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MOKEY CHOATE FAMILY BRINGS FAIR FUN TO CITY

By Tirzah Pope/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Friday, October 2, 2009 9:28 PM CDT

Cotton candy, carnival rides and games of skill found their way back to Pine Bluff this week.

The Mokey Choate family is responsible for various activities during the 70th annual Southeast Arkansas District Livestock Show, Rodeo and Fair, which continues through tonight.

Choate, a third generation carnival owner, has brought his family and his friends to the Hestand Stadium Fairgrounds to share exhibitions and much more during fair.

Choate and company have been coming to Pine Bluff for more than 25 years with the fair.

He went on to explain how the family became involved in the carnival business.

“My Grandfather Robert Choate, or ‘Kid Burns’ used to work on oil rigs off the shores of Louisiana. He would challenge men on other oil rigs to wrestling matches during the depression for money. Later, he started to set up a tent in town where he challenged the locals to a wrestling match with him or other fighters. He would charge them money to enter the ring and if they won then they got paid,” Choate said.

The event soon became a family affair.

“My grandma, Camellia Choate, set up gambling tables for people while they waited to see the fight,” he said. “Eventually, they needed something for the kids to do while the parents were busy so they bought a few rides.”

Today, Choate and most of his family still travel with their tents. They are always ready to meet strangers and make friends wherever they go.

Choate’s niece, Krystal Quattlebaum, said life on the road with the carnival has been an adventure.

“I love traveling from town to town. It’s all I’ve ever known. When I’m not on the road it’s hard to fall asleep without the sound of the generators,” she said.

Although the fair ends tonight, there are still activities for fairgoers to see, such as the rodeo finals, sponsored by the Arkansas Rodeo Association.

“The events taking place will include: barrel-racing, bull riding, steer roping and bronc riding,” said Luanne Quattlebaum, Choate’s sister.

Today, the fair will be opening at noon to celebrate Kid’s Day.

The fair has brought lots of families to Hestand Stadium.

Nine-year-old Jalyn Williams and his 9-year-old cousin Kimerra Handley both agree that going to the fair is fun.

“My favorite ride is the Extreme Jump,” Jayln explained excitedly after he showed off his front flips on the bungee apparatus.

His mother, Karla Williams, said that they come every year and have always had a great time.

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