By Judy Hanson, Green County Fair Board
As the 157th Green County Fair approaches, it is interesting to look back to the days of its beginnings. Held every year but one since 1853, it holds a lot of Green County history.
Although we are known as the Green County Fair Association, our name is actually the Green County Agricultural Society and Mechanics Institute. A few people interested in starting an Agricultural Society of this nature began organizing in July of 1853, with the first Green County Fair being held in November of 1853 at the courthouse in Monroe. Premiums amounted to $100 and the majority of the exhibits were farm produce.
The following year, land was purchased from A. Ludlow just north of Monroe. In order to finance this project "Life Member Certificates" were sold for a price of $10 each. This allowed for necessary buildings and fencing to be completed and the first outdoor fair was held in the fall of 1854.
It was in 1857 that the name of the Green County Agricultural Society and Mechanics Institute was first used. The original fairs, held in the fall, emphasized handicrafts in addition to agriculture, thus the need for the "mechanics institute" to be added to the title. These crafts included items from tin shops, blacksmiths and shoemaker shops, even from the coffin-maker trade.
The decision was made to sell the original fairgrounds due to problems with the location, and this resulted in 1865 as the only year that the fair was not held. The grounds were sold in 1865 and two new side-by-side parcels were purchased on the east side of Monroe. Additional land purchases, over the years, brought the total acreage of the grounds to approximately 39 acres. The Green County Fair is still held on this site today.
A small grandstand seating approximately 500 people was built in 1886. This structure was renovated and repaired many times over the years and remained in use until it was destroyed by a tornado in 1972.
Original fair exhibitors were adults. As members of Boys and Girls Clubs, boys were allowed to start exhibiting in 1876 and girls in 1885. 4-H Clubs were organized in 1914 and FFA chapters in 1928.
Entertainment at early fairs included local bands from Albany, Warren, Monroe, Lena, New Glarus and Brodhead. Also, friendly competitions between area baseball teams added to the entertainment. 1909 hosted the first carnival and the first fair events held also at night.
Although we've seen many changes since 1853, the fair still serves the same purpose it started out with: It gives area residents the opportunity to come together to see their neighbors, participate in a little friendly competition, enjoy good entertainment and take advantage of lots of mouth-watering fair food.
Through the efforts of Ken C. Allen, former fair board director, the history of the Green County Fair was put down for all to view. If you are interested in more information about the history of the fair, stop by the Monroe Library and ask to see a copy of Ken's history.
As we now move back into the present, we look forward to seeing all of you, July 20 to 24, at the 2011 Green County Fair.
As the 157th Green County Fair approaches, it is interesting to look back to the days of its beginnings. Held every year but one since 1853, it holds a lot of Green County history.
Although we are known as the Green County Fair Association, our name is actually the Green County Agricultural Society and Mechanics Institute. A few people interested in starting an Agricultural Society of this nature began organizing in July of 1853, with the first Green County Fair being held in November of 1853 at the courthouse in Monroe. Premiums amounted to $100 and the majority of the exhibits were farm produce.
The following year, land was purchased from A. Ludlow just north of Monroe. In order to finance this project "Life Member Certificates" were sold for a price of $10 each. This allowed for necessary buildings and fencing to be completed and the first outdoor fair was held in the fall of 1854.
It was in 1857 that the name of the Green County Agricultural Society and Mechanics Institute was first used. The original fairs, held in the fall, emphasized handicrafts in addition to agriculture, thus the need for the "mechanics institute" to be added to the title. These crafts included items from tin shops, blacksmiths and shoemaker shops, even from the coffin-maker trade.
The decision was made to sell the original fairgrounds due to problems with the location, and this resulted in 1865 as the only year that the fair was not held. The grounds were sold in 1865 and two new side-by-side parcels were purchased on the east side of Monroe. Additional land purchases, over the years, brought the total acreage of the grounds to approximately 39 acres. The Green County Fair is still held on this site today.
A small grandstand seating approximately 500 people was built in 1886. This structure was renovated and repaired many times over the years and remained in use until it was destroyed by a tornado in 1972.
Original fair exhibitors were adults. As members of Boys and Girls Clubs, boys were allowed to start exhibiting in 1876 and girls in 1885. 4-H Clubs were organized in 1914 and FFA chapters in 1928.
Entertainment at early fairs included local bands from Albany, Warren, Monroe, Lena, New Glarus and Brodhead. Also, friendly competitions between area baseball teams added to the entertainment. 1909 hosted the first carnival and the first fair events held also at night.
Although we've seen many changes since 1853, the fair still serves the same purpose it started out with: It gives area residents the opportunity to come together to see their neighbors, participate in a little friendly competition, enjoy good entertainment and take advantage of lots of mouth-watering fair food.
Through the efforts of Ken C. Allen, former fair board director, the history of the Green County Fair was put down for all to view. If you are interested in more information about the history of the fair, stop by the Monroe Library and ask to see a copy of Ken's history.
As we now move back into the present, we look forward to seeing all of you, July 20 to 24, at the 2011 Green County Fair.