Ava Griffin Part Of American Tradition
Benton County Woman Has Attended 78 Fairs
Last updated Sunday, September 2, 2007 7:16 PM CDT in News
By Scarlet Sims
THE MORNING NEWS
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HIGHFILL -- When Ava Griffin was 6 years old, her mother cooked a bucket of fried chicken and took her to the Benton County Fair in Bentonville. She's been to every fair since -- that's 78 fairs.
"The fair has always been something that I enjoyed, from a little girl on," Griffin said. "It's just a way of life to me."
Griffin, 84, wears a red T-shirt with daisies and the words "An American Tradition." She's been a fair superintendent 62 years, counting this year, and has overseen the educational booths longer than she can remember. She helps organizations like 4-H and the National FFA set up prize-winning booths.
The fair is a time when children show their accomplishments -- that's why Griffin loves it so much, said Janice Shofner, a county extension agent. Griffin particularly wants to help shy children become confident and show their animals or crafts, Shofner said.
"One thing that's great about her is that she's always got a smile on her face, but she has high expectations as well," Shofner said. "I think she's grandma to everyone."
The fair is Griffin's second home, and she's watched the fair grow and move three times.
"I've seen the fair grow, not from the beginning, but I've seen it grow from the square to downtown," Griffin said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal for me to see three (sites for) the fairground."
This year's county fair will be at the new fairgrounds near Vaughn for the first time. The original fair was held on the Bentonville square in 1904, when Benton County was renowned for its orchards and fruits, Griffin said.
Businesses around the square let residents use the upper floors of commercial buildings to display fruits, fruit dishes and homemade crafts. Homegrown entertainers performed, including a local trapeze artist Griffin played with as a child.
A carnival set up in the square. A man once dropped his whisky bottle from the Ferris Wheel, and it shattered on the concrete, Griffin said, recounting some of her memories.
The fair relocated to Eighth Street in roughly 1945, Griffin said. The association later purchased adjoining land for the livestock building, which made the fairground 29 acres.
This year, the fair association finalized a swap with Wal-Mart for nearly 60 acres on Barron Road. Wal-Mart now owns the old fairgrounds.
The third home for the Benton County Fair will be better than the downtown fairgrounds, Griffin said. The new metal buildings aren't a fire hazard like the old wooden ones, and they have fans and ventilation.
"See, we'd just smother in the old buildings," Griffin said. "It's going to be cooler."
She said she's excited to see the fair grow again.
"I'm looking forward to this one opening," Griffin said. "This is going to be the new Benton County Fair."
Griffin and her husband, Lee Griffin, worked their dairy farm south of Highfill until the 1980s, when Lee Griffin developed cancer. Griffin's son, Jim, now runs it as a poultry farm.
Ava Griffin said farming life and the fair are linked. She sees herself working to promote both through 4-H.
Although 4-H and the fair are not one in the same, Benton County's fair is strong because of 4-H participation, said Vernon Schmiegelow, association vice president.
Griffin was a 4-H member as a child and became a leader 53 years ago. The organization is for children ages 5-19 and teaches life skills through hands-on experiences, such as farming, rearing animals and technology, said Jessica Street, county extension agent.
Griffin is probably the longest-running 4-H volunteer in the county, said Shofner, who has worked with Griffin for at least six years.
Griffin is energetic and still a tomboy. She doesn't sew, embroider or cross-stitch.
"She was the farm girl and was into sports when she was younger," Shofner said.
Jim Griffin said his mother pushed him to succeed. He began showing cattle at the fair when he was 9 years old and has been a fair superintendent for 20 years now. His entire family participates in the fair, showing animals and running booths.
Ava Griffin said many people miss the best of the fair by only visiting the midway. Watching the children show off their hard work is what the fair is really about, she said.
"I've seen people go to the fair and never go to the exhibits -- they don't know what they're missing," Griffin said.
Jim Griffin said the fair wouldn't be the same without his mother.
"Ava and the fair are inseparable," Jim Griffin said. "You can't think of one without the other."
Fast FACT
Benton County
Benton County is 58 percent farmland, according to the 2002 U.S. Agriculture Census. That amounts to 2,876 farms and about 313,000 farming acres, said Robert Seay, county extension agency staff chairman.
Source: Staff Report
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