Grayson County TXGenWeb

Sherman Democrat
July 4, 1976

Agicultural Fairs Began Here in 1853
Interest in the future of agriculture began soon after the founding of the county seat at Sherman in the 1840s.
The first agricultural fair in Grayson County was opened October 5, 1853 for a four-day stand. It was sponsored by the Grayson County Agriculture and Mechanical Society. In those days the fair was held one mile northwest of Sherman on Post Oak Creek. Premiums totaling $448 were paid.
There is evidence other fairs were held between that year and 1915. The next to be mentioned was held after the Civil War in 1867 and was called the Grayson County Fair.
This fair was promoted by J.P. Loving, Mayor Ed Levy, H.N. Tuck, Billy Batsell and T.V. Munson. The fair in that year was held southwest of the courthouse square near Tennessee street.
Emphasis was placed on agricultural products and livestock. Most of the prizes were carried away by Collin County farmers, according to the records.
The grounds were too small and the following year the fair was held at Shannon prairie, northwest of Sherman, where there was room for a race track.
After two years showing at these grounds the fair was disbanded until 1872. In 1873 the county fair was a failure and the organization was forced to sell the grounds to pay debts.
The next fair was held at Batsell Park, Sherman, in 1876, with Lun Sapington as manager. The main attraction was the race track, which grew in popularity until Sherman became the racing center of the state, according to a Dallas paper in 1885.
As high as $5,000 in premiums was paid for exhibits for crops, livestock, pickles, jellies, preserves, needlework, butter, chickens and other produce.
The County Fair covered a period of about 30 years until it lost popularity because of the Texas State Fair.
About 1911 Sherman began having trades day sponsored by merchants who offered premiums on different classes of farm products one day each month. By 1915 these trade days had outgrown the few merchants who sponsored them and plans for expanded activities led to the forming of the Red River Valley Fair.
During the first two years of the association, building scattered over a wide area of the business section were used for the exhibits. A move was started in 1917 to raise $50,000 for the contruction of permanent buildings, but the war halted plans and no fair was held in 1918 or 1919.
In the fall of 1920 the fair associaition, the Old Settlers Association and the city of Sherman joined in erecting permanent improvements at Old Settlers Park. By 1921 two buildings had been erected in time for the fair.
A.S. Noble was president, Lee Simmons, John R. Haven, vice-presidents anc C.A. Shock secretary.
The fair association was incorporated in 1924 and stock was sold to raise funds.
After the 1920s agriculture changed to such an extent that directors of the Red River Livestock Association in 1947 decided to organize a new association based on the trends and needs of the county. The association conceived and developed the Red River Valley Livestock Exposition for the encouragement of farms in raising better cattle in this area.
The time of the year in which the show was to be held was shifted from the fall to spring and for the next two years the show was held in April. Several thousand dollars were spent in bringing two outstanding shows to the area.
The Red River Valley Livestock Exposition sponsored shows until 1958. At that time area agricultural enthusiasts leased 63 acres near Loy Lake for $1 from the county. The lease was executed August 15, 1958. C.E. Teague, president of the newly founded Texoma Livestock Association, and Nick R. Owens, secretary, signed the lease.
The first show under the direction of the Texoma Livestock Association was held in the spring of 1959.
The first building for the new Texoma Exhibition and Livestock Show, Inc. was constructed a year earlier in June 1958. The men most responsible for erecting the first building were : Jack Pritchard of Bells, Leon Brazil of Tioga, Paul Shields of Howe, Gene Foster of Whitesboro, and Alton Ice of Sherman.
A hog barn was erected in 1961 and two more additions were also added in 1961. A $50,000 bond issue passed that year was the source of most of the money for the construction.
Presently there are five building at Loy Lake : women's building, beef barn, show area, dairy barn and swine sheep barn. Current officers of the association are : Lloyd Butts, president; A.J. Hanan, vice-president; Stanley Oakley, secretary; Al Thornton, treasurer.
The annual show is usually scheduled in early springs. Features of the show are animal judgings, 4-H, FFA and FHA exhibits; a play day; barbecue, horse show, auction, and a Parade of Champions.
Money collected from the memberships goes to promote agriculture in this area as well as to encourage young people to become future farmers, 4-H members and future homemakers.
This year's genereal superintendent of the show was Gene Foster of Whitesboro.