115th Edition Starts Today in Olla

(Editor’s Note: The North Central Louisiana District Fair opens its 115th edition today, Wednesday, Nov. 8 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 11. The following story appeared in the November 8, 2008 edition of The Jena Times.)

The year was 1908. The first automobile had been built but was not in mass production, the Wright brothers just received their patent for the airplane, there were no television or computers, and the primary source of transportation was horse and buggy or horseback.

A group met and formed the Central Louisiana Free Fair, which originally served three parishes – Catahoula, Grant and Caldwell.

Two years later in 1910, LaSalle Parish was carved from part of Catahoula and for many years thereafter, the fair served four parishes – LaSalle, Grant, Catahoula and Caldwell.

Years later, Winn Parish joined the district fair to make it a five-parish event. Later, the named of the fair was changed to North Central Louisiana District Fair.

This was prior to World War I and Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States.

The original officers of the Central Louisiana Free Fair were H. P. Minard, President; C. C. Minard, Vice President; L. C. Nunn, Treasurer; and E. M. Sledge, Secretary.

This fair ranks as one of the oldest fairs in the state and has held shows each year except when war interrupted their schedules.

A great fair in the past, with its smart displays of culinary art, the large rodeo, baseball and football games and those popularity contests.

Four parishes joined hands and each contributed its all. Blue ribbons were hard to come by as the competition was keen to the ‘nth degree. Fifty contestants were not unusual for a single cooking item. Entries ran into the thousands and the interest displayed by the women and girls in the women’s building was intense.

Everything that nimble fingers and a needle, combined with deep insight and knowledge of the problem, could produce, was shown, and pride and glory went home with the women of that coveted blue ribbon.

The rodeo was a thrill in itself. Hard riding cowboys from Caldwell, LaSalle and Catahoula would make your blood freeze at times by their intrepid acts. They rode ‘em sometimes on top, sometimes on bottom, and sometimes they didn’t, but eventually they were rode.

Mule races were another exciting event of the early fairs in Standard. They were such merriment to the huge crowds and one day, one of the mules went in the wrong direction but it didn’t matter. Everyone just had fun regardless of the direction the mule ran.

Gatherings at the fair included several firsts, such as the balloon ascensions, the first airplane, and then the day that Louisiana Governor John M. Parker spoke before a full five-thousand people with not a political utterance. That was in 1924.

That afternoon, Olla-Standard Tigers played Oakdale High School in a football contest that would be remembered for years to come. When the second half gun sounded neither goal line was blemished. It took four years for a decision between these two great teams.

The Olla State Bank was established in 1908 and Olla and Standard were still part of Catahoula Parish.

The Olla Fair

Mrs. V. Lewis, the late historian for the Centennial Cultural Center in Olla, wrote the following story about the fair which appeared on the Center’s website: “It’s that time of year again. The weatherman’s numbers are beginning their yearly slide down the thermometer, glass canning jars and lids are disappearing off store shelves and the leaves are doing their changing act…all signs fall is here. And as sure as the geese will soon be flying south for the winter, we know the fair is coming.

Officially known as North Central Louisiana District Fair, the Olla Fair has been a much-anticipated yearly event since the early 1900s, interrupted only during war. Although located at Olla in LaSalle Parish, the fair’s activities included the parishes of La-Salle, Grant, Catahoula, Caldwell, and Winn.

But you didn’t have to be a resident of either of those parishes to enjoy the Olla Fair. Vodie Kelly remembers when her family would leave Winn Parish in a wagon before daylight and drive over 20 miles to attend the fair. The carnival music and the aroma of hot dogs and sugary funnel cakes would pull you toward the excitement ahead. The fair was located in Standard, just north of Olla. The town is no longer there, but is now Olla- Standard Elementary School and the site of the fair and community events.

Friendly competition filled exhibit halls with the finest home canned fruits and vegetables, quilts, crocheted bedspreads, and doilies, and other handmade articles, and while the women visited and waited, hoping for the coveted blue ribbons, the men were roaming the agriculture exhibits, admiring livestock and field crops on display, waiting for judges to mark the winners with ribbons.

Students from schools in the four-parish area anxiously awaiting judging of the handiwork done in their classes, but with the carnival music calling and a shiny silver dollar in their pockets, they were also eager to head for the carnival rides and games.

Togo McKeithen, resident of the area, recalls the young days of the fair: “They had all them rides…one was called the spider, then there was the octopus and the merry-go-round and the Ferris Wheel and some other contraptions.”

But about the most exciting event fairgoers experienced in those early days was when the hot air balloon came to town.”

Attend the Fair

The 115th North Central Louisiana District Fair will be held from Wednesday to Saturday, November 8-11, at the fairgrounds next to Olla Elementary in north Olla.

The Mitchell Brothers Carnival Co. will be on the midway with more rides and concessions. The times of operation are Wednesday to Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. On Wednesday night, the rides will be $1.00 per person per ride. Armbands are $30.00 at the gate.

Check out the fair’s Facebook page for specials and more information.