Agricultural Fairs in America includes thirteen historical and contemporary articles exploring agricultural fairs in America. Featured throughout the book are paintings and posters from this unique collection, created in the last decades of the 19th century for promotional posters for fairs. Historic and contemporary photographs are also prominent.

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Illustrated throughout with stunning color photographs, "Purebred & Homegrown" is an affectionate and thoughtful look at the history of county fairs, and their tradition and persistence today, despite the diminished number of Americans who earn their living from agriculture.

A photographic journey through the county fairs of America, discussing the lasting appeal of the community celebrations that began in 1811 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, when a gentleman farmer invited neighbors to display their best livestock for prizes.

Excerpt from List of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions in the United States Number of agricultural fairs and exhibitions Geographic distribution Classification by area covered. Classification by kind of exhibit Percentage tables. Table 1. - Number of fairs and exhibitions devoted to agriculture, live stock, and related subjects, 1912, by States and geo graphic divisions. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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The Topsfield Fair is the oldest agricultural fair in America. In 1818, men of Essex County formed the Essex Agricultural Society in Topsfield, Massachusetts, with Col. Timothy Pickering of Salem, a Revolutionary War hero, agriculturist, and elder statesman as president. The mission was to promote and share new and progressive methods of agriculture and to show cattle at an annual outing. For nearly a century, the fair was moved to various towns within the county until 1910, when it settled into its permanent home in Topsfield. For nearly two hundred years, the Topsfield Fair has attracted millions of people to witness a spectacular fall event rooted in agriculture but also filled with thrills and family entertainment. Many forms of horse, dog, motorcycle, and automobile racing over the years have garnered gate receipts to pay for premiums and permanent display buildings for the agricultural exhibitions. Exhibits range from home and farm products to horses, poultry, oxen, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, rabbits, bees, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and trees. Vaudeville, water follies, pageants, rodeos, thrilling acts and rides, singing stars, horse hitches, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the commercial and food establishments have always added to the atmosphere of the fair.