Interview with Charles E. Barnhart, August 26, 1997

Interview Summary

In this session, Dr. Charles E. Barnhart talks briefly about Dr. Arthur Stein, a consultant who worked for the Kentucky Tobacco and Health Research Institute. He describes Dr. Gary Huber's style of administration and the problems it created for the Institute. Barnhart mentions several subsequent directors and talks about how the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture moved forward after this controversy.

Barnhart describes his experiences with the Indiana State Fair and other fairs through his participation in the 4-H program while growing up in Indiana, around 1936-1938. He recalls his first visit to the Kentucky State Fair in 1948 and recalls this fair was started around 1900. Barnhart compares it with other State Fairs in terms of facilities and quality of livestock, saying that Kentucky is in the top tier of state fairs and notes that, although facilities were physically lacking when he first attended, the quality of all types of entries has always been competitive. He describes how this situation has improved over time and that now Kentucky has one of the best facilities in the country. Barnhart remembers how the State Fair Board was created and how smoothly operations of the fair have run over the years, recalling several past board members, talking about the state fair's operating budget and how it is administered and note the impact of tourism and public buildings in terms of Kentucky's development and its history.

Barnhart discusses some of the subsidiaries of the State Fair Board and recalls the controversy when the Board was chosen to oversee the construction of the Commonwealth Convention Center, part of a plan to revitalize downtown Louisville. Barnhart reminisces about Mr. Al Sneider, owner of the Galt House, Executive Inn, and the Executive Inn West, which is located near the fairgrounds.

Interview LC Subject

Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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