This being fair week, it is only fitting we salute the Jensen family. Two generations of Jensen’s had a major impact on the Lassen County Fair.
In the summer of 1922, A.R. “Bert” Jensen pushed the resurrection of a fair, the last one held was in 1902. Jensen recruited Russell Brownell, C.E. Lawson, L.E. DeForest and H.H. Ridells and formed the Lassen County Fair Association. Jensen offered the Association 20 acres of his ranch for a fairgrounds at a cost $2,750, though the group could pay him later—this is still the home of the Lassen County Fairgrounds.
On September 29 a three-day fair was held. The rodeo was a real crowd pleaser with over 4,000 in attendance. Financially, it was an expensive proposition at $12,000–$6,421 to construct the grandstands, etc and the balance for premiums. The event on the other hand generated $8,700 in revenue. The fair continued until 1930, when the Association disbanded.
In 1935, Lassen County Farm Advisor, T.S. “Stan” Brown revived the fair, and the Association donated the property to Lassen County. It was Bert’s son, Abe Jensen, who realy help rejuvenite the fair. Under Abe’s guidance transformed much of the fairgrounds as we know it today. He served as Lassen County Fair Manager from 1945 to 1968.
My inlaws