125 Years Ago
Missouri State Fair
Authorized in 1899
The Missouri State Fair is presently running from August 8-18, 2024. The first Missouri State Fair was held 120 years ago on September 9-13, 1901, but Missouri was one of the last Midwestern states to establish a state fair.[1]
State fairs began in the early history of the United States to promote agriculture, livestock, poultry, and farm machinery and related industrial products, often in September or October near the end of harvest time. The state fairs also featured racing and entertainment. The first state fair in the USA was organized in Syracuse, New York in 1841. Midwestern states near Missouri had established state fairs in the mid 1800s: Indiana, 1852; Iowa, 1854; Minnesota, 1859; Nebraska, 1859; and Arkansas, 1868.[2]
N. H. Gentry, Sedalia, presented a resolution at the 1897 Missouri Swine Breeders Association meeting in Lexington, MO, asking that the Missouri General Assembly establish a state fair for Missouri. The General Assembly passed a bill on January 15, 1899 creating a Missouri State Fair.[1]
Six towns (Centralia, Chillicothe, Marshall, Mexico, Moberly, and Sedalia) lobbied to the State Board of Agriculture to have the state fair. After 10 ballots, Sedalia was selected by a majority vote for its bid for the state fair. Sedalia had offered 150 acres, the highest land bid. The Van Riper family had set aside the land for the location of the state capitol in Sedalia, and they donated the land later for the state fair site in 1899.[1]
The 40th Missouri General Assembly appropriated $15,000 and the 41st General Assembly added $50,000 to erect buildings at the state fair site.[1] The appropriations were to provide temporary buildings, a race track, driveways, and grounds improvements. Temporary frame structures built in 1901 included two cattle barns, two other exhibition buildings, one speed barn, a sheep barn, and an administration building. More permanent brick buildings would be built in 1903-1906, a few of which remain today as part of the Missouri State Fair’s historical buildings.[3]
The Sedalia Awning Co. erected three tents (60 x 180, 60 x 120, and 60 x 60) on the grounds for exhibition purposes. A large acreage had been set aside for tent camp sites and horses. Exhibitors and visitors could rent tents for a nominal fee from the Fair administrator.[3]
Once the state fair had been authorized and money set aside, organizers had only a few months to get the fairgrounds ready for the September 9-13, 1901 date. (Note that the beginning of the school year would begin on September 16, the week after the Missouri State Fair.) The April 26, 1901 SEDALIA WEEKLY DEMOCRAT reported that a large force of men and 20 horses was at work on the race course, removing 1,000 cubic feet of earth a day. George Menefee advertised for 50 wagons and teams to work at State Fair grounds beginning June 29; steady work and cash paid.[3]
Work continued through the summer of 1901. By August 23, the SEDALIA WEEKLY DEMOCRAT said work would be finished on the grand stand in one week, and water mains to the fairgrounds would be operational by the opening of the fair. The race track was ready for races of horses, bicycles, and automobiles.[3]
In 1901, automobiles were few. Nearly all transportation was by horse or rail conveyance. The Missouri Pacific and Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railways established shuttle tracks running from their main lines to the fairgrounds. The Sedalia Electric Railway street car system in Sedalia extended the 16th Street line to the fairgrounds to provide access for Sedalians and for visitors staying overnight.[3] The Katy Railroad advertised special State Fair fares for passengers.[4]
Since nearly all visitors to the State Fair remained over night, lodging at hotels and boarding houses was full. Many private homes offered rooms to overnight customers, while some travelers elected to camp at the State Fair campgrounds.[3]
The State Fair’s first year reported an attendance of 25,000 people, and the WINDSOR REVIEW editor concluded, “The fair was a great success, surpassing the expectations of the most sanguine. Another year’s works on the grounds, buildings, etc., and it will be far ahead of any state fair in the Union….No better display of cattle, sheep and swine could be seen anywhere.”[4] Thus, 1901 began a tradition of the Missouri State Fair that continues in 2024.
Sources: [1] “Fair History,” https://www.mostat”fair.com. [2] “State Fairs,” Wikipedia.org. [3] SEDALIA WEEKLY D EMOCRAT (Jan.-Sept., 1901). [4]
WINDSOR REVIEW, (Jan.-Sept., 1901).
