It has been a long time since Ron Hamblin started the Breathitt Heritage Fair back in late 2004. The first event was held in September 2005 after Ron enlisted the help of several community members to help organize the first Breathitt Heritage Fair.
HOW DID THE BREATHITT HERITAGE FAIR GET STARTED?
In late 2004 Ron Hamblin and a couple friends attended the Breathitt County Honey Festival Meeting to pitch their idea to bring back some of the old County fair type events. Although there was some discussion, it didn’t look like Ron and his friends would be able to incorporate their ideas with the Honey Festival plans. This turned out to be a blessing and what would eventually become the Breathitt Heritage Fair.
Ron asked several people about their thoughts about bringing back the old county fair type festival. Ron received nothing but positive reactions from people he talked to. The first thing that Ron wanted to do was find a name for this new Festival. A group of names were compiled and Ron would post them on his Breathitt Online News webpage and asked everyone to vote on their favorite name. By a landslide, BREATHITT HERITAGE FAIR was selected.
WHO WAS ON THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE?
The next order of business was to select a committee to organize the new Fair. The original group Ron selected were, Julie Hamblin, Donna Fraley, Anthony Mullins, Bobby Thorpe Jr., Doris Newton, Martha & Johnny Boggs, Jonetha Boggs, Renee Snowden and a couple others. These 12 people would attend the first meeting of the Fair on February 15th 2005. Rose Wolfe, Tiffany Gross and a couple more were added before the first Fair.
WHEN WAS FIRST BREATHITT HERITAGE FAIR?
The Breathitt Heritage was born on September 30th, 2005 and would run through October 2nd 2005. The event would feature a Spelling Bee, Parade, Carnival Rides, Food Booths, Various Vendors, Beauty Pageant, Period Events like Old West themes, Exhibits, Horse Show, KY Headhunter Concert and much more.
WHO WAS THE FIRST PERFORMERS AT THE BREATHITT HERITAGE FAIR?
The Breathitt Heritage Fair was blessed to have world renowned country stars, The Kentucky Headhunters perform at Lees College gymnasium. The gym was packed out to see the Headhunters perform.
WHO PERFORMED AT THE FAIR?
Here is a list of some of the performers that played the Breathitt Heritage Fair, completely free concerts for the general public.
KY Headhunters, Clay Boomer, Karen Bunn, Jimmy Deaton, TY Herndon, Wolfe Creek, Bypro Station, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, Mika Combs & Hard Dollar Band, Eastern Gate, Ride the 75, TJ Brown, Hundred Fold, Perkins Brothers, MR. DJ, Second Chance, Honkytonk Voodoo, EXILE, KISS Army (Tribute Band), Stitch Rivet, Sammy Kershaw, 2nd Chance, Ian Noe, Taylor Dye, Burn Down, Couch Family, Larry and Rebecca Collins, Battle Scarred Soldiers, Words In Red, Watson Family, – Eastern Gate, IIIrd Tyme Out, Linda Moore Fugate, Eric Meade, Aaron Tippin, Mike Mitchell, Jeremy Lindon, Pocket Full of Rocks, John Waller, 33 miles, Hollow Point Band, Kayla Smith, J.D. Shelburne, Down Bottom with 5 Star, Rosa Lee Stacy, Linda Gibson, Charles Johnson, & Singing Cookes. That is just a few of the artists that have graced the stage for the Breathitt Heritage Fair from 2005 – 2009.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 2023 BREATHITT HERITAGE FAIR?
According to the document of dissolution for the Breathitt Heritage Fair Incorporation, the 2023 Breathitt Heritage Fair Committee submitted the following:
ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION
Pursuant to the provisions of KRS 14A and KRS 273.313, the undersigned corporation executes the
following articles of dissolution:
Article I: The name of the non-profit corporation is BREATHITT HERITAGE FAIR, INC.
Article II: The date the dissolution was authorized: 3/30/2023
Artic le III: This dissolution was approved by the members.
Article IV: The voting information is listed below.
Number of votes entitled to be cast on proposal to dissolve 6
Number of votes cast for the dissolution 6
Number of votes cast against the dissolution 0
The number cast for dissolution was sufficient for approval
Article V: The assets of the corporation shall be distributed pursuant to the following plan of distribution:
(a) All liabilities and obligations of the corporation shall be paid and discharged, or adequate provisions shall be made therefor;
(b) Assets held by the corporation upon condition requiring return, transfer or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason of the dissolution, shall be returned, transfered or conveyed in accordance with such requirements;
(c) Assets received and help by the corporation subject to limitations permitting their use only for charitable, religious, eleemosynary, benevolent, educational or similar purposes, but not held upon a condition requiring return, transfer or conveyance by reason of the dissolution, shall be transfered or
conveyed to Jackson Lions Club, Jackson Kiwanis Club, Aspire Appalachia, Breathitt Hunger Alliance, Breathitt Academic Boosters;
(d) Other assets, if any, shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of the articles of incorporation or the bylaws to the extent that the articles of incorporation or bylaws determine the distributive rights of members, or any class or classes of members, or provide for distribution to others;
(e) Any remaining assets may be distributed to Jackson Lions Club, Jackson Kiwanis Club, Aspire Appalachia, Breathitt Hunger Alliance, Breathitt Academic Boosters
.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Kentucky that the foregoing is true and correct.
Signature Chris Friley
Title Chairman
It is sad to see this once great Fair coming to an end. For 17 years it has provided free concerts and children’s events. Unfortunately, the economy dictates whether or not these Fairs can survive and at this time, it simply cannot sustain the Breathitt Heritage Fair at this time.
To all the people who helped keep the Breathitt Heritage Fair going for all these years and all the hard work and the volunteers,
