A part of Logan County history has come to an end, at least for now.

The Logan County Fair, as we knew it, is long gone. Now it's successor, the Legion Logan County Fair, has ended its run.

According to Logan County 4-H/Youth Development Extension Agent Gary Michael Templeton, the only local event bearing the title "county fair" this year is the one underway at the new Logan County Extension Complex. It's the Logan County 4-H Fair.

Today and Wednesday, you can see the youngsters' prize-winning exhibits inside the meeting room of the complex, which is located between the Newtown and Concord roads on the 68-80 Bypass across from USA Rentals and Sales and next to Mills Pest Control..

Today will showcase a full afternoon at the Extension Complex with the 4-H/FFA Steer Show in the pavilion that was built and has been equipped with this one day a year as its primary focus.

The farmers' market, which gets to use the pavilion on most Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings of the spring, summer and fall, will be outside in the front lot from noon to 4 p.m.

And 4-H exhibits will be inside.

On the answering machine of long-time Fair leader Mike Gilliam is the simple message, “If you are calling about the county fair, we are not having the fair this year.”

So, if you are looking for carnival rides, beauty and baby shows, tractor pulls and demolition derbies, hucksters and suckers at "games of chance," you probably won't find them at the Legion Fairgrounds in 2007.

So take a moment to remember fondly those no longer with us who gave so much to the Fair. Tip your fez to the memory of Willard Denning, Dale Gilliam, Ab Rhea, Merle Johnson, Josephine Bruce, Joyce Gilliam and countless others no longer with us.

They put their hearts, minds and time into creating and maintaining a Logan County institution that will live forever in our memories, even though the Fair itself is gone.