PEA RIDGE — The annual fair was begun in 1950 when Pea Ridge celebrated its centenni al with a gigantic homecoming reunion. So successful was the event that it was decided to make the reunion-type fair an annual event.
Pea Ridge traces its history back to 1850 when the post office here was officially started, although, of course, a community already existed at that time The picturesque little city gained its greatest fame through its greatest heart ache and sorrow - the important Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge fought near the town. (From the Pea Ridge Graphic - July 13, 1967)
1968 - A fiddlers’ contest was held by the Arkansas Fiddlers Association.
1969 - A change in fair plans saw the merchant’s drawing give away $130 cash to winners at the fair.
1971 - Beta Alpha Sorority sponsored the fair for the first time.
1972 - Miss Pea Ridge, Debra (Easley) Bullard, was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to enter the De catur Barbecue competition in August.
1979 - The longest married couple was Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Crabtree who had been married 65 years.
1980 - Proceeds from the dunking booth were to build a pavilion at Pea Ridge City Park.
1983 - Live entertainment featured The Mann Family, the Sugar Creek Band and Bill and Dub Snow with H.K.
Scott.
1986 - No pageant was held but the first ever queen’s reunion drew 18 former Pea Ridge Fair queens.
1988 - There were 31 Pea Ridge residents who signed up to be dunked in the Pea Ridge High School Band Booster’s dunk tank.
1991 - Sponsors of the fair put extra emphasis on Desert Storm veterans, all Desert Storm vets were invited to be that year’s grand marshals.
1992 - Miss Pea Ridge, Jennifer (Mc-Daniel) Plumlee, attended Rogers High School.
1997 - The first Junior Miss Pea Ridge and Teeny Tot contests were held.
1999 - The first Cutest Baby contest was held.
2000 - Former queens were invited back - 21 attended and rode in parade.
2002 - Miss Pea Ridge contest was interrupted by rain for the first time in the fair’s history.
2006 - The theme for the fair was Blackhawk Reunion and the grand marshals, the Pea Ridge High School class of 1931, were driven in a 1930 Model A Ford owned by Nadine Crabtree.
2009 - A car show was held instead of the carnival.
2010 - This was the 60th anniversary of the Pea Ridge Fair.
The Pea Ridge Fair is sponsored by Beta Alpha Sorority.
Community, Pages 19 on 07/06/2011