The first Grant County Fair was held in October 1909 in John Day, Oregon on land that was donated by the Trowbridge family to the Agricultural Society for the purpose of holding a fair and race meet annually. This was a verbal agreement until 1962 when additional adjoining land was purchased from the Trowbridges by the Grant County Court with the approval of the Grant County Fair Board.
The modern day county fair began in 1811 by Elkanah Watson. Mr. Watson was a successful business man turned farmer who had traveled extensively in Europe and noticed that livestock and crop production in Europe was much more advanced and superior than in the US colonies. Agriculture societies existed in those early colonial years to study new and better techniques for livestock and crop production, but were mainly composed of well-to do, highly educated men who had little time or interest in mingling or educating the common farmer.
Elkanah Watson knew that if the US was going to better itself and stay independent from England, it was important that agriculture was dramatically improved and the common farmer be involved. He decided to purchase from Spain a few merino sheep, known for their high quality wool production, and start taking them to the town square for the farmers to see and, hopefully, become inspired to improve their livestock breeding.
Two years later, in 1811, Elkanah and 25 other farmers began the first modern day agricultural fair. They didn’t call it a fair; it was a called cattle show. The word fair wasn’t used for several more years. Mr. Watson insisted that the fair must start with a parade of the participants through town, livestock would be judged for best in breed, silver plate award premiums for the winners in each division, and that there must a social aspect as well, so entertainment and food were provided.
The next year, 1812, Mr. Watson realized that if he wanted to keep the farmer involved in the fair and in the pursuit of superior livestock, he had to get the farmer’s wife involved. Therefore, he started a special cloth show for women in conjunction with the livestock show. It was a success and domestic production and women became an integral component of future fairs. Most of Mr. Watson’s ideas are still a part of the present day county fair.
July 17, 2010
July 23-25, 2010
July 30 - August 1, 2010