History
of The Linn County Fair
Previous Fair Attendance Records
2009 Fair Photos
| July 7th- 13th, 2006 |
Estimated 7,000 |
| July 6th- 12th, 2007 |
Estimated 12,500 |
| July 11th- 17th, 2008 |
Estimated 16,000 |
| July 8th- 13th, 2009 |
Estimated 20,000 |
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In
1888, at a meeting of the Linn County Farmers Institute
held at the Jordan's Grove Baptist Church, the Wapsie
Valley Fair was launched on its successful career. A
town with a train that ran through it determined the
location for the fairgrounds. Both Central City and
Springville met that requirement so the one raising
the most money by subscription to promote the enterprise
would be chosen. A certain time was allowed to raise
the money and it was found that Central City had raised
the most and the present site of about fifty acres,
picturesquely located on the Wapsie River, was purchased. |
In
early fair days, special trains came from Cedar Rapids
to bring fair goers from the city and backed all the
way back to Cedar Rapids. The fair ran smoothly for
several years and then started to suffer financially.
It was then changed to a stock holding institute and
shares were sold throughout the county. It was rated
as the best livestock exhibit of any fair in Iowa, outside
the State Fair.
In July 1937,
this original Linn county fair became the Linn County
Fair Association. As in early days of the fair, a carnival
and entertainment were brought in to bring in the city
folk and others not involved in showing. |
|
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In
2006, a carnival was brought back after a 40 year hiatus
and grandstand events have grown over the last eight years
with entertainment ranging from truck and tractor pull,
demolition derby, moto cross, harness racing, thrill stunt
car show, draft horse pulls, fun horse shows and both
Country and Christian music concert. A free entertainment
tent offers a wide variety of shows for every age. |
Three
of the five remaining original buildings have been restored
and many others added over the years. A free gate and
parking is still maintained to welcome all who visit
the fair. The fair's main focus is still on the 4-H
and FFA youth and continues to be a strong youth oriented
fair for them to showcase their achievements for the
year.
Come
visit Linn County's Original Fair!! |
|
Flood
of 2008
|
Friday
the 13th of June was the day the Wapsipinicon River
met the Linn County Fairgrounds. This was the crest
of the flood waters in Central City. Luckily the fair
association had some time to prepare. We had a meeting
that Tuesday at the fairgrounds and by this time the
water had made it into our infields of the track. It
was moving quickly and so did we. Before our meeting
we decided it was time to move all we could to higher
grounds. We moved a couple of refrigerators and freezers
to higher ground. Our grounds keepers were also moving
quick and removed as much as they could out of the infield
like our bleachers, tractors, water wagon, cattle gates,
etc. Needless to say the teamwork displayed by the Linn
County Fair Association made the flood a much easier
thing to swallow because we had acted so early. We luckily
didn't sustain much damage except to the grandstands.
We had to do some cleaning in the grandstands but were
able to get them ready for the fair that was to kick
off on July 11th. |
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