Fair weather for the fair?

The SEMO District Fair has long been the event of the year for farmers to track down a top tomato seed, ogle the newest tractor or check out a prize-winning pig.

The annual rite of summer is alive and well. Early fairs were held in October, but changed to September to avoid the fall rain. It is usually hot and humid when the fair is held in September, although vists to the fair at night can feel just right. But if it rains -- there are problems.

In the Cape Girardeau Bulletin of Sept. 9, 1971, Katherine Cochran wrote: "If the weather was favorable, the fair was certain to be a success; if it rained, the Fair Board was in trouble, and to prevent a deficit, weather insurance was taken out that includes wind storm insurance.

"Some years weather has been a big factor. When the week has been mild and pleasant, the attendance skyrockets as people travel 100 miles or more to attend."

Records show that when the first fair was held at Arena Park in 1940, the weather turned bitterly cold. The first killing frost of the year occurred, but the crowd turned out with an attendance of 5,876 the first night when there was horse racing.

In 1990, Fair Board president Charles Mangle told a newspaper reporter, "We've had good weather and we've had a good fair. You couldn't have asked for a better day (Saturday) at the fair."

The newspaper article said that somewhat cooler temperatures and a sunny, blue-sky day provided a good setting for the last day of the week-long fair.

Weather can be fickle. There is nothing to indicate the fair has ever been canceled due to inclement weather, but obviously fairs have had their fair share of rain. Rides close on the Midway, grandstand shows are postponed, and people take shelter in tents and gather tightly around exhibits that have canvas coverings. Others head for their vehicles to wait out the rain, or drive home, vowing to return when the sky clears.