Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-08-19
COUNTY FAIR IS
SYMBOL OF FARM
PROGRESS IN u.
First American Fair Was
Held at Albany, New
York In 1915.

The story of the growth of the
American fair from the humblest be-
Ginning to its present-day status is an
important factor in agricultural educa-
ton They are of especial interest in
Lancaster and Grant county in view
Of the approaching Grant county fair
which is booked for September Is to
is, inclusive.
While the fair idea has been taken
mold of tremendously in the United
States, it is not native to this country.
Fairs run back to ancient days, but
in the olden times they were more af-
ter the manner of a bazaar or market,
only held with less frequency, very
much like the fairs in vogue in Ger
many and other European countries to-
day. The American fair traces it's
ancestry back only to about the mid
die of the eighteenth century, when a
group Of progressive farmers in the
Tees River valley in northeastern
Britain joined to bring their livestock
together for comparison. 1t has been
termed the first agricultural fair and
was the model after which were pat
termed the hundreds of county fairs
both here and in England.
Origin of Fairs.
EIkanah Watson of New York has
been credited with being the father of
the American fair. In 1915 Watson
organized the agricultural society of
Albany, N. Y, and proceeded to estab-
fish fairs and cattle shows in the
neighboring counties.
In 1882 the state agricultural socie-
ty was founded and work started in
other eastern states. But while Wat
son was busy converting farmers and
legislators to the value of fairs, the
Columbian Agricultural Society held
what is believed to be the first exhibit
ton of it's kind in Washington, D. c..
in 1910.
Pittsfeld, Mass, shortly thereafter
inaugurated regular agricultural ex-
hibits. and from these first small eff
forts grew up our system of commune
", county, state, district, national and
International fairs which cover prac-
tically every section of the country.
The development of the fair in the
United States has been one of normal
growth and expansion. The success
full contestant in a local fair naturally
wished to compare his products with
those of winners in other local fairs.
State Fair Next Step.
That was how the county fair came
to be. The state fair with its wider
appeal was the next logical step, and
there county winners went TO Settle
disputes on the relative merits OF
their products. Eventually this lead
to competition between states, culm1n-
ating first in the interstate fair, later
in the national show and finally IN
the international exhibit.
INSPIRES Ambition.
The appealing thing about the
county fair is the opportunity it of
fers the farmer to compare his own
work with that of his neighbors and
SO inspires in him a healthy ambition
to improve himself and his work.
Within easy distance of his home, ne
can examine the best animals, grams,
fruits and vegetables, poultry and
honey and determine where he falls
short Of the mark. Likewise his wife
can pit her needlework, her baking
and pastry, her canned fruits and veg
etables against those of other farm
women and enjoy the thrill and re-
ward that comes of victory. Altogeth-
err the country fair stimulates friend
il competition that has been response
Bile for much of the farm progress III
the past century.