Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair

Fair History:

AS FIRST ESTABLISHED BY THE LUMBERTON JAYCEES

The Lumberton Jaycees were organized in October of 1946 by a group of returned World War II Veterans. John Luther McLean was named the first President. McLean was a promising young insurance executive in Lumberton. The Club received its charter in January of 1947. The Club membership in it’s infancy was as high as 106 men.

1st ANNUAL ROBESON COUNTY FARMERS FESTIVAL

October 7, 1947

J. A. Sharpe, Editor and Publisher of Robeson County’s daily newspaper, The Robesonian was elected the second President of the Lumberton Jaycees. Under Sharpe’s guidance and with John A. Tudor, a well-respected Lumberton Merchant serving as Chairman, the first Farmers FESTIVAL in Robeson County was held.

The first Farmer’s FESTIVAL was conducted after the formation of a separate corporation named The Robeson County Agricultural and Indust rial Exposition, Incorporated. The charter of this corporation is recorded in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Robeson County, Lumberton, N. C. A letter from the North Carolina Department of Revenue dated September 6, 1947 st atedthat the Lumberton Junior Chamber of Commerce was exempt from franchise taxes.

The first FESTIVAL was a one-day affair, held on October 7, 1947. Rain poured down all day long, but the show went on including an elaborately planned parade which was viewed by more than 10,000 people. Floats were in sad shape when they went by the reviewing st and. Pretty girls in evening dresses on floats were holding umbrellas over their heads as they rode down Lumberton's rain-soaked st reets. Exhibits were held in Liberty # 1 tobacco warehouse on First st reet. Rain made it necessary to hold the speaking and the big barbecue dinner inside the warehouse. Tickets sold for $1 each and almost fifteen hundred people attended. The Honorable Harold D. Cooley, Congressman from Nashville, N. C. and Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture was the featured speaker. Various merchants donated merchandise prizes. The grand prize of a one-horse wagon, harness and a mouse-colored mule was donated by Lumberton Trading Company and was won by a Robeson County Indian farmer. John Tudor was the first Manager.