Ohio State Fair

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Food stands along the midway

The Ohio State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the United States. In 2006 the attendance was 814,512, up 12,000 from 2005.[1] The state fair contributes as much as 280 million dollars to the state economy. It is held in early August in Columbus, Ohio.

From the very first 3-day fair in 1850 in Cincinnati to the 11-day exposition of today (At one time the fair lasted 17 days), the Ohio State Fair has celebrated Ohio's products, its people and their accomplishments for more than 150 years.

[edit] History

In 1846, the Ohio Legislature created the 53-member Board of Agriculture. One of the Board's first acts was to establish a District Fair. The resulting 1847 District Fair at Wilmington and the 1848 District Fair at Xenia were both successful, leading to the planning of a State Fair.

The first Ohio State Fair was planned for September, 1849, but an outbreak of Asiatic cholera forced cancellation of those plans. The following year, autumn dates were chosen to lessen the risk of cholera. Even so, the superintendent of grounds, Darius Lapham, died of the disease just a few weeks before the opening date.

The butter cow in the dairy products building

Camp Washington (two miles north of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio) was the site for the first Ohio State Fair, October 2 - 4, 1850. The site was described as 8-10 acres with grassy slopes, shade trees, and numerous tents. The grounds were enclosed by a 10-foot (3.0 m)-high board fence. Cattle were tethered to a railing along the carriage road.

The railroads offered strong support to the early state fairs. Special rates were offered whereby exhibits were transported without charge, and the exhibitor rode for half fare. Several Central Ohioans contributed to the support of the first Fair, including Alfred Kelley, owner of the Columbus and Xenia Railroad Company.

Cash premiums at the first Fair did not exceed $20, with the exception of an award of $50 given to essayists on the topic "Improving the Soil." During the early state fairs, winners received medals, not ribbons, as awards. In 1850, the silver medal was valued at $3.

The public was admitted only on the second and third day of the first Fair. Day one was devoted to setting up and judging. Admission was twenty cents, but exhibitors could buy a $1 badge for admission of their families. A visitor could also buy a $1 badge, which admitted one gentleman and two ladies. The two-day attendance was estimated at 25,000 to 30,000 people.

Transportation around Ohio was difficult. Therefore, the majority of exhibitors came from close proximity to the Fair. Officials reasoned that moving the Fair ought to increase interest and attendance.

Over the next 22 years, the Fair was held in the following cities:

Year	Location
1851	Columbus (on site of Mt. Carmel Hospital)
1852	Cleveland
1853	Dayton
1854	Newark
1855	Columbus (on site of Mt. Carmel Hospital)
1856	Cleveland
1857	Cincinnati
1858	Sandusky
1859	Zanesville
1860 & 61	Dayton
1862 & 63	Cleveland
1864 & 65	Columbus (on site of Schiller Park)
1866 & 67	Dayton
1868 & 69	Toledo
1870 & 71	Springfield
1872 & 73	Mansfield

From 1874 until 1885, the site of Columbus' Franklin Park served as home to the Ohio State Fair. Finally, in 1886, the Fair moved to its current home at what is now called the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds. The main entrance to the site was at the southwest corner of the grounds along Woodard Avenue. It's now 11th Avenue.

[edit] Milestones

1853 - Entertainment crept into the Fair programming with the first pony rides for children and monkeys dressed in hats that danced to minstrel tunes.

1860 - Fair premiums rose to $200 (up from $20 in 1850).

1884 - In July, prior to the Fair's opening, a racing mare kicked over a lantern resulting in 100 stalls being burned. Loss to buildings was set at $1,100... the dead mare was valued at $5,000.

1886 - The current Ohio State Fair site was dedicated on Tuesday, August 31 during the 37th Ohio State Fair. Governor Foraker accepted the grounds in front of a crowd of 6,000.

1890s - At least 16 railroad companies served Columbus and the Fair.

1894 - A college football tournament was held in this year, with Denison, Miami, Wittenberg, Buchtel (Akron) and the Ohio State University participating.

1896 - The Ohio State Fair became the first fair with an electric lighting system. This made it possible to offer night-time racing. Also this year, horseless vehicles made their first appearance at the Ohio State Fair.

1903 - The first Butter Cow and Calf were featured at the Fair this year. They were made by A.T. Shelton & Company, distributors of Sunbury Creamery Butter. Additional sculptures were added in the 1960s, the subjects of which change every year.

1916 - On the eve of World War I, the largest American flag (136 feet by 65 feet) was displayed at the 11th Avenue entrance.

1922 - Just days before the scheduled opening of the Fair, fire raced across the grounds. Six buildings were destroyed including the central group, the Horticulture Building and the East and West Buildings. Loss was estimated at more than $800,000.

1924 - Earliest records of the Ohio State Fair Queen contest date back to this year.

1925 - The Diamond Jubilee Spectacle this year saluted the 75th anniversary of the Fair. More than 2,000 participants enacted the evolution of the Fair in three, 25-year periods on three stages and with fireworks.

1925 - The All-Ohio Boys Band was first mentioned in historical accounts this year. It is now called the All-Ohio State Fair Band and includes both boys and girls.

1928 - The renowned John Philip Sousa Band performed twice daily at the 1928 Fair.

1929 - The Junior Fair was formed this year. Today, Ohio is proud to host the nation's largest Junior Fair with more than 17,000 youth participating. In the same year, the Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board was formed. The Junior Fair Board is made up of outstanding individuals from various youth organizations including 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, Farm Brearu Youth, and others.

1941 - A sign of the times found 150 female Fair ticket takers hired in place of men for the first time.

1942-45 - The Board of Agriculture canceled the Ohio State Fair and allowed the War Department to use the grounds and buildings for handling airplane parts and equipment. The Army Air Corps rented the facility for $1 per year. A similar fate befell fairs in Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. When the Army vacated the fairgrounds, they left the grounds and buildings in a shambles.

1957 - The first woman livestock judge appeared this year. Mrs. Maurice Neville judged the Yorkshire Swine Show.

1963 - The All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir was established. It was directed by Glenville Thomas of Zanesville.

1966 - At the 11th Avenue gate, the new OHIO entrance was built at a cost of $40,000.

1968 - The first Sale of Champions livestock auction was held with sales amounting to $22,674. The Bee Gees, Bob Hope, James Brown, Johnny Carson and Sly and the Family Stone performed.

1969 - The first portion of the sky ride was built this year. It was extended to 11th Avenue in 1984. Bob Hope and Johnny Cash performs

1972 - Fire struck the Ohio Expo Center in October during the American Dairy Show. Three connected barns were burned, killing three head of cattle and destroying virtually all the exhibitors' belongings. These buildings have since been replaced by the Gilligan Complex (1972 and 1978) and the O'Neill Swine Arena (1973). Bob Hope, Kenny Rogers, Mac Davis, Roberta Flack, The Osmonds and Ike & Tina Turner perform.

1976 - In celebration of the country's Bicentennial, a time capsule was buried in the gardens near the 11th Avenue gate. It holds treasures of the times from the Ohio State Fair, Ohio sports teams, coins and stamps, a T-shirt, Levis and tennis shoes. It will be opened in 2026. Bob Hope, Mac Davis, the Osmonds, Pat Boone, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Cash perform.

1981 - The fair is stretched to 17 days, running from Friday, August 14 - Sunday, August 30th. Entertainment was held at the outdoor grandstand on the infield of the race track. Two shows are performed usually at 3:30 and 7:30 pm. Entertainment was FREE and seating was on a first come, first serve basis. Wooden folding chairs were available for seating on the race track. There was also a VIP section in front of the stage on the racetrack. Tickets were required to get into this section. 6 a.m. Opening day ceremony at the OHIO gate (11th Avenue). August 14 "Ohio Fair Managers Day" - McGuffy Lane performs at 7:30 p.m only. August 15 - Bob Hope, Paragon, David Rubinoff perform at 7:30 p.m. only. August 16 - McGuffy Lane at 3:30 and Mac Davis at 7:30 pm perform . August 17 "Children's Home Day" - Johnny Cash performs. August 18 - Mac Davis performs. August 19 - Statler Brothers perform. Augsut 20 "ABN Day" -Sha Na Na performs. August 21 "Ohio Agriculture Day and Crippled Children's Day" - Kool & the Gang perform. August 22 "Youth Conservation Corp Day" - Barbara Mandrell. August 23 "Ohio National Guard Day" - Louise Mandrell and RC Bannon. August 24 "Auctioneers Day" Sale of Champions at 3pm in Cooper Arena. K.C. and the Sunshine Band perform. August 25 - Boxcar Willie performs. August 26 - Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee and the Urban Cowboy Band perform. August 27 - Eddie Rabbit, Betty Carson & the Younger Brothers Band perform. August 28 - Gladys Knight & the Pips perform. August 29 - Crystal Gayle perform. August 30 - Peaches & Herb perform.

1983 Air Supply performs

1990 - The condemned Ohio State Fair Grandstand was demolished. The Celeste Center replaced it as the site for the Fair's big-name entertainment, as well as a venue for many Expo events each year.

2000 - The Ohio State Fair celebrated its 150th anniversary with a new exhibit, "History in the Making." Alabama performs.

2002 - The 11th Avenue OHIO Gate, built in 1966, was torn down and replaced with a redesigned, contemporary OHIO gate to take the facility into the future. Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Rascal Flatts, Michael W. Smith and Lifehouse perform.

2003 - The Ohio State Fair celebrates its 150th Fair. The first Fair was in 1850 and there has been one ever since excluding 1942-1945. Celebration activities can be found all over the Fair. Bow Wow, Alan Jackson, Uncle Kracker, Terri Clark, Oak Ridge Boys and Diamond Rio perform.