Back in 1957, a group of Lebanon County farmers decided to establish a place where 4-H Club members could compete and get recognition for their projects, fulfilling the youngsters' dreams of blue ribbons and trophies.
They envisioned a fairground not only for the kids, but a place where folks could celebrate the long-standing farming tradition of the county. Anyone could enter a crop or craft in the hopes of coming home with a ribbon.
That seed of an idea grew into the Lebanon Area Fair, an annual weeklong celebration of the county's agricultural heritage that draws hundreds of competitors and thousands of visitors each year.
The 2017 Lebanon Area Fair opens Saturday and runs through July 29 at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center and Fairgrounds, Cornwall and Rocherty roads, North Cornwall Township.
Richard Kreider, 80, a fair board member, said his father, Joseph Kreider, was one of the group of farmers who bought the 72-acre Alexander Bamberger farm that became the fair's home 61 years ago.
Bamberger's farm was divided north and south by Rocherty Road.
"My dad and Elmer Plasterer (a Lebanon County businessman) put their heads together," Kreider recalled. "They said they wanted the south side for the fairgrounds, and Plasterer would buy the north side. It was a long list of farmers who signed notes to buy the land."
Before the purchase, the fair wandered from site to site, said Emily Summey, a longtime fair board member. Initially, they showed out of tents.
In the beginning, the fair was simple: no midway, no rides, no showy entertainment. It was the place where kids could show off the animals they raised, farmers could vie for bragging rights for who had the tallest corn or the best hay, and farm wives could show sewing or craft projects, baked goods, canned goods, or vegetables and flowers from their gardens.
It's different today, but its purpose is unchanged, Kreider said.
"The fair itself still has the same purpose, to serve the youth in 4-H and FFA," Kreider said. "We've made a place for Lebanon County agriculture and for neighboring people."
There are more attractions these days to lure the farmer and farmers' friends to the fair: music, tractor pulls, rides and food, some of which has achieved legendary status. Each year, long lines form for the thick milkshakes, hand-dipped ice cream and fresh-cut french fries.
The expo center has become a popular venue year-round, including car shows, horse shows, quilt auctions and the annual builders' show.
"It's just getting better," Kreider said. "We've made improvements, and it's been moving forward."
Kreider and his wife, Carol, continue to participate, and are in charge of the Thursday chicken barbecue and the Sunday ham dinners. Together, they expect to serve more than 7,000 dinners.
"It's a tradition that we started with the chicken barbecue," Kreider said. "They started by selling 400 or 500 meals and it just kept escalating."
The entire Kreider family is involved with the fair, he said. A son works with the livestock, a daughter runs a refreshment stand and the grandchildren have shown cows, pigs and sheep over the years.
The most popular open categories seem to be flowers, vegetables, canned goods and crafts, such as sewing, knitting and crocheting, Summey said.
The fair has expanded its appeal for visitors, adding a midway, amusement rides, more competitions and forms of entertainment.
Competitors still win cash premiums, and that money comes from the state, Summey said. How much money they receive from the state changes from year to year and is difficult to determine, especially over the last few years.
"Some fairs in the state have folded when the government didn't issue funding," she said. "It is a critical part of the fair's budget."
The Lebanon fair may receive about $29,000, depending, in part, on the number of exhibitors, she said.
The fair continues to offer something for everyone, Summey said, from a petting zoo to acrobatic shows.
"In terms of live music, this year we've added a 4 p.m. performance every day," Summey said. "People are used to having evening entertainment, but there's even more this year."
Performers this year include local favorites, Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods, Laredo, The Luv Gods and Pentagon.
The demolition derby followed by fireworks Saturday evening may be the biggest event of the week, drawing upwards of 5,000 people, Summey said.
"We have the 'tough trucks' on Friday, a timed obstacle course that's one of our most well-attended events," Summey said.
The unsung heroes of the fair are the volunteers, she said.
"From making soup from scratch to serving meals, it's a multitude of people that make it possible," Summey said.
Contact Marylouise Sholly: country@readingeagle.com. Reading Eagle - Thursday, July 20, 2017