There isn’t a more typical American event outside of baseball and American football than those found at various state and county fairs that pop up all over the USA during the summer and early fall. Started in the mid 1800’s, the primary purpose of state and county fairs was to promote the exchange of innovative agricultural technology and farming processes to farmers who were looking to improve their crops and livestock. In the middle of the 1900’s, as the United States moved towards an industrialized country, the fairs expanded to include many different types of entertainment including rides, food, games, horse racing, demo derby’s as well as musical concerts. Grandparents, parents, young children, couples and teenagers gravitate to these fairs to create their own family traditions and memories while enjoying the thrills of fast rides, over-eating of fried foods and cotton candy. The small family farm still remains a part of today’s fairs with colored ribbons and trophy’s going to the winners of various crops and farm animals.
