All's fair in war — especially in Fisher

Ironically, a terrible world war was the reason the Fisher Community Fair and Horse Show was born in 1942.

The country was rationing both rubber and gasoline, severely limiting travel for nonbusiness purposes, even to the Champaign County Fair.

Yet the area's FFA and 4-H members were required to exhibit their projects to earn full credit. The school's agricultural advisory council called attention to the problem, and the community decided to host a local event.

The first fair was held on the high school's athletic field. A soaking rain that year had the group next using the high school building. But by the third year, the event's popularity forced a move back to the open athletic fields, this time with tents.

The Fisher Community Fair and Horse Show now occupies its own 14-acre site just outside the eastern city limits. Fair board President Rick Roesch said visitors call it "one of the prettiest and neatest they've seen."

It didn't get that way by accident. Many dedicated volunteers have given time, equipment and expertise to the operation. Roesch said one exceptionally dedicated volunteer was township commissioner Bill Derges, who died in September. Roesch said this "go-to" volunteer will be next year's honoree, as each year the event is dedicated to an exceptional volunteer.

Each member of the fair association has a vote in matters related to the fair, Roesch said. That vote is their only "perk," as nobody in the association gets paid. In fact, they aren't even rewarded with free admission. They also voluntarily spend vacation from their paying jobs volunteering at the fair.

"It's a bad habit we've all got," said Roesch, whose work extended into October when he and fair board Vice President Mike Kuhns winterized the grounds.

The grounds have five permanent structures, including a covered grand stand with aluminum bleachers that seats about 1,500. Other recent improvements include cement barriers to protect the crowd during demolition derbies and tractor pulls and a $100,000 upgrade of electrical service and arena lighting.

State funds are largely responsible for many structural improvements, Roesch said. But his group knows how to stretch a buck.

Concrete for the original community building known as Glades Hall was mixed by hand. And gently-used grandstand lights were purchased from an area school district.

Roesch said an experienced fair vendor's advice years ago was, "never forget to run it like a business." And that business can be a tricky one, Kuhns said.

"We have to make five days support 365 days," he said.

This year, the 66th annual fair was held its usual second week of July. Even though the date conflicts with the nearby Ford County Fair, organizers keep the schedule consistent to simplify booking vendors and talent.

Those include the wrangler who provides the donkeys for the popular donkey races with crowd participation.

The fair's included things like a combine demolition derby, lawn mower races, snowmobile races and the recently popular "Battle of the Bands" for teens.

Kuhns said the fair prides itself on a safe, family atmosphere. Many families schedule their vacations and plan trips home especially to meet up with others at the fair. It's an affordable family outing.

Roesch and Kuhns estimated recent average fair attendance between 10,000 and 12,000 people, including repeat visits. Both attendees and exhibitors come from multiple states.

"We like to say we're open to the world," Roesch said.