Billy Joe Boyer Memorial Car Show Boyer Family Pick of the Show

by Kris Richards

Summer is here and it started off with the highest temps yet. The festival started off differently with ‘Carnival Night’ on Thursday evening.

It was very hot and most people stayed home or found some type of water to enjoy to cool off. Not many visited the Potosi Lions Fairgrounds on Thursday, but the rides were set up and it was an opportunity for Show Me Amusements to run some rides - the company didn’t get to do a single show last year in 2020.

Friday had the attention split between Billy Joe’s car show and rides and vendors at the Lions. The car show did pretty well considering the heat - 29 cars registered. There were a lot of good looking vehicles sitting on the Towne Square parking lot and the County Courthouse lot. Those gathered listened to music by Scott Marler and the show judging after the cruise in parade was done by Rick Hollinsworth and Bruce Morgan.

The winners of each class got a plaque engraved by Enhancements and all entries got a t-shirt with Billy Joe’s picture on it courtesy of Sam Scism Ford, The I-J, Moore Funeral Home, Belgrade State Bank and Melton’s Signs & T’s.

The family of Billy Joe Boyer got together and picked the family favorite that received a trophy presented by Robin Boyer. The winner was a cab over engine creation that has been on the road about three months. The unique wrecker is super sharp and Robin said she knows that Billy Joe would have loved it. The truck was shown by Ed & Christie Yoder of Bonne Terre. It is a modified 1947 Ford COE (Cab Over Engine).

Class winners included:

#1 Dean Adams, 1931 Model A

#3 Herb Gibson, 1953 Chevy Club

#4 Charles Bequette, ‘62 Chevy SS

#5 Rick Wibbenmeyer, ‘74 Impala

#6 Dan Missey, ‘03 Mustang

#8 Rick Wisdom, ‘78 Int. Scout II

#9 Ed & Christie Yoder, ‘47 C.O.E.

#11 David Montgomery, ‘29 Ford

#12 Gary Williams, ‘81 Corvette

#13 Lynn Kean, ‘96 Harley S.T.

#14 Mike Conway, ‘67 Coronet

#15 Misti Conway, ‘95 Jeep VJ

#16 Chase Boyer, ‘14 Civic Si

#17 Barry McFarland, ‘66 Mustang

#19 Dennis Cash, ‘54 Chevy

At the fairgrounds, there was music, beer tent by Twin Eagle, rides, food by the Lions and KK food truck and several vendors, but no people.

Some folks did brave the heat, but again most stayed in the air conditioning. Several youngsters enjoyed the rides and the night cooled off some after the sun went down.

Saturday morning started early with the 4H and FFA youth getting their animals in early for the Prospect Show. The show was a first time event for the youngsters in Washington County. About a dozen or so youth showed their livestock. Goats, sheep, heifers and steers were shown around the ring after a morning ‘class’ hosted by the guest judge for the day, Travis Karmme. Evelyn Brinley won the overall Grand Champion in the steer classes.

Farm Bureau County President Jim Reed set up the event working with the Stephanie and Maddie of the University of Missouri Extension crew.

Jim Reed thanked Kim and Lillian Greenlee for making the great looking ribbons that were awarded, Sunlight Feed for the use of the scales, Washington County Farm Supply for the feed buckets and Marty Yount, Greg Yount and Bryan Merkel for the help setting up the pin and working with the youth.

Reed said Luke Dalton donated the overall Steer award and also thanked Wayne Bourbon for all the work at the grounds and the barn and me, (Kris Richards) and ‘The I-J’ for promotion and working with the Festival.

Jim awarded custom belt buckles to the Showmanship winners that he provided.

The animals did pretty well and the kids were all working hard to show them. The steers and heifers were tired of the heat and challenged the youngsters in the ring and they all did well. It was enjoyable to learn some about judging and cattle as well as see the animal projects that may be sold at the Washington County Fair’s annual Livestock Auction on Thursday, Aug. 5th, 2021.

After the Prospect Show, the grounds were very quiet once again on Saturday. The temperatures weren’t quite as bad, but everyone was finding the shade. The vendors had a long afternoon that didn’t have much traffic at all. Compliments to those that participated, they all stuck with it and braved the heat. The carnival unfortunately decided to take a break at about 2 p.m. and that made it even quieter. Sharon Gibson did a good job of rounding up some local talent for the music on the stage, which the vendors and some faithful enjoyed. The cornhole tournament was busy until wrapping up at about 4 p.m.

Most packed up on the vendor side, giving in to the heat and lack of foot traffic. For those few who stayed, we watched the people pick back up from 6 p.m. to about 9 p.m. with the rides closing down at 10 p.m. to finish off the weekend.

Not sure about the ‘fairgrounds experiment’, pretty sure the weather was the big factor. We’ll see what ideas everyone has for next year.

A ‘big thank you’ to the Lions and Wayne Bourbon for providing the grounds and the up keep.

Now, it’s a count down to the County Fair - August 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, 2021. The fair didn’t happen last year so everyone involved is looking forward to making it happen in 2021.