From 2014 - 2022, Charlotte Summers and Joan Brown worked together on planning the museum displays.
Themes 2014 - 2022:
2014 YEAR OF THE CLOWN
It highlighted the life of J. B Holdren (Bardo) who was the official State Fair Clown and State Fair Sign Painter. It covered his WWII military service, carousel carvings, music career, sign painting, Hutchinson involvement, etc.
2015 YEAR OF THE RIDE
The history of the carnivals the Fair has had over the years, especially the 50 years of Royal American Shows. The Old Mill turned 100 years old in 2015 so there was a display of props and pictures of the Old Mill.
2016 YEAR OF COMMERCE
This covered the commercial exhibitors and their wide array of items sold during the fairs.There was a 1926 plow, telephone display from old crank phones to cell phones, and give-away items from past fairs.
2017 YEAR OF FOOD
The display covered both food concessions and competitive foods department. An old large menu sign was used to list food concessionaires by the number of years they had been at the Fair .At the time, South Hutchinson Methodist had been here 72 years and Our Lady of Guadalupe 70 years. Items from the Competitive Foods included Governor’s Cookie Jars, Spam contests and other food contests, and sponsors for these contests.
2018 YEAR OF YOUTH
The display consisted of examples of youth involvement during the fair, including 4-H, FFA, marching bands, high school debate teams, scholastic press corps, Do Art, and competitive event youth divisions.
2019 HISTORY OF FAIR BUILDINGS
The display covered when and why buildings were constructed, how building names and their usage changed over the years, and how they were funded. It also showed which buildings were demolished or destroyed, and then what replaced them.
2020 No Fair due to Covid pandemic
2021 and 2022 GRANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT
Since the Fair started in 1913, there has been entertainment in the Grandstand. The display showed how the type of entertainment has changed over the years. It also supplied the years the performers were at the Fair. It has been the most popular exhibit since it appealed to a wide range of people and was therefore carried over for a second year.
2023 WHAT’S FREE AT THE FAIR?
The goal is to make the public aware of the many free things they can do after entering the Fairgrounds. It will cover roving acts, Gottschalk Park attractions, free stages, Family Variety Theatre, petting zoo, birthing center, milking parlor, chain saw carving, and much more. It will also show free services provided such as lost and found, first aid, highway patrol, on-grounds trams, parking lot trams, and nursing mother rooms.
Each year there has been a video shown related to the theme of that year. Charlotte and Joan arranged to interview people who might have a story or more insight into the theme.High school and HCC students were used to film the interviews and to film B-roll.Editing and completing the video took quite a bit of time and collaboration.However, the public has really enjoyed the interesting information the videos provide.
The six display cases were built by the KSF maintenance staff in 2014. They also built two platform displays that were used the first year for life size carousel horses that JB Holdren (Bardo) had carved or restored.They have been used since then for large displays including the Grandstand racetrack, uniforms for bands, scouts, 4-H, and Encampment auditorium and dining hall chairs.
The two upright cases with glass doors are recycled from the donated items that Dillon’s gave the Fair from time to time when redoing stores.We painted them black and had the glass doors made and installed.
Local residents work in the Museum during the Fair. We have several who have returned for multiple years.
2023 Museum Directors are: Penny Conard and Joan Brown
2024 Plan to check you the newly themed ALL ABOUT ANIMALS exhibit!