DUNCAN —
Entries will be taken today for the annual Comanche/Empire District Fair which is Friday and Saturday.
Those submitting items for this fair can do so from 3-6 p.m. today at Patterson Avenue Baptist Church.
The district fair will be held in two locations. Friday will feature the judged items from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the church. And Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. will be the livestock show in the ag complex of Comanche High School.
“It is full blown just like the (Stephens County Free) Fair,” said Susan Powers, chairperson. “It is for those in District 3 of the County Commissioners, the Comanche, Empire and Grandview school districts.”
This is the 25th year for the fair to be sponsored by Oak College OHCE. Those members of the club help see that everything is organized and they run it. Oak College first began running the fair in 1987 with only two women and it quickly grew in popularity to the point that the entire club became involved.
“Usually about 70-80 enter but they may each have a dozen entries,” said Powers. “Some categories such as horticulture and canning depend on the weather.”
Comanche Garden Club hosts a garden show as part of the district fair. Additionally, Oak College club will have a membership booth in the church to sell chances for a quilt drawing, which will be given away during the Stephens County Free Fair next week.
In 2010, the Best of the Best of the Show award was added in order to entice people to enter the fair. In each of the eight contest categories, a first place winner is chosen. Those winners are put into a drawing for the big award.
About $1,000 worth of items donated by Comanche merchants and businesses and put into separate baskets. These items include money, gift certificates and merchandise.
“The Best of the Best gets a big basket and the other seven winners get smaller baskets but even those can have up to $75 worth of items,” said Powers. “Comanche merchants are really good about donating.”
Entry to the fair is free, therefore, the only money-making Oak College does is through its concession, which is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. They offer barbecue, stew, Frito Pie, taco salad, cinnamon rolls and cobbler, among other homemade items.
“All of the money goes back into the community, whether it be a school or a family with needs,” Powers said.
Other than looking at exhibits and enjoying the food, many residents show up for the social aspect of the event.
“A lot of people just like to sit around and visit,” said Powers. “It’s a good time to see everybody.”
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