Long-Standing Tradition In Southwest Oklahoma At Risk Of Being Lost

Fletcher, Oklahoma is undoubtedly one of the quietest towns in Oklahoma. Not much happens there besides some sporting events, the fall festival and the annual Free Fair. I have fond memories showing goats, running some of the booths as a student and seeing all of the creative artwork in the Women's Exhibit building.

This year, Fletcher Free Fair board members are anxiously hoping to keep the Women's Exhibit Building as part of the Free Fair experience. Unfortunately, they cannot guarantee that will happen unless a few volunteers step in to save the tradition.

Those who are interested should reach out to Steve Bentley at 580-280-0406 for more details.

The Women's Exhibit Building in Fletcher held many memories over the years.

Since the 1950s, folks from Fletcher and surrounding areas were able to enter their crafts into the fair and receive awards for their work. There were classes for nearly anything and everything: cooking, knitting, painting, pottery, antique collecting, gardening and so many more categories.

This was a chance for both students and adults to take whatever they were proud of and show it off. In many cases, winners could even earn some money for their entries.

The Women's Exhibit building was also an excellent source of shelter out of the heat for fair goers. That summer heat usually still lingers around during Labor Day weekend and the Women's Exihibit Building was one of the places you could go to cool down.

But now, without those volunteers, the Fair may not be the same.

@middlekate49 #fletcherfreefair #fletcher #oklahoma #fair ♬ Oklahoma Smoke Show - Zach Bryan

What does overseeing the Women's Exhibit Building look like?

According to a statement from the Town of Fletcher on social media, the longtime volunteers have retired and now they're needing new hands to take over.

They asked that volunteers be able to help with prep work that may need to happen one or two days before the fair this year, which is August 28 to the 30.

Volunteers will likely need to help with setting up the building and exhibits, cleaning and maintaining the building during the fair and helping entries get their awards.

To know for sure what's to be expected, reach out to Steve Bentley at the previously mentioned number.