy weight division.

1973: The parade theme was “Texas, Our Texas” was lead by Texas Senator, Charles Wilson. Parade Chairman was Steven Talbott and the Publicity Chairman was John Leslie Awalt.

The 1973 Miss Freestone Queen was Kathy Burks of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.)

1974: The 1974 Miss Freestone Queen was Kay Kirgan of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.) Miss Kirgan received a $200 scholarship from the FCFA.

1975: The 1975 Miss Freestone Queen was Donna Tyus of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.28.1975, page1.)

1975 Livestock Show Winners: Chuck Calame, Grand Champion Steer; Jackie Ridge, Reserve Champion Steer; Russell Gilbreath, Grand Champion Heifer; Marc Robinson, Grand Champion Dairy; and Leslie Freeman, Grand Champion Hog.

1976: The 1975 Miss Freestone Queen was LaWanda Spence of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.26.1976, page1.) Miss Spence received a $250 Scholarship.

1977: The 1977 Miss Freestone Queen was Deanne Hughes of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.26.1976, page1.) The Parade Marshall was Troy Dungan, Weathercaster, WFAA-TV Channel 8 from Dallas.

1978: FCFA President was Suel Hill. The parade theme was “The Good Old Days”. The Parade Chairman was Bobby Daniel; Ike Carden was the Livestock Sale Chairman; and Bowie Mullen was the Rodeo Chairman. The Home and Garden show was not held due to the “Green Barn” being remodeled.

The 1978 Miss Freestone Queen was Suzanne Strickland of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.)

The Livestock show winners were: Grand Champion Steer: Tracy Poe, Wortham; Res. Champion Steer: Cheryl Mooney, Teague; Grand Champion Bull: Fred Hill; Res. Champion Bull: Rich Hill; Grand Champion Heifer: Jina Robinson; Res. Champion Heifer: Blake Robinson; Grand Champ. Commerical Beef Heifer: Bud Carroll; Grand Champ. Dairy Heifer: Bubba Robinson; Grand Champ. Market Hog: Penny Robinson; and Res. Champ. Market Hog: Scott Holmes.

1979: The 1979 Miss Freestone Queen was Kim Meiske of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.)

1980: The 1980 Miss Freestone Queen was Kim Cooksey of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.)

1981: The 1981 Miss Freestone Queen was Stacey Morris of Teague. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.) Don Anderson won Grand Champion Breeding Swine and Showmanship.

Beard Growing Contest winners were Brownie Utley – Best Groomed; Johnny LeFevre – Shaggiest; Andy Bonner – Fullest; Lloyd Nations – Shortest.

1982: The 1982 Miss Freestone Queen was Carol Colvin of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.) The 1982 Grand Champion Swine winner was Tony McAdams.

1983: The 1983 Miss Freestone Queen was Kathy Trigg of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.) Coronation Chairman was Diane Daniel.

1984: The parade theme was “Travel Our World”.

The 1984 Miss Freestone Queen was Dana Robertson of Fairfield. Miss Robertson was the FIRST MISS FREESTONE COUNTY QUEEN to be eligible to take part in the Miss Texas Pageant. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.16.1984, page1.)

1985: The FCFA officers were President, Marshall McSwane; Vice-President, Andy Bonner; and Secretary/Treasurer, Gene Chavers. Directors were Glen Wren, Diane Daniel, C. B. Freeman, Don Beene, Mary Alice Bonner and Lynn Kimball.

The 1985 Miss Freestone Queen was Suzanne Robinson of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, date unknown, page1.)

The 1985 Grand Champion Steer was shown by Dale George of Fairfield.

“This is a county fair and when people from all over the county participate it naturally tends to make the fair more of a county-wide fair and creates much more interest.”
(Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 09.16.1965, page 1.)

“It’s Your Fair – Will You Be There?”