The Santa Cruz Fair Association (SCFA) was incorporated in 1915 when a group of residents collaborated to create an association “for the purpose of having an annual fair.” In 1916 Sonoita residents Wade Purdum and Frank Rigsby each donated ten acres of land and volunteers constructed a wood frame building at the site of today’s Pioneer Hall.
In 1936 the SCFA reincorporated under the name of Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association (SCCFRA).
As the activities at the fairgrounds expanded over the early years, new buildings/facilities were added including a cattle barn (1940); racetrack (1953/54); Hedgcock Hall (1958); Gardner Building (1960), and the rock wall at the entrance to the fairgrounds (1961). [Piper, Rose E. A History of the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association, 1915-1965, 1999]. This article provides background information on Houghton ‘Bum’ Hedgcock and Reagan Gardner who have buildings named for them.
Houghton ‘Bum’ Hedgcock and his wife Frances moved to Sonoita from Indiana in 1945 to partner with Bum’s brother Harvey and sister-in-law Lydia in operating the Los Encinos guest ranch. The guest ranch was previously owned by Neil and Mary Carr [see Glimpses article about the Carr/Montoya families in the December 2019 PRT]. The brothers added a cattle ranching operation after purchasing two adjacent properties and obtaining Coronado National Forest grazing permits. In 1949 Bum bought out Harvey’s interest and eventually converted the guest quarters at Los Encinos to rental properties. [Barr, Betty. Hidden Treasures of Santa Cruz County, 2006: 247-250].
Bum was a “tireless” worker for the SCCFRA. [Piper: 35]. He was a member of the committee that obtained a grant from the Arizona State Racing Commission to build a racetrack at the fairgrounds and served as SCCFRA President in 1955 and 1956. When Bum died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1957, SCCFRA voted to name the 50’ x 60’ all-purpose building under construction to honor him, and to also build an office in the corner of the building with a plaque honoring him. [Piper: 49].
Joseph Reagan Gardner was born in Arizona in 1906. His father Charles ranched in the Douglas area of Cochise County. In 1927 he married Hettie Lee Dalton and they had two children: Edwin Reagan and Monta Carol. Hettie’s parents were Elgin homesteaders who ran a dairy. In 1930 Reagan and Hettie were living in Greaterville where he worked as a miner. By 1940 they were ranching in Elgin and Reagan worked as truck driver, eventually for the Arizona Highway Dept. Hettie was the Sonoita postmistress for many years.
Reagan served as President of SCCFRA from 1950-1952. He was active in managing the Sonoita Rodeo, and was a member of the same committee as Bum Hedgcock that obtained funding to build the racetrack at the fairgrounds.
The 50’ x 100’ building located SW of Pioneer Hall was constructed in 1960 and was later named after Reagan “in honor of his long service to the Association.” [Piper: 53].
Reagan died in 1997, age 71; Hettie died in 1987, age 77. Both are buried at Black Oak Cemetery.