The GBRSF is always excited to host Buster L. Brown Day at the Fair (for children with special needs). Approximately 1,000 of these children are invited to a day when the Fair is opened just for them.
The Youth Livestock Shows give area 4-H and FFA members another opportunity to show their goats, beef and dairy cows and compete for ribbons and $5,000 in prize money.
As an opportunity for youth and families to enjoy wholesome family entertainment, the Fair is an exceptional value.
The Fair also provides a financial boost to the community with more than $250,000 spent locally each year in the production of the Fair. The GBRSF is a major small business effort and it is done with ALL volunteers.
Under New Management Since 1985
The Greater Baton Rouge Fair came under new management in early 1985 when the Baton Rouge Jaycee organization decided they could not continue in the fair business. Two groups of people who had been heavily involved in past Fairs began meeting to discuss the future of the Fair.
One group, consisting of some past presidents of the Baton Rouge Jaycees and past chairmen of the Fair, was asked by the Jaycee Chapter to form a foundation to accept the donation of the GBRSF and the fairgrounds with the idea of shutting down the Fair, selling the property, paying off the huge debt secured by the property, and hopefully having some money left over for future Worthy Causes.
The second group, consisting of past fair chairmen and board members from the 1970s, met with Buster L. Brown, the manager of the Bill Hames Midway, seeking ways to save the Fair.
These two groups came together. The second group became the all-volunteer Fair Board with the task of proving that the Fair was indeed still a viable entity. Members of this Board were: Dave Wirth, Chairman; Ralph Armstrong (C&I), Joe Boyt (Special Events), Chris Christian (Beer Garden), Greg Edwards, Bill Feldman (Entertainment), Gertie Feldman (Manpower Services), Kent James (Ag), Warren Wilson, Jack Hughes, Theresa Hughes, R L Leger (Beer Garden), Robert Vigil (Physical Plant), Dot Wirth (Secretary).
Although the 1985 Fair was visited repeatedly by Hurricane Juan, these dedicated volunteers proved that, given reasonable weather, proper management was all the Fair required to be successful.
In 1986, the fairgrounds property was sold to the Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission (BREC). The agreement called for BREC to pay off the $857,000 debt acquired from the Jaycees and allowed GBRSF to rent the property each year to produce the Fair. This has proven to be a great partnership that benefits the community in many ways.
The Fair's 40th Annual Event was celebrated in 2004. One of the highlights was the retirement, after 30 years, of our Security Director Don McLavy. Another was a media event announcing our $100,000 grant to the Baton Rouge Zoo.
In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita visited south Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, virtually demolishing everything south of I-10 from the Texas line all the way east to the Alabama/Florida border. While the devastation from the winds and the storm surge would have been enough in themselves; years of vanishing wetlands and poor levee design/maintenance led to massive flooding in and around New Orleans. At one time, it was said that all of St. Bernard Parish and 85-percent of Greater New Orleans were under water. Our fairgrounds were preempted by FEMA. We cancelled the 2005 Fair and our thoughts and efforts went to helping our neighbors through tough times.
The population in the Baton Rouge area exploded making the need for the entertainment and the money raised for Worthy Cause Grants even more important to the community.
In 2010, the Fair celebrated 25 years with the Fair Foundation with J. H. Martin as Chair. Mr. Martin retired from the Fair Board but maintains his position as CEO of the Fair Foundation. The new Fair Chair is Cliff Barton and Mr. Martin's new title is Chairman Emeritus.
How the Fair Began
The Greater Baton Rouge State Fair began in 1965 when two existing Baton Rouge Jaycee Projects - a Trade Show and a Carnival - were combined. The first fair was held on the Bon Marche parking lot. From there it moved to the old Downtown Airport (now the site of Independence Park), then to the vacant land at the corner of Airline Highway and Florida Boulevard (now Cortana Mall). The current fair location, the 100-acre fairgrounds on Airline Highway, was purchased in 1972 and the first fair on the property was held in 1973. Used for one month of the year to hold the Fair, this property is now part of the 150-acre BREC Airline Highway Park/Fairgrounds.
