Grand Champion Canned Goods, August 1999 Photo: Rhonda Nichols Barbish |
Crawford County Fair
Held every August in Meadville, Pennsylvania, the
Crawford County Fair is one of the largest agricultural venues east
of the Mississippi River, and possibly the oldest county fair in
Pennsylvania. September 25, 1946, marked the opening day of the
first Crawford County Fair; over 31,000 people attended the
four-day fair that first year. The 54th annual fair, held for eight
days in August 1999, attracted 150,000 visitors. Primarily an
agricultural fair located on 67 acres east of Meadville, the
fairgrounds hold eight cattle barns and tents, two swine barns, two
goat barns, fourteen horse barns and tents, one poultry barn, one
rabbit barn, and a stall for a lama! Of course, fairs are not only
about livestock, but about
food! Typical fair fare
for 1999 included: taffy, cotton candy, fudge, maple sugar candy,
ice cream cones, lollipops, donuts, pies, french-fried potatoes and
onion rings, hot dogs, chili dogs, hamburgers, barbequed chicken,
sloppy joes, lemonade, and coffee. Not-so-typical offerings were ox
roast, ostrich burgers, turkey legs, maple milkshakes, and
cappuccino.
No interest or taste was left unsatisfied at the 1999
Crawford County Fair. Fair events included a number of tractor
pulls, where spectators were seated in a new aluminum grandstand
built in 1998, at a cost of $1.8 million. Judges rated maple syrup,
canned goods, afghans and photographs in the home show buildings.
There was a classic and antique car show and bee-keeping and
livestock demonstrations. Miss Crawford County of 1999 was crowned;
dairy cattle, rabbits, poultry, dairy goats, draft horses and
saddle horses were judged, followed later in the week by a
livestock auction. Country music star Vince Gill performed for a
capacity crowd, and a "4-Star Homemaker" award was presented to a
Meadville woman. The Budweiser Clydesdales paraded around the
fairgrounds, and pro wrestlers, harness races, and a demolition
derby provided more entertainment throughout the rest of fair
week.
Materials documenting the August 1999 fair comprised
an 11-page report; 30 8 x 10 color photographs and accompanying
descriptions; a program, cardboard promotional poster, and listing
of the businesses renting concession spaces; and a videotape of the
fair. Also included was a book,
A Harvest of History, the
history of the Crawford County Fair.
Originally submitted by: Phil English, Representative (21st District).
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