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- Collection: Wayne County Fair
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Wayne County Fair First Premium
It is this ticket that was the goal of early exhibitionists. By winning these premiums, exhibitionists would be rewarded for their top contributions to the agricultural community at large.
Wayne County Fair Board Membership Tickets
These tickets would be purchased, not just to gain admittance to the fair, but to have a say in Agricultural Society decisions. This implies how involved many early attendees of the fair were in the agricultural community.
Third Annual Fair Flier
This flier for the third annual fair of the Independent Agricultural Society of Wayne County, this shows a clear early association of the fair with the agricultural society. Also, while it announces the event as only the third fair, other fairs had…
Rural Youth Booth
Shown here is a display at which homemade games were played before the days of the travelling carnival game trailers and kiosks we see at today's fairs.
Regulation from the 1893 Wayne County Fair's Premium List
While some think of farming as a simple vocation, agricultural societies and agriculturalists were very methodical and rule-oriented. The long list of regulations and rules for society members and exhibitionists ensure that only the most innovative…
Racecar Accident
Stock car races have long been a point of excitement at the fair. As seen here, these exciting events can and often do have high safety risks.
Novelty and Waffle Kiosks
The collection of vending kiosks breathes life into the Wayne County Fairgrounds every year. Whether you buy or not, the stands bring a sense of festivity to the fair experience. Aside from looking festive, the stands are yet another model for the…
Map of the Wayne County Fairgrounds
This is a simple map layout of the Wayne County Fair. This map is staple material at the fair, allowing attendees to find their ways easily around the grounds.
Evening Car Derby
Car derbies were and are valued traditions of the fair experience. The grand stand, as it had with all County Affair events, has the been the key facilitator of such tradition.
Enjoying the Carousel
Children were likely not excited about the fair's events in its early days; however, when the budget expanded to include extra events and attractions, carnival rides like this carousel became integral to the young fair experience.
Early Horse Racing
Horse racing has been an important fair exhibition from an early point in the life of the fair. More than just a high-energy display, racing was a way to put the results of horse breeding and training methods on display.
Cattle-Leading at the Wayne County Fair
A line of fair-goers lead cattle across the race track, passing the fairgrounds' stadium.
A Day on the Lawn
Pictured here is the original wooden structure stadium built for fair attractions and events. Condemned by the state fire marshal in 1935, the Fair Board decided to build a new steel structure over it in 1936. While it seats about 1,100 people, fair…
"The Daily Record: 120th Annual Wayne County Fair Days"
A week or so before the Wayne County Fair, The Daily Record releases a special issue that gives a schedule of the events to occur at the fair and other related stories. It serves as a crucial guide to fair activities to local attendees.
"Premium List of the 7th Annual Wayne County Fair"
An early example of the prizes that would be offered for exhibition placing at the fair, this list reflected current interests regarding agricultural advancement. By incentivizing discovery of the best methods of agricultural practice, the Wayne…
"Boone the Great: The Original Boy Phenomenon"
This is a unique example of the kinds of non-agricultural exhibits held at the fair. Such exhibits were crucial to the fiscal life of the fair- it was the link that brought agriculturalists and agricultural lay people into one place at one time to…