[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 26 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E325-E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA FAIR ON ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY 
                              CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 12, 2007

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor Pasco County, Florida for hosting a fun and exciting annual fair 
for the past 60 years. While the first year of the Fair was not until 
1947, Pasco County consistently won first place with its community 
booth at the Florida State Fair throughout the early 1940s. Partly due 
to Pasco County's success, the State Fair instituted a rule change that 
prohibited one county from winning first place more than three 
consecutive years.
  Because of the rule change, prominent San Antonio rancher D. E. 
``Dan'' Cannon formed a group to establish a county fair. Joined by 
Pasco County's agricultural agent Jimmy Higgins, Dade City businessmen 
Joe Collura, George Nikolai and Bob Williams began searching for 
property to host the Fair. Eventually finding 40 acres with a rolling 
hillside just west of Dade City, the group met in City Hall to raise 
the necessary funds to purchase the land.
  On April 7, 1947, the Pasco County Fair Association was chartered for 
the purpose of hosting an annual fair. In the early days, they borrowed 
the midway rides from the Florida State Fair and drove to Tampa to 
disassemble the rides, deliver them to Dade City on the back of Dan 
Cannon's milk truck and then reassemble them on site. When the fair was

[[Page E326]]

over, they would disassemble the rides and return them to Tampa. The 
early fairs included contests in fruit packing, orange peeling and 
eating. In addition, there were car races and rodeos.
  In 1948, the late Hazel Whitman, also a charter member, started the 
Miss Pasco County Pageant as a fundraiser for the fair. ``Heart of 
Florida'' was added as the fair's logo about 10 years later and is 
still used today.
  The association originally sold memberships for $25 to raise money to 
host the fair. It is unique because throughout the years, it has 
remained a non-profit organization supported by its membership. The 
Fair is a great example of how entrepreneurs and warm-hearted 
individuals can make a difference in the community, without relying on 
the government for support.
  Madam, Speaker, the Pasco County Fair is a beloved institution 
throughout the entire region. Thousands of area residents have spent 
their childhoods on the carnival rides and have fond memories of 
competing in the beauty pageant and eating contests. This year the Fair 
will celebrate its 60th consecutive year offering a week of fun and 
excitement for my Pasco County constituents. I wish the Fair organizers 
best wishes during this year's Fair and hope that they will continue 
their efforts for another 60 years into the future.

                          ____________________