Audience fills the stands for 1998 Town & Country Fair motocross racing events. Photo courtesy Washington Town & Country Fair
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Washington Town & Country Fair
This fair, the third largest in Missouri, features
big name entertainment, a large midway, tractor and truck pulls,
livestock shows, and displays of artists and merchants. The Fair
originated in 1872 as the Franklin County Agricultural and
Mechanical Society Fair. The original 14 acres purchased by the
Society for its fair is still part of the city park which is the
location of the current fair. In its first year, an amphitheater,
art hall, and a circular race track were built. Events for that
first fair included horse racing, the display of farm and industry
products, a fine arts and handiwork exhibit, bicycle races,
barbecue, band music, foot faces, and greased-pig chasing. For a
few years, there were balloon ascensions -- some pilots landed in
the nearby Missouri River, giving the participants quite a dousing,
and the spectators some extra excitement. In 1917, the Franklin
County Agricultural and Mechanical Society Fair passed a resolution
to discontinue to fair. It was felt that it was passé, and
young people were not interested, especially since the automobile
had begun to replace the horse, once a main component of the
agricultural fair.
In 1929, the fair was revived under the name Franklin
County Agricultural Products Show. It has continued annually since
that time, once again providing recreation, amusement, and
exhibition for the public. The fair, now five days long, still
features fine arts and handiwork, agricultural products and
exhibits, as well as having one of the largest livestock shows in
the area. A highlight is the auction where area youth can sell
animals they have raised as a 4-H or FFA project. A new area,
"Agriland," gives fair patrons a close-up, hands-on exhibit area
for viewing lambs, calves, mules, the hatching of baby chicks, and
milking demonstrations. In addition to the traditional agricultural
events, the fair offers bicycle races, motocross racing, "kart"
races, truck and tractor pulls, many children's activities, and
musical entertainment. In 1994 a parade was added; in 1996, a
5-mile/5K run; and in 1997, hot air balloon races were
reprised.
In 1999, an estimated 95,000 people attended the
five-day event. The Washington Town and Country Fair has become a
major economic influence the community; all profits from the fair
go back to the Washington Chamber of Commerce for use in the
community, assisting industrial growth, tourism, scholarships, and
various community projects. The project is documented with six
pages of text, 29 8 x 10 color photographs with descriptions, a
1999 fair catalog, brochure, and 16-page newspaper supplement.
Originally submitted by: Kenny C. Hulshof, Representative (9th District).
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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.
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