Here at The Lost Ogle, we love nothing more than giving back to the city, community, and state that has so graciously supported us over the years.
That’s why I’m proud to announce that The Lost Ogle is offering our entire State Fair Photo Contest archive for inclusion in a new time capsule being installed at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds early next year.
You see, the city recently built a weird sculpture on the fairgrounds that will include a time capsule, and officials are asking the public to submit “photographic fair memories” for permanent preservation.
Via The Oklahoman:
Residents who cherish memories of the Oklahoma State Fair and want to have them stored in Oklahoma City's time capsule at the fairgrounds still have time to submit them — but not for much longer.
OKC officials are issuing a last call for photos from the state fair and other OKC Fair Park events to be sealed permanently in a time capsule at the base of the newly completed “Bolt Tower” sculpture. Submissions must be received no later than Monday, Dec. 22, by 6 p.m.
“A paved pedestrian plaza at the base of the tower was recently completed,” OKC public art project manager Randy Marks said, “and the coup de grâce will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2026, when the work will be formally dedicated and the time capsule containing photographic fair memories submitted by members of the public will be sealed and installed.”
Wow. What a perfect match, huh?
The city needs everyday, real-life photos of "Oklahoma Fair Memories" inclusion in a time capsule, and we just happen to have run a wildly popular State Fair Photo Contest from 2008 to 2014 that generated thousands and thousands of exactly that.
You know — photos like these:
I have to say, I know we’re the Rodney Dangerfield of Oklahoma City media, but with classics like those floating around, I’m kind of shocked the city hasn’t already reached out. What’s this Randy Marks guy been doing? This would be like creating a time capsule about Oklahoma dairy culture and not calling Braum’s!
But then again, Randy’s been pretty busy trying to plop a giant red cowboy boot into the Asian District, so I guess he hasn’t had much time to think about it.
As a result, I’m doing what you should probably also do — emailing the photos I’d like to see included.
How to submit photos for the time capsule
All photo submissions must include a description to ensure proper preservation and context.
What to send: A JPEG or PDF of your photos (file size limited to 4MB)
Required information: A description of the event, including the year the photo was taken and the names of the people featured
Where to send: arts@okc.gov
Deadline: 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 22, 2025
I don’t ask a lot, Moles, but please make sure to email the city some of the photos above. We can’t have future residents digging this thing up 100 years from now and not knowing these real-life Oklahoma specimens actually existed, or weren't just part of our folk lore or mythology.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
