Iowa State Fair History

My office is once again starting to show more of my personality. This week, I added another picture on the wall. Not a typical piece of artwork but a black and white picture from a movie. This isn’t just a random movie but a scene from the very first State Fair movie filmed in 1933.

The film stars Janet Gaynor and Will Rogers. It is about a family that attends the Iowa State Fair. The father enters his boar, Blue Boy, in the hog contents while the mother enters the mincemeat competition. Their children find love with a newspaper reporter and a trapeze artist. The biggest questions of the film: Will everyone return home safe and happy or will hearts be broken?

Ever since I was little, I’ve enjoyed watching old movies. This version of State Fair is unique because some scenes were actually filmed at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

That got me thinking about the original Iowa State Fair and the history behind the event. The Iowa State Fair website gives details from the very beginning.  A few bizarre facts stuck out to me.

• The first Iowa State Fair was held October 25 to 27, 1854 in Fairfield, Iowa
• Chariot races were featured at the 1880 Fair.
• In 1967 the Talent Search Champion was awarded a brand new Ford Mustang.

The Fairgrounds are full of history and the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s goal is to preserve that history for future generations. There are plenty of ways for you to help support the history of the Fair. The 1854 Society was created in commemoration of the Iowa State Fair sesquicentennial. Funds raised by the membership program helped renovate the Richard L. Easter Museum Complex.

Future 1854 Society donations will continue to make needed improvements. Museum goals for 2014 include getting new display cases and providing space to have artifacts safely behind glass. Other projects include getting more photos digitized for easier access and preservation.  There are 10,000+ slides that could be converted to digital to make it possible for the public to have better access to Fair history, both in person and on the web.

Are you a history buff? Want to test your knowledge?  The Foundation sells the official Iowa State Fair History book that details the evolution of the Fair since the beginning. Check out the State Fair Store.

Commemorating the past, celebrating the present or awaiting the future, the Blue Ribbon Foundation is doing its best to make the Iowa State Fair - “the best State Fair in our state”. (I know - not the same movie as my new picture, but still a good one.)