A Brief History of State Fairs

County and state fairs have been organized in the United States since 1841 when the first such gathering was organized in Syracuse, New York.
Minnesota Historical Society / Corbis

Minnesota: Proud Winner
State and county fairs have been organized in the United States since 1841, when the first such gathering was organized in Syracuse, New York. Food — both its production and enjoyment — has been their centerpiece from the very beginning. In this 1926 photo, a man poses with his prize winning gourds at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul.

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