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County Fair Makes Comeback

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: October 29, 2008

DOVER - The Hillsborough County Fair will kick off Nov. 5 with all the down-home trappings county fair-goers have come to expect, including livestock shows, a back-hoe rodeo, gospel singing, carnival rides, racing pigs, a baby beauty pageant and a pie-baking contest.

Now settled into its permanent home at a former phosphate mine at State Road 60 and Sydney-Washer Road, the nonprofit county fair will reopen with its first full five-day run since it vacated the Raymond James Stadium parking lot in Tampa three years ago.

Before that, the fair was held at the Florida State Fairgrounds for nine years. For the past two years, the county fair board held a whittled-down version of the fair in the form of a youth livestock exposition at the Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview while awaiting construction of its permanent new facilities.

In 2005, after the county fair left Raymond James Stadium in search of a home where it could house permanent exhibits, county commissioners agreed to lease up to 60 acres at the Sydney-Washer site to the fair board for a nominal sum.

The county kicked in $500,000 in phosphate severance tax revenue it received when the former phosphate mine was reclaimed to help with site development. Then, last month county commissioners gave the fair board another $350,000 in phosphate funds to continue developing the parcel.

"We were very please to hear that," said volunteer fair board chairwoman Betty Jo Tompkins. "I think that's a sign that the county knows we are good stewards of the property and we are fulfilling the intent of the phosphate tax fund."

Eventually, the fair board plans to construct permanent buildings on the site, including a livestock barn and building to display antique tractors and other farm equipment, said fair manager Tom Umiker. He said the board plans to set crews to work building the livestock facility within two years.

"We already have a beautiful building painted bright red that was provided by the school system," he said. "It's really beginning to look like a fairgrounds."

The fair's comeback comes as a relief to fans of longtime fair favorites like the Harvest Queen Pageant and the Teenage Battle of the Bands.

This year marks the 11th annual Teenage Battle of the Bands. According to Joe Soletti, who organizes the event for the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, most of those contests took place at the county fair.

However, last year, without the fair for a venue, the competition moved to the Lowry Park band shell and attracted a smaller crowd. Soletti hopes to see the throngs of adolescents this year that previous battles have drawn.

So far, six bands have signed on, including three of last year's competitors: Envy, Acting Natural and Eden Regained. Newcomers vying for the title of top teen band include Emterial, Aeralene and Everyone Disappear.

The Battle of the Bands will take place from 6-11 p.m. Nov. 6-7. The contest is open to band members age 13 to 19. One band member may be 20. The entry fee is $50 per band.

Last year's winner, Seffner-based Christian rock band Damascus Road, will judge this year's battle and perform during the last set Nov. 7.

Members of the band that wins first place will receive 10 hours of studio time at Morrisound studios in Tampa worth about $650. The second-place winners will receive five hours of studio time, and third place will earn each band member a medal. All participants will receive Battle of the Bands T-shirts. For information about the competition, call Soletti at (813) 376-5778.

Sharing the spotlight at the fair will be contestants in the 10th annual Harvest Queen Scholarship Pageant. Teen girls in two divisions, ages 13 to 15 and 16 to 19, will be judged on their smiles, personalities and overall appearance. The pageant will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 7.

The Harvest Queen will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship, a trophy, a sash, flowers and a modeling contract for a year. She also will represent the Hillsborough County Fair at events throughout the year. The entry fee is $50.

Youngsters can vie for pageant titles as well. The 10th annual Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Queen Babies and Children's Pageant will take place starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 9, with divisions for boys and girls ages 3 to 11 months, 12 to 23 months and 2 to 3 years. A girls-only pageant will have divisions for ages 4 to 6 years, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12.

The overall winners in each division will get sashes, trophies, crowns and flowers. The entry fee is $40. Contact Evelyn Stewart at (813) 968-1441, (813) 962-0582 or evetalent@aol .com for information about the pageants.

For those who would prefer to show off their cooking talents, the Rotary Club of Bloomingdale and FishHawk is supporting the fair with a chili cook-off from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 9. The entry fee is $25, and entries must be turned in by 2 p.m. for tasting and judging. All proceeds will benefit a scholarship fund for the Hillsborough County Fair Livestock Children. E-mail Sandi Meadows at sandimead@msn.com for entry forms.

A benefit wholesale plant auction sponsored by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 8 and will include trees, shrubs, houseplants and dish gardens. Proceeds go to scholarships.

Anyone with a church or worship bulletin dated Nov. 8 or 9 gets into the fair free Nov. 9. A gospel sing will start at 6 p.m. featuring the Suwannee River Boys Quartet, soloist Crimson Leavett and the New Days Ministries Quartet.

While 4-H and FFA youth groups show their heifers, steers, bulls, swine, poultry and goats and compete in barnyard Olympics, lamb-jumping and bunny bingo and costume contests, thrill seekers can test out more than 30 midway rides.

Tompkins said the youth agricultural activities are the heart and soul of the county fair.

"Our emphasis is always on the youth livestock shows and other activities for youngsters," she said. "But you'll find there's a little something for everybody out there."

She emphasized that because it's a chartered county fair, competitions are open to all Hillsborough County residents.

"Whether they're a home gardener or someone who just makes a great apple pie, there's a contest for everyone," Tompkins said.

Adults and young people have until Monday to enter competitions for painting, jewelry making, basketry, drawing, sculpture, stitchery, woodworking, stained glass, ceramics, doll making, floral arranging, crocheting, knitting, holiday decorations, embroidery, needlepoint, quilting, rug hooking, weaving, sewing, food preservation, baking and plants. For entry forms, visit the fair Web site at www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com.

General admission to the fair is $5. Children younger than 8, law enforcement officers, firefighters and military personnel will be admitted free, as will anyone who brings a can of food to be donated to the United Way Nov. 5, 6 and 7. Cost is $4 for seniors age 62 and older.

Parking is free. Call (813) 737-3247 for information.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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