We are pleased to announce the 2020 Van Buren County Fair is dedicated to our long time supporters and friends

The Marvin Strait Family

    The 2020 Van Buren County Fair is dedicated to the Marvin Strait family and the love for the fair that they have had for 5 generations. It started with Marvin, as a child, going to the horse races with his grandparents.  As a youth, he helped his parents with their fair activities and showed sheep and swine as a 4-H and FFA member. Marvin’s brother, Darrell, also showed sheep & swine, and his sister, Lynnette, exhibited home ec projects at the fair.  After their marriage and Marvin’s return from the service, Marvin & Doris began working at the fair and have served in many capacities over the years. They helped with the fair Sunday night Gospel show and the Methodist food stand.  Marvin served as fair board treasurer, swine superintendent, and encouraged youth to show swine by helping start the pig scramble and Van Buren County swine/carcass show. Doris helped 4-Hers with their clothing projects, achievement shows, and served as fair board secretary for 15 years.

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     Their 3 boys, Leslie, Philip, and Matthew, were active in 4-H activities and showed 4-H & FFA swine, sheep, and cattle projects as well as Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Ec. and open class exhibits at the fair.  After moving away from the community, the 3 boys and their families always tried to come back to participate in the fair. Leslie’s children, Amber, Brandon, & Jonathon entered projects in open class, participated in kid’s day activities, and helped at the Methodist food stand.  Philip’s children, Mary, Cody, and Caleb, were involved in the same activities as their cousins with Mary also being Jr. Miss and having 4-H projects. Caleb entered a lot of open class projects and was the avid pedal puller winning many times in his age group and advancing to state and national pedal pull competitions. 

    The 2018 fair was a special time for the family as Leslie, Philip, Matthew, and their families camped at the fair and participated in fair activities.  Matthew’s boys, Winston & Nicholas, got to participate in fair activities for the first time. 

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      Following the lead of his grandparents and parents, Leslie spent many hours helping at the Methodist food stand and had Cody, Caleb, and Jonathon working, too.  We will miss seeing Leslie and Caleb at the fair; but, their memory will always be present as the Strait family county fair tradition lives on.