The Putnam County Fair and other unfortunate local happenings

Kaylin Moore - Senior, Co-Editor and Claire Cranford - Junior, Copy Editor | Feature

The Putnam County Fair: a monument to summer’s end, seventh graders, fiends, and juggalos. It also signifies the start of another year of school, providing an escape for students to abandon their domesticity after their first day back. The fair turns into a school reunion of sorts, and whether that’s good or bad, we are unsure.

But, according to students, that’s not the only bad quality of the fair.

“These lines be too long, the prices be too high, these kids be running around wild,” said senior Sydney Savage of the beloved fair.

And she’s right. Twenty dollars for an Among Us pop-it may seem reasonable, but it isn’t. Kids do run rampant with reckless abandon, too, treating the Putnam County Fair like some freeform preschool playground with an Elvis impersonator and a monster truck named “I’m Gay.” Great representation, Putnam County Fair!

It doesn’t seem like anyone particularly wants to be at the fair, though.

“Everyone here is really confused,” said sophomore Pete Stone. “A lot of really ugly people, but that’s okay....I forgive them.”

Sophomore Sidney Mayer chimed in on the matter. “I don’t really like it because I’m a germaphobe,” she said. Other CHS students described the fair as “dirty,” “sketchy,” “creepy,” “dumb,” “stupid,” and “silly,” and we don’t feel inclined to disagree.

So why do the esteemed citizens of Cookeville go to the fair?

Perhaps it’s to research for a feature article in the Charger newspaper. Perhaps it’s to be graced by the overbearing presence of the Himalaya: European Sensation operator. However, it seems that even the Himalaya operator has reasons for working at the fair.

“My favorite part is y’all. I love y’all,” said the Himalaya man. “Y’all get me going! Every one of you!”

He was also a silly little trickster. “Do you want to go faster?” he taunted. We did… much faster…

However, rides are not the Putnam County Fair’s only appeal. Funnel cakes, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and county-famous fried Oreos draw patrons in from as far as the other side of town.

Pelican’s Snoballs was an exceptionally popular choice of concession this year due to its proximity to the main arena, which boasted attractions such as a monster truck night, a demolition derby, a pageant, and a beef show hosted by the American Angus Association.

We hate beef shows!

And while the demolition derby and monster truck shows may seem dangerous and irresponsible, they were probably not as much of a threat to public health as the questionable constitution of the rides or the general crowd that the fair attracts.

And this is why the CHS student populace goes: to feel something, yes, but also to be reminded that there is always someone on crack who’s doing worse than you are.