David Chaplin
By Nila Harris
David Chaplin, aka Chap, was a well-known face at the Pendleton County Youth Fair. He had shown cattle, served on the Fair Board, was a 4-H Livestock Beef Leader, and a member of the Pendleton County Beef Cattle Association. He spent 40+ years in the arena, whether showing his own cattle with father-in-law Jim Belcher, or helping his children Jodi and Josh, and grandchildren Addi and Elli as they showed livestock. So, it should come as no surprise that the Fair Board proposed to honor him by naming the facilities Chap Arena.
In 1977, Chap first got interested in livestock showing, as he and Belcher “began exhibiting beef cattle at local county fairs, including the Pendleton County Youth Fair, the Kentucky State Fair, and the North American Exposition in Louisville,” according to Chaplin’s wife Billie Jo. When their children came along, it became a full-fledged family affair. Billie Jo remembers taking her younger child to the restroom one night at the fair. When she came back, her 5-year-old daughter was missing. When she asked her mother where Jodi was, Edna Fern Belcher said, “Look”. Billie Jo saw her young daughter in the show ring! It must’ve been in her blood, because the family soon began traveling to the surrounding county fairs, showing beef cattle and market steers. The youngsters would save up any money they earned to spend at the State Fair. “That’s just what you did back then,” stated Billie Jo. But she admitted, “We lost as many times as we won.” Their father always told them, “The look on your face should never show success or defeat when you walk out.”
Chaplin spent a lot of time teaching his children and grandchildren about showmanship, then he let them compete on their own and focused on mentoring others. Billie Jo once asked him, “Why are you spending so much time working with others and not ours?” He calmly told her that he had taught his at home, and some of the other children didn’t have that privilege. He would clip the animals, help get them ready for the show, especially if they were unruly, and anything else the show person needed.
Not only did Chap spend a lot of time at the arena, but he and Billie Jo also worked the rib-eye booth at the fair and Dragon Boat Festival. They did this, with the help of others like Jim, Dawn, and Nate Roseberry (and “anybody we could find”), to raise money for the Beef Cattle Association Scholarship to a Senior who lived on a farm or was planning on getting a degree in Agriculture. This went on for 7-8 years.
At the same time, Billie Jo was serving as treasurer and had to divide her duties between dealing with money and working the booth.
Billie Jo was touched and honored when President of the Fair Board, Michael Mann, contacted her saying that they would like to name the facilities Chap Arena. She has been pleased to see the improvements made at the livestock facilities with the memorials that have been given by generous people. Improved lighting and a sound system have been added to the show barn, and ventilation will be added to the old show barn.
“Dave and our family would want this. I can’t thank the ones enough who gave memorials to make improvements.”
David Chaplin passed away in 2020, after suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for several years. He never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him, still working and attending the fair as much as he could. Ole Chap would be proud to see how the fair continues to thrive and bring enjoyment to families far and wide.