By Staff
PRESS CONFERENCE Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell visited Meridian Tuesday to help announce plans for the Queen City State Fair. Photo by Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
May 2, 2001
Jere Hess announced the "birth of a family tradition" in Meridian Tuesday as he unveiled plans for the Queen City State Fair during a press conference at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
Hess and Len McRae, members of the Queen City Fair Association, went to work after the Mississippi/Alabama State Fair was discontinued.
The fair is scheduled for Oct. 1-7 at the Agri-Center. It will include: a midway of rides and games from Tip Top Amusements of Tampa, Fla.; 4-H livestock shows; booths for arts, crafts, commercial exhibits and community organizations; a petting zoo; interactive activities and live musical entertainment.
McRae said organizers of the new fair want to develop something long-term and family-oriented by combining old-time fair traditions with 21st century attractions.
Mayor John Robert Smith attended the press conference. He told the crowd the fair could draw people from at least 11 neighboring counties and West Alabama and mean economic growth for Meridian.
Dr. Lester Spell, state commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, also spoke at Hess' invitation.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.