[The Following is a re-print from the Nov. 2 issue of the Seminole Tribune]
HOLLYWOOD — On Oct. 10 Tribal Fair Committee Chair Frank Moore Jr. called the first official Tribal Fair meeting to order in the Hollywood Tribal Headquarters auditorium lobby. Moore announced the 2008 Seminole Tribal Fair will be held Feb.

7–10 at the Hard Rock Live.
Some of the other big announcements made included changing the location of the annual Tribal Fair Rodeo and changing the format of the clothing contest. In addition, adding a new category, the contest duration will also be shortened.
According to Moore Jr., Hollywood Tribal Council Representative Max B. Osceola Jr. requested an additional category be added to this year’s clothing contest. The new category will be for Tribal citizens who have sewn the clothing themselves, which will
p

romote keeping the craft alive, not just purchasing an outfit to wear and win.
The details and rules for the new category are still being worked out. Thus far the committee has preliminarily come up with the following: participants must pre-register for the contest and photos must be provided showing documentation of the contestant actually sewing their creation from beginning to completion. “Pilipino,” or pre-made patchwork will also not be allowed and the clothing must be made in and allotted time frame.
“Our culture is dying as it is,” said Okalee Village Manager Barbara Butera. “Lets’ teach our culture to our kids and support Max [Osceola’s] idea.”

As an incentive Osceola will fund this category and also make it the highest paying category.
In addition, several people on the committee said last year’s clothing contest was too lengthy, and as a result many children in attendance got cranky, and people where afraid to leave the ballroom to get food and miss any of the contest. Some committee members suggested holding the contest on two separate days — the kids and seniors contest together on one day and the teen and adults together on the next. Installing a stage in the ballroom this year was also suggested.
The location of the Tribal Fair Rodeo is also in question. Last year, gravel trucks filled the Hard Rock Arena to make it rodeo-ready. Besides being costly, some participants said their horses were in pain for two weeks and not able to walk after competing on that floor.
Moving the rodeo to another location is an option. Some on the committee suggested holding it at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie, Fla., or at the Big Cypress Rodeo Arena, which is slated for completion by Dec. 10.
Other areas of discussion included: the deadlines for names to be submitted to the Travel Department is Dec. 14; Terri Hahn will be handling the fine art contest; Claudia Jumper will be handling the pool tournament in the ballroom; an outreach fashion show, a Native American Memorial Noah Billie Fine Art exhibit per Hans Rose, the arts and craft contest and Lil Mister and Lil Miss Seminole contest.
The next Tribal Fair Committee meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at noon in the Hollywood Tribal Headquarters auditorium lobby. Guests, committee members and volunteers are encouraged to attend.