160th Portage County Randolph Fair

From 160th Portage County Randolph Fair Website:

August 21-26, 2018

The first Randolph Fair was held on October 15, 1858, beside the road on Route 44. The vegetables, fruits, and grains were shown in the schoolhouse. Bela Hubbard, who was the first male citizen of Randolph in 1802, was made president of the first agricultural society in 1873. We have the recorded minutes of the meetings starting in 1871.

In years succeeding the first fair in 1858, the fair grounds were purchased and a permanent home established.

The fair started as a three-day event, then in the early 1900's became a two-day event. One fair in 1870 lasted only a few hours. It rained so hard that everyone packed up their displays and went home.

The admission price in 1858 was 10 cents per person and 10 cents per horse and buggy. One story in the minutes of the society was the terrible traffic jam which occurred when horses and buggies were tied to the fence on the drive coming into the fair, and no one could get past them to come into the fair.

In June of 1953, a spokesman for the area implement dealers asked about the possibility of holding a longer fair and allotting a space on the grounds for them to have each year in which to display. In September of 1954, the Portage County Implement Dealers were given a 300 ft. x 150 ft. space in which to display their implements. The Portage County Implement Dealers still display at the fair today.