The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher-Owner
A stream of individuals have been working really hard to put another year of fun in motion for a successful Henderson County Fair.
It all begins tonight with the Henderson County Pageant and crowning of the Queen, Jr. Miss, and Little Miss at WC Middle School in Stronghurst.
I ran across the 10th Annual Fair book (a little smaller than the Readers Digest) which was printed by my father Paul G. Bell and my grandfather Charles M. Bell in 1946, before I was born.
This means the Henderson County fair is conducting its 88th fair this year and in two more (2026) will be celebrating 90 years, thanks to so many "servants" over the years in our communities.
Inside "The Quill" you will find a full listing of activities with a map of the fairgrounds located on the north side of Stronghurst on pages 10 and 11. Over sixty businesses and individuals supported this page for a guide to the communities and in return, we support these businessses.
It's how small town America flourishes under a democracy where residents can choose, work and plan together at the grassroots - allowing us to build and grow our communities in America.
This year, CCCSA (Community Church Council of Stronghurst Area) is conducting a Church Service Sunday, July 21st at the stage/pavillon located east of the Fort (Food) building to pray for God & Country and the fair. It's the standard of goodness that directs us all to live thoughtful, civil lives as "One Nation, Under God, with Liberty and Justice for all." There is seating in the food building or you can bring lawn chairs for the 6:00 p.m. service.
Goings on at the Fair–
Besides enjoying the exhibitors, and judging of 4-Hers and the Open Show, and seeing all the different animals and talents, you will see a variety of fun going on for all ages in the program.
For extreme enjoyment, it is best to focus on what all the fair board, committees, staff and volunteers have provided for this event rather than lamenting on what is not here from the past. "The good ole days" are their pros and cons too, and there are things that are hard to obtain as time changes.
Take a lesson from the light-hearted youth who seem to find enjoyment more easily in almost everything, and some day, the way they do things today will be their "good-old-days".
Perhaps now is a good time to take your younger ones to the Henderson County Museum and reminisce about those "good-old-days" for conversation and fun explaining how you use to do things, as the computer-age, digital tv, cell phones, are all common today, but they may need to experience the way we had to commuicate, or travel, and functioned with "no air conditioning or heat-upstairs in bedrooms.
These are some of the things good about the annual county fair. It's not just the events but its the fellowship, and the sharing of stories and catching up in real time – and not by texting. The fair brings us out of our boxes, and cubicles, away from the air conditioning into the outdoors for fellowship, learning, and eye to eye contact with live people with hearts and souls, feelings, and needs. And who doesn't like a good story! Visiting at the fair will bring you a lot of good stories, but don't be shy, approach, introduce, ask questions, get involved and have fun. Make it a point to attend to keep this annual event a place for the county to gather year after year.
In 1946 this 10th Year Directory lists The Henderson County Fair Officers and Directors
Officers: A.J. Rehling, President; O.W. Lauver, Vice President; C.R. Mellor, Treasurer; Ralph Butler, Secretary all of Stronghurst. They were also Directors along with Earl Brokaw, C.A. Hartquist, J.M. Kilgore, C.E. Neff, Page Randall, Guy Sanderson, E.R. Scharf, Otto Steffey and Milton Stevenson.
Looking back through this old Fair Book is quite a treat to see advertisements like Smith & Caldwell Produce, or the entertainment: Chicago musicans Reggie Cross and Band specializing in polkas, comedians The Parker Bros., The Hayloft Duo cowgirl singers from WLS Barn Dance, a Horse and Mule Pulling Contest (Wendell Wetterling-Supt) with "whipping, carrying of whip, undue use of lines profanity or shouting prohibited".