EAGLE, Colorado — Ski resorts and condos didn't exist in the Eagle Valley 70 years ago. The only “gated” communities were ranches. What is now the ritzy ski town of Vail was a pasture where sheep roamed; and cattle thrived in the lush fields on Brush Creek where golfers now stroll.

Agriculture was the reigning economic force.

And that is the reason that the movers and shakers of the county, including the county commissioners, Eagle Chamber of Commerce, 4-H leaders and the local school board decided the time was right to stage the valley's first-ever county fair.

“The entire program will be built around exhibits of agriculture and farm home products, 4-H Club achievements, and other resources of the county,” reported the Eagle Valley Enterprise, on Aug. 25, 1939. Because the workload of farmers and ranchers eased a bit in the fall, Sept. 16 was the chosen date for the big celebration, heralded as the “Eagle County Fair and Fall Festival.”

The fair was to be held on the grounds of the Eagle School (where the county administration building is now located at Sixth Street and Broadway in Eagle). In addition to a 4-H exhibit competition, and exhibits by local ranchers, the organizers were planning an exhibit competition for local farm and ranch wives. The women were encouraged to exhibit canned vegetables, fruits, preserves and pastries, and needlework.

But that was just a part of the celebration. The organizers planed a full day of entertainment, including a football game between the Minturn and Eagle High School teams (Eagle won, 27-0), band concerts, a free picture show at the local movie theater, a “bountiful free lunch” for all, and a big dance that evening. There was some talk that Colorado Gov. Ralph Carr was seriously considering an invitation to attend and make a speech.

First fair: 1939

Lena (Sansosti) Yost of Brush Creek was just a little girl growing up with her sisters in Wolcott. Her now-husband, George, was a kid growing up at Dotsero.

Although the fair in those early years was quite small compared to what it is today, they remember it as much-anticipated event.

“We didn't have the best of cars, and we didn't go a lot of places. Heading up to Eagle from Dotsero for the fair was quite a trip,” George recalls. “The whole county turned out.”

Lena earned a first-place ribbon for her 4-H sewing project at the first fair. She remembers the Rhode Island Red chickens that earned her a grand champion ribbon at a subsequent fair.

“My dad oiled their beaks and their feet. My hen laid her first egg at the fair,” recalls Lena.

The community must have been ready for the celebration. “Hundreds of people came from every corner of the county,” reported the Enterprise, in a follow-up story on Sept. 22, 1939. An estimated 1,200 people ate the free lunch, served up by Moulton Chambers who was assisted by a “bevy of beautiful and efficient young women.”

Red Allen, the livestock judge sent to the fair from the Extension Service of Colorado A & M College (now Colorado State University), praised the quality of the livestock exhibits, and suggested that some of the cattle were Stock Show quality. The local potatoes were a standout in the crops and vegetables competition.

Martin Eichler of Edwards and Mrs. H.C. Helms of Eagle took top honors in the poultry division for their pens of breeding stock. Wayne Randall's chicken won the 4-H division honors.

Rancher Fred Rule of Eagle took first prize for his alfalfa exhibit; and John Clark's Red McClure potatoes earned a blue ribbon. Melissa Trezise of Eagle grew the best carrots; Gene Slaughter's barley proved a winning entry; and Alex Macdonell's 4-H steer placed first in its class.

Throughout the day, the Eagle County High School band, in beautiful uniforms featuring white trousers with purple and gold caps and capes, performed for the crowd.

Fair organizers were proud of the success of that first county fair.

“We hope to see this fair an annual event, it being an incentive for old and young to do our work well and compete with our sister counties,” declared the Enterprise.

However, that first county fair was the last such comprehensive event for a long, long time.

1945: After the war years

The first Eagle County Fair in 1939 was a smashing success, drawing hundreds of people from throughout the county to Eagle for a day of competition and camaraderie. The organizers believed they had hit the formula for an annual tradition.

Blame Adolph Hitler for the world turmoil that set back the fair celebration for a full decade.

To be sure, a county fair-type event was scheduled in 1940, but it was not of the scale as the previous year's celebration. The event was once again held on the grounds of the Eagle School. The exhibition, staged in the fall the previous year, was moved to August, possibly to accommodate the 4-H'ers headed to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo with their projects.

Among the 4-H exhibitors in 1940 were Lena Sansosti (Yost), Mac Macdonell, and Mildred Eichler. Tommy Hartman's Angus beef steer, which he had captured in the 4-H “Catch It” contest the previous year, took grand champion in the under 900 lbs. class, and went on to place second in the state fair.

Danny Rule, the son of Brush Creek ranchers Fred and Mary Rule, earned grand champion honors with his Hereford heifer. Young Rule had obtained the calf from local rancher Holly K. Brooks, then raised and groomed the animal by himself.

Rule made some local headlines by taking that same heifer to the state fair, and again winning a purple ribbon. Then he astonished the sophisticated state fair competitors by entering the calf in open class and going against the best breeders in the state. His animal took first place, just missing reserve champion honors. When a buyer offered $300 for the heifer, Danny refused to sell.

The highlight of the local celebration was a square dance contest on Saturday evening.

Judy (Allen) Burford, 83, of Grand Junction was a “city girl” from Eagle during those early years of the fair. She didn't raise animals, but she belonged to a 4-H club led by Mary Rule.

“Mary and Fred Rule were good leaders. The Rules were very important,” recalls Burford. The Rule family played a major role in the fair for many years.

Burford admits that she never took to sewing — but she could figure out baking. She still remembers the prize-winning loaf of yeast bread that earned her a trip to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.

The fair was a major social opportunity for the younger set.

“We had kids coming over from Brush Creek, Gypsum Creek, Gore Creek, Bond and McCoy, and all the smaller places … the boys looked at the girls, and the girls looked at the boys … it was fun,” she recalls. Years later, when she was raising her own family on a sheep ranch on Lake Creek, her own children looked forward to the annual fair.

By 1942, the community was feeling the impacts of the war. Most young men in the county had either been drafted or had signed up for military service, resulting in a farm labor shortage that seriously hampered local production. Shortages of products such as rubber and leather, and mandatory rationing made it challenging for ranchers just to keep their operations going. By the mid-1940s, there was no mention of the county fair in the local newspapers, although there is coverage of 4-H activities and exhibits.

Like the entire nation, the community picked itself up and re-grouped after the war ended.

By the late summer of 1947, the Enterprise front page reported the first “4-H Exhibit Day” since the war years. Each subsequent year, the one-day event, typically capped off by an evening dance, gained momentum. The temporary “exhibit hall” set up in the school gym was getting crowded.

The newspaper and community leaders were seeing a need for a permanent fairgrounds space.

1955: New home for fair

By 1950, the Eagle County Fair was suffering growing pains. The large number of exhibits overflowed the school gym in Eagle, and spilled out into the downstairs hall of the main school building.

For the first time, local businesses manned commercial booths at the fair, featuring displays of various farm and home appliances.

Organizers decided to roll the county fair and the annual “Flight Day” celebration into a single event on Sept. 9, 1950. In addition to the exhibits and 4-H competition, plane rides were being offered at the county airfield “for those who would like to view the county from upstairs.” Entertainment also included a baseball tournament. The Eagle Theater offered a free showing of the movie “Dynamite” and three cartoons.

Despite a downpour of rain that lasted most of the day, a crowd turned out. Jack Whittaker's ram lamb won champion honors. Velma Larsen of Brush Creek earned $10 in the women's division for collecting the greatest number of points in individual competition. Ted Reynolds' Burbank potatoes also garnered a purple ribbon.

The polio outbreak in 1951 stifled some activities. Local leaders decided not to send 4-H'ers to Camp Tobin at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo — a much-coveted honor among the younger set.

Still, locally, what was now being called the “Junior Fair” drew 202 entries. Felix and Nick Strubi won blue ribbons for soil conservation projects. Vern Albertson of Burns and Lloyd Mayne of Gypsum were the lucky winners of the Catch-It Calf contest.

In 1952 the fair, having outgrown the Eagle School site, was moved to the Gypsum school grounds — but that was the only time the event was staged away from the county seat.

Ella Bindley, 83, of Eagle, was a 4-H leader for a number of years. She remembers those fair exhibits in the school lunchroom. A number of local girls, including Susan Koonce, and Judy Seabry, learned to sew under Bindley's watchful eye. Koonce once sewed a dress that won high honors at the state fair.

A fine fairgrounds

“Junior Fair to have a permanent grounds,” declared the headlines in the Eagle Valley Enterprise in August 1953. Eagle rancher Chet Mayer (whose property encompassed what is now known as the Mayer Bull Pasture and Eagle Ranch subdivisions) offered to set aside more than an acre of land on the south edge of Eagle for a fairgrounds. The land was located just east of the forest service supply depot.

Eagle Chamber of Commerce volunteers built a fence. Others arranged for water to be piped to the site. By the following year, an exhibit building was constructed on the site. With the new facility, by 1955 for the first time the fair became a two-day event.

“The addition of a livestock shed has meant the difference between a mediocre one-day fair and the magnificent present with a two-day fair,” declared the Enterprise.

Claude DeGraw of Gypsum remembers the fun of packing a sleeping bag and camping out overnight at the fairgrounds with fellow 4-H'ers. Theoretically, the kids were supposed to be keeping an eye on their stock. But in reality, it was a time for those farm kids to kick up their heels.

“We didn't get any sleep at night. We ran streets of Eagle, knocking on doors. Oh yeah, it was fun,” he recalls.

The 1956 fair was particularly memorable for DeGraw. He was 12 years old.

“I caught a calf and lamb in the same day (in the Catch-It Contest). And I about caught a pig, but the darn thing just about bit my finger off,” he laughs.

One of the big new editions to the fair was a tractor contest. Bob Havener was in charge of the event where young tractor drivers worked against time to drive their tractor through an obstacle course.

By the mid-1950s, a county agent named Sam Kuntz was the guy who, backed by the local business community, was leading the county fair to even greater heights.

“He was the one who really got it going,” recalls Judy Burford, of Grand Junction. She describes Kuntz as a “small guy, very sage.” Kuntz had a way with children, as well as a knack for managing the fair; and he stayed in the county agent post for many years.

By the late 1950s, the county commissioners agreed to underwrite a large portion of the fair's expense.

But when the Mayer ranch sold to a corporation in 1960, the fairgrounds were part of the sale. The fair once again needed a new home.

1965: Fair moves across river, rodeo is added

As the summer of 1960 approached, the organizers of the Eagle County Fair were scrambling.

For seven years, the annual event had been held on a designated parcel of the Mayer ranch, on the south edge of Eagle. Most had assumed that location was permanent. When the ranch was suddenly sold to a corporation, the fair lost its home.

That's when the Eagle County Commissioners stepped up and purchased a 15 acre chunk of land from dairy rancher Ross Chambers on the west bank of the Eagle River, across from the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad depot.

Led by Kuntz, a squadron of local volunteers moved the livestock barn to the new site in sections. The Eagle Valley Roping Club was building a rodeo arena on the site.

Due to the lack of an exhibit hall, the home economics exhibits remained across the river in the school gym. Elena Nottingham, Kathy Lewis (Macy), Sally Johnson (Metcalf) and Jean Seabry were among the blue-ribbon winners. Mallory Nottingham from Avon exhibited the Grand Champion beef.

The following year, Kuntz and his volunteers were determined to stage a fair with all of the exhibits in a central location. An all-steel, 100 by 50 foot building had been ordered to serve as the exhibit hall at the new fairgrounds. Delivery was due by Aug. 1; and the volunteers were certain they could have the facility functioning for the fair.

Those hopes were dashed when the building didn't arrive on time.

Still, the fair was exciting that year. Grandstands had been built for the rodeo arena, and three rodeo performances were scheduled with the Colorado Amateur Cowboy Association. The rodeo offered a $150 purse. Local rancher Joe Dice was the go-to man.

An extra day was added to the fair schedule.

At Kuntz's urging, a Fat Stock Sale was also added to the agenda.

“The sale will be advantageous to both 4-H members and meat eaters. It will give the boys and girls a chance to sell their fat steers, lambs, and hogs at home; and it will give the people in this region a chance to buy some of the good meat our 4-H boys and girls are producing,” declared Kuntz.

Thus began the still on-going partnership between the local business community and the 4-H kids. Local auctioneer Tom Pearch volunteered his talent. Stanley Cash Grocery, the local store in Eagle, spent $768 on the grand champion steer, exhibited by Ronnie Dodo of Avon. Other buyers at the sale included Joe Allen of the First Bank of Eagle, and rancher Martin Eichler, Ross Chambers, and Bob Havener.

“The livestock sale was a big deal. Businesses and other ranchers were very supportive,” recalls Judy Burford, whose family operated a sheep ranch on Lake Creek.

That much sought-after exhibit hall was ready for the 1962 fair, but again it involved a last minute scramble by a crew of volunteers that included Bonita Eaton, Alberta Norman, Zelda Hill, Millie Nottingham, Jerry Whittaker, Bill Stephens, Dean Walker, Vince Eichler, and Wayne Cowan.

The Eichler brothers of Brush Creek cooked a lamb barbecue. Winners of the 4-H dress revue included Susan Chandler, Charlynn Oleson (Knight) and Shirley Eaton.

Pushed by Kuntz, the improvements at the fairgrounds continued. By 1964 the steel exhibit hall was wired for electricity. The wiring meant the facility would have not only light fixtures, but also the necessary power for cooking ranges and refrigerators. New restrooms and a water line were also installed.

Denny Eaton was building a modern concessions stand.

A fence was installed to separate the livestock sheds from the rodeo arena. Scotty Scott was hired as a caretaker for the fairgrounds. He lived in a mobile home moved onto the site.

Carol Ann Davenport (Newby) was the champion in home economics judging. Karen Albertson won the purple rosette ribbon in the food competition. Lisa Shelton (Burton) had a champion chicken; and Joe Clark exhibited the top rabbit.

The fair crowd had grown enough that the local sheepmen contributed six lambs for the barbecue.

No doubt about it, the Eagle County Fair was poised to keep growing bigger and better.

Next Week: Look for the Eagle County Fair history of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

70th Annual Eagle County Fair & Rodeo 2009 Schedule Thursday, July 30 Cattlemen's Night at the Rodeo 9 a.m.-8 p.m. 4-H and Open Class Exhibits open to public at the Eagle River Center Antique Tractor Show 9 a.m. 4-H Swine Show @ Eagle River Center 12 p.m. Carnival Opens - Unlimited Ride Advance Sale price $15; $20 at gate 12-11 p.m. Antique Tractor Display 2 p.m. 4-H Lamb Show @ Eagle River Center 3-4 p.m. Local Teen Band TBA 3:30-7:30 p.m. Children's craft tent 4 p.m. 4-H Goat Show @ Eagle River Center 5-7:30 p.m. New Shoes Band 5-7 p.m. CSU Alumni Association Event @ Exhibition Hall 8 p.m. PRCA Rodeo – Large outdoor arena Adults / Child 13-18, $16 Senior / Child 6-12 $10 Family Pass $40 (2 adults and 2 children 6-12) Friday, July 31 “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” Day 9 a.m.-8 p.m. 4-H and Open Class Exhibits open to public at the Eagle River Center 9 a.m. 4-H Beef Show @ Eagle River Center 12 p.m. Carnival Opens Unlimited Ride Advance Sale price $15; $20 at gate 2-4 p.m. 4-H Round Robin Showmanship at Eagle River Center 3-4 p.m. Local Band TBA 3:30-7:30 p.m. Children's craft tent 3:30-7:30 p.m. Borillo Children's Entertainment & Face painting 5-7:30 p.m. Derringer Band 6 p.m. BINGO at Eagle River Center 8 p.m. PRCA Rodeo – Large outdoor arena 10-11 p.m. Derringer Band Adults / Child 13-18; $16 Senior / Child 6-12; $10 Family Pass $40 (2 adults and 2 children 6-12) Saturday, August 1 “Salute to Armed Services & Emergency Services” 8 a.m. Jr. Livestock Auction setup –Eagle River Center 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. 4-H and Open Class Exhibits open to public at the Eagle River Center 10:30 a.m. Pretty Baby Contest Registration @ Eagle River Center 11 a.m. Pretty Baby Contest @ Eagle River Center 12 p.m. Carnival opens Unlimited Ride Advance Sale price $15; $20 at gate 12 p.m. Junior Livestock Barbeque at Eagle River Center 1 p.m. Junior Livestock Auction 2 p.m. Homemade Salsa Contest registration at the Eagle River Center 3-7:30 p.m. Children's craft tent 3-5 p.m. Too Young to Know Band 4 p.m. Homemade Salsa Contest – People's Choice – Come taste your vote! 5-7:30 p.m. Airborn Band 6-8 p.m. Heritage Demonstrations at the Eagle River Center 8 p.m. PRCA Rodeo/Junior Livestock Buyer Night 10-11 p.m. Airborn Band Adults / Child 13-18; $16 Senior / Child 6-12 $10 Family Pass $40 (2 adults and 2 children 6-12)