LETTS, Ind. — For 43 years, the smell of fried fish and the sound of sizzling oil were as much a part of the Decatur County 4-H Fair as the livestock barns and carnival rides.
That tradition is coming to an end.
The Letts Community Volunteer Fire Department announced it will no longer operate its beloved fish fry tent at the fair, closing the chapter on a community staple that began in 1983 and fed generations of fairgoers along the way.
“This was not a decision we made lightly,” said Fire Chief Matthew Morrow. “For more than 40 years, the fish fry tent has been a part of the fabric of the Decatur County Fair and a tradition that many people looked forward to each summer.”
The department cited a combination of challenges that made continuing the operation no longer feasible — chief among them a shrinking volunteer base that has placed growing pressure on those who remain.
Like volunteer fire departments across the country, Letts has seen fewer people step up in recent years. With emergency response, training, fundraising and family commitments already competing for volunteers’ time, sustaining a full-scale food operation during the fair became increasingly difficult to manage.
Rising costs also played a role. Supply chain disruptions affecting commercial fisheries in the North Pacific have driven up seafood prices, making it harder to deliver the quality and value the community had come to expect from the event.
Morrow was quick to honor those who made the fish fry what it was over four decades.
“We are incredibly grateful to all of the volunteers, supporters and community members who have helped make it possible since 1983,” he said. “Most importantly, we are thankful for the dedicated men and women who continue to answer the call and serve our community.”
But the fryer isn’t going cold for good.
The department said it is already looking at dates to host fish fries and other events at the fire station itself — a move officials hope will keep the tradition alive in a more manageable format closer to home.
“While our time at the fair has come to an end, we look forward to continuing to serve the community and creating new traditions at the fire station,” Morrow said. “We hope everyone will join us when we announce future fish fries and community events.”
The Letts Community Volunteer Fire Department serves Decatur County through emergency response, fire protection and EMS services.
For more information, contact PIO Alexis Carson at alexiscarsonfd@gmail.com.
