County Fairs

First American Fair

Jul 6, 1792

in 1792 a fair was held in Ontario in upper Canada. This fair was prsented first in 1765 in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The same fair still operates today but in Ontario that was known in early Confederation. In additio to th fair now known as Niagara Fair sill operates today with inspiraton for smaller fairs around during the 1700s in French Canada while under french rule.

American County Fair Developed

Jan 1, 1800

County Fairs were first developed when agricultural reformers in the northeastern United States organized to promote modern farming.

Father of U.S. Agricultural Fairs

Sep 6, 1811

in 1811 a New England Patriot and farmer earned this title for organizing the Berkshire Agricultual Society and created an event known as the Cattle Show in PIttsberg, Massachusetts. This is an exhiit of animals where competition was help and money can be won. The prize money which was only $70 was paid to the person who best exhibit of oxen, cattle, swine, and sheep

First County Fair

Jan 24, 1841

First County fairs was helf in Syracuse, New York. At the fair, for enjoyment thre were entertainment productions, food the aucition and sales of goods and animals.

Chicago Mechanics Institute

May 27, 1845

Chicago Mechanics held annual fairs highlighting mechanical interventions beginning in 1845.

First County Fair in Midwest

Feb 5, 1851

First ever county fair was held by the Union Agricultural Society which published the Prairie Farmer from Chicago to Naperville was where the fisr annual county fair was held.

Illinois Fairs

Feb 6, 1851

Porter & Lake County Illinois helf their first ever county fairs in the country before other counties followed suit

McHenry County

Jun 10, 1852

McHenry county held their first county fairs in 1852

DuPage, Illinois County Fair

Jun 19, 1853

Following their neighboring counties in Illinois, DuPage held a county that attacted many to their town for a fair that displayed local goods and crops

Chicago Mechanical Institute

Aug 25, 1855

Chicago Mechanical Institute organized a state agricultural and mechanical fair which drew tens of thousands of visitors to a 50-acre prairie near Bridgeport.

Entertainment at County Fairs

Period: Aug 16, 1870 to Nov 7, 1910

Entertainment became important at fairs to compete with national expositions during what was considred the golden age. Things included Horse Racing, Bicycle races, ballon ascensions and more were just a few types of things that went on during fairs to keep guest more engaged and coming back.

Cook County Fair

Sep 30, 1916

Cook County Fair, one of the more well known county fairs in the county, found a new and permante home in Palatine Township.

Judging of Live Stock

Aug 16, 1958

Judging of livestock can date back to 1958 at the Illinois State Fair. Here people brought their healthiest live stock to be sold as food or for other farmers to use as livestock.