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March 28, 2024 11:17 am
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The Fair In Moapa Valley: 45 Years & Counting

The Clark County Fairgrounds as it appeared in 1988.

By Catherine Ellerton

Moapa Valley Progress

Chariots and horse races, shaving balloons and Diaper Derbies were some of the many events that have been planned for the Moapa Valley Fair since 1965.

The March 27, 1986 local paper stated that then Fair Board Chairman Vern Waite advised that “A lot of faith in what we are doing and a little vision,” and the men and women who kept the ball rolling and gathering momentum were what kept the fair going and growing.

These early fairs were located all over the valley and moved as more room was needed. The Overton Community Center, the Logandale Park and the Old Logandale School grounds were some of these locations. Needing still more room the fair was taken to the Paul Lewis area in Glendale.

Meanwhile, the livestock shows were held in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center and were called the “Clark County Youth Fair.”

The Moapa Valley Fair was put on hold for a few years as a group of local residents attempted to locate and obtain a permanent location in the community to host a County Fair. The group requested land from the BLM to be used as a public facility. They eventually obtained a recommendation from the County Commission and, in 1984, 190 acres were obtained from the BLM. The Moapa Valley Fair and Recreation site then became the official Clark County Fairgrounds and the annual fair officially became the Clark County Fair.

Construction on the fairgrounds began in 1986, funded with a lot of locally-raised money and a grant from the Las Vegas Convention Authority. Maintenance and growth were the next challenge and, once again, volunteers stepped up. In April of 1988 the first Clark County Fair was held in Logandale.

Many of the questions that had to be answered were how to get a wide variety of exhibits, where would people stay, how was this all going to be funded?

A private, non-profit corporation was formed – Clark County Fair, Inc. This group is not funded by the County although they do receive grants. The fair is paid for by volunteer hours, ticket sales, vendors and sponsors. Did I mention volunteers? Hundreds of them.

The professional rodeo which is in the top 25 rodeos in the Nation is put together by volunteers. In 1997 the official name of the fair became the Clark County Fair & Rodeo recognizing the role the rodeo plays in this annual event.

Ninety-nine percent of the various committees and management are made up of local volunteers. This fair has been successful because of the many folks willing to step up and be a part; whether it is through hard work and many hours or by their willingness to share their talents with others.

That’s what it is all about. Come join us. Come be a part of your Clark County Fair and Rodeo.

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