History of Our Fair

1850s

In 1850, The Brown County Agricultural Society was organized on January 17th, 1850. In the same year, the first Brown County Fair was held in Russellville on October 16th, 1850.

In 1851, the second fair was held in Ripley on October 2nd-3rd, 1851.

In 1853, the fair was held for the first time in Georgetown.

In 1855, the fair became a four-day event. It was held on September 25th-28th, 1855.

1860s

In 1860, instead of tickets, a badge was issued to fairgoers to move in and out of the fair. Single-day admission was $0.25.

In 1865, Floral Hall had 701 entries.

In 1867, membership fees were $1.50 and single admission was $0.25

In 1868, despite 8 of the 10 days prior to the fair of rain, the fair had 1008 entries and 193 head of livestock. There were 492 memberships recorded.

1870s

1870s

In 1877, membership badges were $1.50 but an additional charge of $0.10 for each saddle horse, $0.15 for each horse and buggy, and $0.20 for each two-horse vehicle brought onto the fairgrounds. In the same year, it was the first time homemade wine appeared in the premium books.

1880s

1870s

In 1882, horse racing was eliminated because of the hazard to spectators.

In 1886, the fair was held on October 5th-8th.

1901-1920

1901-1920

1901-1920

In 1901, the Frost amphitheater was built. It would seat 3,000 people. Sometime during this period, the grounds were used as a staging area for the military during World War I.

Today's center ring's gazebo was erected sometime between 1902 and 1908.

In 1915 a new treasurer's office and archway at the 2nd Street Main entrance were built.

In 1919, during the fair a period of silence was given for those who were wounded or had died during the war from Brown County. In the same year, membership tickets were $2.00

1921-1940

1901-1920

1901-1920

In 1923, at 3pm each day, all horse winners of any premium for that day paraded in the ring or forfeited their premiums.

In 1925, Truly Blue, a road horse that never lost since his first show in 1909 or 1910, died tragically in an accident competing in the final event of the fair.

By 1925 or 1926, the fair was first heralded as the "Little State Fair."

In 1927, membership and season tickets were $2.50.

In 1931, because of "hard times," membership tickets were reduced from $2.50 to $1.00 and the duration of the fair was cut back to 3 days.

In 1931, single admission was $0.25.

In 1934, the first year for 4-H clubs to have their own premium schedule.

In 1935, a premium list for The Future Farmers of America first appeared in the fair book. In the same year, The Liberty Band was hired to play 3 days between horse show classes for $125.00.

In 1936, a fair book could be mailed upon request from the fair board secretary for $0.01.

In 1937, a small grandstand was built. In the same year, the 40 piece Cincinnati Gas and Electric Band played for fairgoers.

In 1939, the fair book boasted of the "Little State Fair," and so it has ever since.

In 1940, a new telephone was installed between the secretary's office and the judge's gazebo.

1941-1950

1901-1920

1941-1950

In 1941, Brown County won the Myers Y. Cooper award for the best fair in Ohio for 1940. In the same year, a rule was enacted that any Boy Scout attending in full uniform was admitted free, and single admission was set at $0.35.

In 1942, the fair was discontinued until after the war. However 4-H projects were showed at the Ripley Fall Festival which took place on October 8th-10th. This festival and the 4-H participation gave the Agricultural Society credit for having continuous fairs since 1853.

In 1944, citizens asked for the fair to be returned to the 3 day program of earlier years. In the same year, the cost to enter the fair was $0.50 for single admission, $0.25 for car parking, and $1.50 for season and membership tickets.

In 1945, a Memorial Service for all men and women who lost their lives from Brown County in WWII was held. In the same year, a membership ticket was $1.50 with a $0.25 federal tax. Single admission was $0.50 with a $0.08 federal tax.

In 1947, the first fair event at night was held on October 2nd and featured a 10 horse show class and a concert by the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Band.

In 1948, the fair board decided to discontinue the night fair because the previous year had not been profitable.

In 1949, admission was raised to $0.75 with a 13 cents federal tax.

In 1950, fair events included a night program again.

1951-1960

1901-1920

1941-1950

In 1951, the 100th Brown County Fair was held. In the same year, Gooding Amusement Co. from Hillard, Ohio provided rides and paid the fair board $50 for use of electricity.

In 1952, School Day was established with County Superintendent, H.D. West, allowing school buses to bring students to the fair.

In 1954, Celebrity mule races of local people were held and had 3 heats daily.

In 1955, it rained three of the four days and the fair board had to borrow $15,000 to pay bills. In the same year, a championship wrestling match, with both men and women was held in front of the grandstand.

In 1956, the Republicans and Democrats requested that each party rent space to pass out literature. In the same year, the Georgetown Business and Professional Club was given permission to hold a Beauty Queen Contest. Wrist-watches were given to the winners.

In 1957, the fair board purchased $10,000 of liability insurance for $211. Today, $1,000,000 worth of liability insurance is over $20,000 for the fair. In the same year, it was determined that Brown County teachers who did not travel on the buses to the fair with the students would be charged the regular gate admission of $0.75.

In 1958, the fair board paid $1.00 per hour for unskilled labor and $1.50 for skilled labor before and during the fair.

In 1959, marked the first year the fair board bought rain insurance.

In 1960, general admission prices were raised to $1.00.

1961-1970

1961-1970

1961-1970

In 1961, skydivers from Williamsburg, Ohio were hired to make nine jumps onto the fairgrounds for $125.

In 1962, rain again affected fair receipts and the board had to borrow $8000 to pay premiums.

In 1963, the organist was paid $75.00 per day to play during horse shows.

In 1964, a week before the fair opened, the small grandstand that was built in 1937 burned to the ground.

In 1965, a rule was set into place that no pop was to be sold in cans because of the danger of people slipping on them. In the same year, the first two days of the fair were completely rained out and was extended to Sunday to help make up for the loss.

In 1966, the fair board included a rain date of Sunday, October 2nd. A first in fair history. It ended up being used due to that Friday being rained out.

In 1966, the first Speed Tractor Pull was held. The sled was nothing more than a boiler plate. A small tractor was added for weight. Chairs were placed every 20 feet along each side of the track where volunteers from the audience sat. As the tractor began to pull and the sled passed, a person from each side would step on, adding weight.

In 1967, marked the first year the fair book cover contest was sponsored by the fair board.

In 1968, the Lawn and Garden Tractor Pull was approved. In the same year, the Brown County Historical Society asked permission to move the Dixon-Washburn Log House next to the Old Timers Building.

In 1969, the Brown County Fair became a 5-day event, lasting Tuesday through Saturday.

In 1970, another Friday was rained out and the schedule was held over for Sunday. In the same year, the retirement of debt and the burning of the mortgage was held. This was made possible mainly due to the income generated by the tractor pulls.

1971-1980

1961-1970

1961-1970

In 1972, the fair planned its first Demolition Derby for a Friday night event.

In 1973, the ground breaking for the new location of the Dixon-Washburn Log House was held on September 18th. In the same year, no Demolition derby was held, 18 year old's were allowed to purchase membership tickets and become members of the Agricultural Society, and the board adopted a policy to hold a Senior Citizen's Day at half price admission from 8am to 5pm.

In 1974, the Quarter Horse Show added a calf-roping contest in the tractor pull area on Friday night.

In 1976, marked the 125th Brown County Fair.

In 1977, Sam Cooper was granted permission to hold an Arm Wrestling contest in the Open Dairy Show Arena.

In 1978, the board voted not to hold Senior Citizen Day and Junior Fair Passes were raised to $0.50. In the same year, on the Tuesday following the fair, the large amphitheater burned to the ground.

In 1980, the fair board raised Junior Fair admission tickets to $1.00

1981-1990

1961-1970

1981-1990

In 1981, the Russellville Kiwanis Club sponsored Homing Pigeon races.

In 1982, camper fees were set to $30.00 for the week. In the same year, the fair board voted to recognize the oldest man and oldest lady attending most Brown County Fairs, and the couple married the longest. The Brown County Cattlemen also sponsored their first Open Feeder Calf show.

In 1983, the fair board voted to hold a Sunday fair again and hold a demolition derby in front of the grandstand. This was never done again because of the damage to the sod.

In 1984, the first Kiddie Tractor Pull was held on the Friday night of the fair. In the same year, on that Monday, there was a "Super Cheerleading Contest".

In 1985, the first Cake Auction of champion cakes was held in Floral Hall.

In 1988, with the elmination of the Sunday fair, the opening was held on Monday rather than on Tuesday. The schools let out all week for the fair. In the same year, membership tickets were $10.00 and Jr. Fair members still paid $1.00 for weekly admission. It cost $3.00 a day to ride the amusement rides.

In 1989, camper fees were raised to $40.

In 1990, membership tickets were raised to $12.00, season tickets to $10.00 and Junior Fair passes to $2.00.

1991-2020

1961-1970

1981-1990

In 2020, Covid-19 disrupted events worldwide, and by order of the Governor, Ohio was permitted to have ONLY junior fairs after 7/31/2020.