Dairy Cattle Congress
Iowa State Fair RacesFarmers Get Together: Early County Fairs
Bushels
of wheat, yokes of oxen, native cattle, tubs of homemade soap, yards of fine
linen cloth, apples, hand-crafted saddles, sturdy wagons— these and
much more made up the display at Iowa's early county fairs.
Time to Show Off
Iowa's European pioneer settlers brought the idea for an agricultural fair with them from their former homes. Not long after European farmers had settled in the state, they got together to hold county fairs. It was a place to show off the best things that people made or raised. Those living on farms or in towns brought their finest products, hoping to win a top prize.
Makers of farm implements and housewares displayed their products at fairs. It was a good way to advertise in a time when people seldom traveled to shop and had no magazines, radios, televisions or the Internet. Products that had won prizes were more likely to be purchased because they were considered to be of high quality.
Learning and Socializing
The
county fair provided the best place for farm people to learn better farming
methods. Men and women met to share their knowledge and to learn how to raise
better cattle and improve crops. Fairs had an important educational purpose.
The county fair also provided a
chance for socializing, entertainment and relaxation. For farm dwellers the
fair became an important yearly event. As the years passed, county fairs continued
to be important educational and social events for rural Iowans.
