To the Editor:

Every year, the Central Alabama Fair is blessed with people and events that make us appreciative of the support we receive from our friends and neighbors in the Selma area.

This year marks our 50th Central Alabama Fair, an achievement of which we are very proud. The Lions wanted to make this year a special Fair, and as usual, businesses in the Selma area have gone the extra mile to support us.

Friends like Pepsi, WDXX-WHBB, Scott Broadcasting, Channel 8 Television, Honda, Central Alabama Farmers Co-op and Zeigler Packing have faithfully supported us during the years in our endeavors to provide those who come to the Fair special reasons to come. And where would we be without our friends at The Selma Times-Journal who excelled in providing abundant coverage to let the people know what’s happening!

This year we had a special group of people who worked very hard to help us celebrate our 50th Fair by providing some special activities for the public’s participation and enjoyment. Long before the Fair opened, Kay Atchison Warfield from the Alabama Department of Education (also a former resident and daughter of Lion H.C. Atchison); Janis Stewart, Meadowview Elementary School principal; Marcia Carmichael, CHAT Academy teacher; Amy Reeves, Dallas County High School Beta Club sponsor (Idol Contest coordinator); and Jane Walker, Wallace Community College AMSTI site director

(armory booths coordinator) worked many hours using various methods of communications (personal meetings, telephone conversations and many e-mails from across Alabama) to identify and set up these special activities for this special year.

Fair-goers enjoyed first time events like the Zeigler Hotdog Eating Contest, Seed Spitting Contest, Selma Idol Contest and The Quickest Whistler Contest. The winning papers from our local “Why my Pet is Best” essay contest hung in our exhibitor area with first, second, third and fourth place ribbons attached. Mike Reynolds and his WDXX ladies, George Henry and “Too Tall” Bobby Brown worked especially hard to setup and maintain a first-class hospitality tent to meet and greet those who came to meet Marty Raybon, the singer whom WDXX, Moore-Stewart Honda and Pepsi sponsored for the entertainment of fair-goers.

A wonderful addition to our animal area this year was the unique Animal Petting Zoo provided by Kyra Sparks. She not only allowed us the privilege of having her animals for the many people in Selma to pet and enjoy, she took a special interest in helping with and enjoying the presence of many of our preschool children and our mental health friends who come to the Fair during the morning hours each year.

Every year we have great support from our city and county school systems and public officials. This year, Mayor Perkins signed a proclamation designating Oct. 2 through Oct. 7 as Fair Week to commemorate our 50th Anniversary of annual fairs. Our thanks to the mayor for his support. Our county officials supported our requests in the same professional manner as always. Dr. James Carter, Selma City Schools superintendent, and Dr. Fannie Majors McKenzie, Dallas County Schools superintendent, received special acknowledgement from the Selma Lions for their dedication to promoting academic excellence and in support of the educational events featured this year.

Who else makes the Fair successful? A wonderful group of volunteers come out each year and work in support of the Lions in doing whatever they are asked to do. Last, but not least, our thanks go to our thousands of faithful fair-goers – those who can’t wait for the gates to open so they can come to the fair each year, come rain or shine. They’re ready to have their now famous Civitan Club Cozy Dogs, funnel cakes made delicious by carnival folks and most of all to climb aboard the fun rides and be swept away to wherever their imagination takes them!

This was a very special year – The Selma Lion’s Clubs’ 50th Fair. Thanks, Selma!

Ed Green

Fair President