Event Reminder: Legacies and Lunch, Wednesday, December 3

State Fair's History Explored at Legacies & Lunch

Fun rides, fried foods, and farm animals-the Arkansas State Fair is a treasured fall tradition. Its history will be the topic of Legacies & Lunch on Wednesday, December 3, at noon-1 p.m. in the Main Library's Darragh Center, 100 Rock Street. Dr. Jim Ross, professor of history at University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Deb Crow, museum and archive director for the Arkansas State Fair, will share details about the fair's rich history, including rare photographs.

Numerous state fairs and livestock shows have been held in Arkansas since the 1860s, and the Arkansas Livestock Show Association has existed for 75 years. While early fairs promoted agriculture and tourism, these events struggled financially. Following the social upheaval caused by the Great Depression, a group of businessmen, farmers, and educators led by oilman T.H. Barton envisioned a new Arkansas economy not dependent on cotton farming. This foundation and its progression to today's state fair will be discussed at Legacies & Lunch.

Legacies & Lunch is the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies' monthly lecture series, held on the first Wednesday of each month. This program is free, open to the public, and sponsored in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert are provided. For more information, call 501-918-3033.