RISON - The annual Cleveland County Fair wrapped up another year over the weekend.According to Fair President Roy Phillips, the fair saw an overall increase in points awarded for ribbons and cash payouts increasing by 25.34 percent from 2023 to 2024.Phillips said the number of people entering the fair may have been lower, but the ones that did enter, entered more than they have in the past.The crowning-moment of the fair each year is Miss Cleveland County. This year's crown went to Savannah Brown, while the Junior Fair Queen title went to Gracen White.Participation in the pageants this year was down from previous years, but Pageant Coordinator Selena McDougald is working to put together a prize package for 2025 to make entering more worthwhile for contestants.This year's county fair also served as the site for the return of a Rison staple, the Rison BBQ Cook Off, traditionally held as Rison in the Fall."Since the Cook Off ended several years ago and we morphed Rison in the Fall into a music festival, we have had many people ask us to bring it back," said Festival Director Douglas Boultinghouse with Rison Shine Community Development, Inc.Boultinghouse said Rison Shine tried to find ways to revive it as part of the festival, as a standalone event in the spring, but due to logistics and low-interest at that time, they started looking at other dates.Phillips pitched bringing it to the County Fair as an attraction for the fair, but also to be a fundraiser for the fall festival."We had five people compete in the Cook Off," Boultinghouse said, "From what they've told us, they're all eager to attend next year and bring more friends to compete." Rison Shine offered all five contestants a free entry in the 2025 Cook Off, in addition to prizes awarded to the winner of each division.Boultinghouse said Rison Shine and the County Fair Association are hopeful this event will only grow from here and be a "win-...
To access content, please login or purchase a subscription.