We took a look at fair history as recorded in "The Great Frederick Fair: A History 1747-2004," written by Ann Lebherz, Sarah Drenning and Lorraine Nicklas, and selected some interesting tidbits -- from entertainment and fair "firsts" to hootchie-kootchie shows and years without a fair -- to find out their relevance to the 2007 fair.

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The Civil War, the 1918 flu epidemic, World War II. Significant events in U.S. history and fair history -- fairs were not held in the county during these troubled times. During WWII, most of the buildings on the fairgrounds were full of autos -- frozen by the Office of Price Administration, according to "The Great Frederick Fair" book. A 1944 newspaper article reported that the U.S. government also considered using the fairgrounds to house prisoners of war who would help with the labor shortage in agriculture and food processing.

We asked Becky Brashear, executive assistant to the fair's board of managers, what it would take for the fair to be canceled today.

"It would take a catastrophic event to close the gates," said Brashear.

"If there was any kind of health issue -- livestock or human -- we would have to take that into consideration," she said. "Particularly if there were a human element, we would probably consult with health officials to determine what we should do."

As for livestock, she said there are guidelines in place. "Exhibit animals get the best of care -- particularly grooming and nutrition-wise. They are probably under more scrutiny than people (because of the Maryland Department of Agriculture)," she said.

"Exhibitors know if their animals are sick, leave them home," and if they arrive sick or get sick, the vets will send them home, she explained. A few years ago, when hoof and mouth disease was a concern, the fair posted signs asking anyone who may have visited suspect locations consider not coming on to the grounds. "People are sensitive to things like that and willing to do that," she said.

In 2001, following 9/11, some people in the community thought the fair should be canceled because of that horrific event.

"The board gave it a lot of thought and decided to move forward with the fair," said Brashear. "Particularly during an event like that, people need to be together. We thought the fair would provide a diversion and yet maintain sensitivity.

"I think it ended up benefiting everyone," she said.

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The first free day for students and teachers was in 1885. Today, it's the second Friday of the fair and it's called Kids Fair Day.

"It's one of our biggest days at the fair," said Brashear. Because admission is not collected most of the day, she said it's hard to estimate attendance.

The fair provides teachers kits with a curriculum packet and students have an optional educational project they can do while at the fair. "As we're seeing more (school) budget cuts, not as many field trips come here," she said. "On Friday, you really see a lot of kids in the ag area. It's not all about the carnival."

She said kids day is, perhaps, more important now than it was back in 1885. "Families are so far removed from agriculture and farm family life, maybe two, three or four generations," said Brashear. The educational mission of the fair helps connect youth with the ag community and just where food really comes from.

As the county's population has grown over the years and less people are involved in agriculture, some residents have questioned the value of a day off from school during fair week.

"We want it to remain," said Brashear, who says she is passionate about educating youth about agriculture. "It's up for review in 2008 by the school board and is being discussed now. We try to stay on top of it."

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In 1890, a promotional event promised a trip to a couple who would be married at the fair. So on Oct. 16, Ella Graser and Jacob Kanode exchanged vows before fairgoers. According to "The Great Frederick Fair," one minister reportedly called the public wedding "low and vulgar."

According to Brashear, back in the day, weddings were indeed big events at the fair. Family and friends would be gathered at the fair anyway, and there were plenty of food options for "guests."

"At the Montgomery County fair, for weddings we would use the carnival priest," said Brashear, who used to work for that fair before coming to the Frederick fair.

In recent years, she said there have been lots of proposals (many on the big Ferris wheel) at the Frederick fair, but no weddings. If a couple really wanted to be wed at the fair, "we would work with (them) to see if it could be done," she said.

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In 1923, the premiums awarded for corn and apples came under protest as a participant alleged that the crops exhibited were not grown in Frederick County. Eventually, the awards were revoked.

Brashear says protests like that are rare, but the fair board does have a protest policy in place should it come up. "It's one of those things you want to have but hope you don't have to use," she said.

"We certainly think people have pride enough in themselves to enter legitimate products," said Brashear. "We think people are more honest than not. People take special pride in the things they make or grow to enter here."

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Fair entertainment has certainly evolved over the years. In 1888, May Lillie, an "expert girl shot with a rifle" from the back of a running mustang, performed. In the early 1900s, acrobatic bears and monkeys, high-wire acts and vaudeville performers took the stage. In 1950, the highlight of the "Irish Horan and the lucky Hell Drivers" show was a "stock convertible catapulted from a giant cannon." In 1965, it was Jack Kochman's Hell Drivers performing stunts with cars.

Hank Williams Jr. played the fair in 1971. Tickets were $2 in advance, $2.50 after 6 p.m., notes the handbill photographed for the book. In recent years, the fair has gone country, with performances by stars including Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark, Reba McEntire, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, LeAnn Rimes, Tracy Lawrence, Jo Dee Messina and Brad Paisley among them. Add Joe Nichols, Aaron Tippin, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lonestar, Gary Allan and Gretchen Wilson to the list as they appear at this year's fair.

Some in the community have asked, "Why just country?"

"That's a valid point," said Brashear. "We're one of the few fairs in the country that's country-music driven and it does work for us. That's not to say that as the community changes, we may have to start looking at" other genres of music.

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In 1945, the sheriff of Frederick County sent a letter to the company providing shows for the midway. The letter reminded the company that "gambling and nude shows" were prohibited at the fair.

Longtime locals may recall the hootchie-kootchie shows on the midway, with scantily-clad women appearing on an outside show stage to entice customers to come inside for the real show.

That era officially ended in 1983, according to Brashear. "As our entertainment concept changed, as it might come to change in the future, (the shows) didn't seem to fit what our community was asking for," she said.

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In 1965, a motion was put on the table to explore other locations in the county for a new fairgrounds, with room for expansion. That motion was denied.

Brashear said the board of managers have no plans to relocate. "We're very happy to be a city dweller. We're happy to be in the heart of Frederick City and we hope people are happy to have us here, too," she said. The fairgrounds "proper" encompasses 44 acres, and has twenty-some acres for parking that is owned or rented.

"I think any fair located in the heart of a city has issues to contend with. Parking is one of them," said Brashear. The fair has auxiliary parking on Highland and Monroe streets, with a free trolley to shuttle fairgoers from the lots to the grounds.

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In 1990, Nancy Hendricks was the first woman elected to the board of managers and, in 2000, was its first woman president. In 1995, Brashear became the first woman executive assistant.

"I've been in the fair industry 18 years. This is my 12th year here," said Brashear. "It's still exciting, particularly working with youth in the ag area and education."

As a youngster, Brashear showed sheep and cattle at the fair. "My brother showed cattle," she said. This year, her great-nephew will be showing for the first time -- with four pigs. "He's the fourth generation of the family to show," she said.

As one of 250 life member certificate holders of the Frederick County Agricultural Society, which owns the fairgrounds, Hendricks was voted to the society's board of managers, who also serve (along with two non-board members) as directors of the Great Frederick Fair, which rents the fairgrounds from the ag society.

"I had always shown an interest in the fair," said Hendricks. "My name was put on the ballot and I was elected. There was some hesitation by some people."

Hendricks, 66, says she can't remember not going to the fair. "Even when I was in college (at Frostburg) I would come home for the weekend," she said. "It was a family time. My father (Delbert Null) was an advocate of the fair."

The family always took in the afternoon grandstand entertainment -- and sometimes were part of it. When she was about 8 years old, the entertainment included a man with a trained bull named Ferdinand. The bull could kneel and stand on a pedestal. "The man asked for a volunteer to ride the bull and before my mother could say, 'No,' I was out of the grandstand, over the fence, across the track and up on the stage," she said.

As it turned out, she became the comedy act as she sat on the bull. When the bull kneeled, she would slide down toward the horns. When it stood, she would slide off his back. While perhaps a bit disappointed, Hendricks says, with a laugh, the "trick" didn't scar her psychologically.

Another year, her father, who was in the cavalry, was performing on horseback with his men at the fair and fell off his horse.

"We visited the animal buildings and machinery row and were always meeting people we knew," said Hendricks. "I think I was probably 14 before I knew the carnival existed."

Today, as one of the board of managers, she's at the fair daily. "My stove does not get turned on fair week," she said. "Really, it's quite a bit of work." She oversees the equine, grandstand and motorsports committee.

She says the educational mission of the fair is more important today than it used to be. "I think we need to educate people today. We don't really understand the technical and academic parts of farming today," said Hendricks, a retired teacher. "It's no longer by the sweat of your brow. You have to be a pretty astute business person."

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The Thursday of the 1911 fair was noted as a record day with 15,000 people in attendance, 100 autos and 1,000 carriages, according to "The Great Frederick Fair" book.

Today, fair attendance can range from 210,000 to 250,000 people during the nine-day fair.

"That's weather specific, obviously," said Brashear.