2024 Putnam County Fair deemed a huge success

John Addler, president of the Putnam County Fair Board, told The Putnam County Post said this year's fair has seen some "really big nights."

Near picture perfect weather and large crowds helped contribute to one of the greatest Putnam County Fairs according to event organizers, as well as fair goers. 

John Addler, president of the Putnam County Fair Board, told The Putnam County Post this year's fair, which concludes tonight, has seen "really big nights."

"Other than rain Wednesday night, we have parked outside the fairgrounds in the overflow every night. Great weather and great crowds and a lot of smiling faces. It is the best county fair in Western Indiana," Addler said. 

Fair Board member Clint Cooper echoed those sentiments. 

"Most of the shows I have watched in in the show arena, the judges have complimented the fair board, the kids and parents on how nice our fairgrounds are, how good of a job everyone does with their projects and livestock. We don't see this at a lot of other places. It doesn't turn out this big, and this is definitely something for Putnam County to be proud of," Cooper said. 

Cooper said the fair board has really worked hard in recent years to improve the facilities. 

"We have put more gravel down. A lot of input from everyone has really gone a long way," Cooper said. 

Fair goers turned out in droves Thursday night for the Supreme Showmanship, as a standing room only crowd showed up to the Farm Bureau Indoor Arena. Among those in attendance was Putnam County Sheriff Jerrod Baugh, who showed horses for a decade as a child. 

"My best friends were out here. We went to different schools, played against each other, but during the county fair, we were best friends. That's how we met and ran around at night until the sun came up, and we were so tired running around at night doing what 4-H kids do at the fair. It is very fond memories. It is something you never forget," Baugh told The Putnam County Post. 

He and Cooper are both enjoying the fair now with their own respective families. Baugh said it is special to pass those traditions down to and make memories with his daughter at the fair. 

"You try to instill and she has chosen to get into 4-H. She sees the benefit of the friends you make out here. We know the ups and downs of competition, but the friends you meet and the acquaintances you run into is worth the ups and downs and you pass it on to the next generation because it is important and it is important to Putnam County," Baugh said. 

Cooper echoed those sentiments, saying over his three plus decades in the county, he has seen the fair grow and shrink, but remain a constant. 

"It is small town USA. To me, this really ties in the youth and that is very important to the future generations coming up," Cooper said. 

Baugh has a message for anyone who would like to get further involved with the Putnam County Fair. 

"We recommend anyone who is serious about this fair, made lifelong friends or had those memories get involved and reach out to us. The Fair Board makes this happen. We don't take any taxes and the Fair Board makes this thing work. Everybody supports us and it is personal to me because I was raised here," Baugh said.