Kansas State Fair

During the 19th century, the Kansas State Fair was held in Topeka and Wichita.[6][7]

The first fair association was made on January 18, 1873, when the Reno County Agricultural Society was created.[2][8] On September 23–24, 1873, the society hosted a fair which was held in a small wooden livery stable behind the bank on the northwest corner of Sherman and Main in Hutchinson.[2]

Encouraged by the success of this first event, plans began for a bigger fair in 1874, with the society proposing a tax levy to support the event, but voters rejected the idea. Though turned down, the Agricultural Society pushed ahead and found acreage southeast of where the state reformatory would later be located, paid cash for the grounds, and on September 28–30 of 1875, presented the First Annual Reno County Fair. It featured 20 classes for entries, with most awards in the form of certificates, and a few $5 cash prizes.[2] Agricultural exhibitions were also held during the years 1876 and 1877.[9]^:207

The Reno County Agricultural and Joint Stock Association was incorporated on September 2, 1878.[8] In 1878, new grounds were purchased just north of Eastside Cemetery, and fairs were held there through the early 1880s.[2]

Reorganized and renamed the Arkansas Valley Fair Association, the fair was moved back to its previous grounds for the 1885 event.[2] These grounds southeast of the present Hutchinson Correctional Facility grew in the late 1880s and 1890s. New buildings were added nearly every year. A fence surrounded the property and the half-mile racetrack.[2]

The present state fair had its beginning on February 7, 1901, when a few men met to talk about organizing a fair association. The board of directors met on April 24, 1901 to elect officers.[9]^:207–208 The name Central Kansas Fair Association was created.[2][9]^:208 The fair was held in 1901 on 50 acres of land, which stretched along the east side of Main Street to Poplar, from 11th Avenue north to 17th Avenue in Hutchinson.[2] The land was leased in trade for 10 percent of the gate receipts and half the concession privileges in 1901.[9]^:208

In 1903, the Central Kansas Fair was recognized by an act of the state legislature to give the fair association the license to legitimately call their event "The Kansas State Fair".[2]

1904 Kansas State Fair Advertisement

In 1912, 112 acres (45 ha) of land north of 17th Avenue and east of Main Street were purchased for expansion. It was decided for bonds to pay for this new land was put to a vote by Reno County voters in April 1913, and won by a margin of 4 to 1.[2] A bill was passed in the Kansas legislature to grant Hutchinson fair monetary support in exchange for the city giving the state the fairgrounds.[2] The first "official" Kansas State Fair was held September 13–20, 1913.[2]

The Old Mill was completed for the opening of the 1915 fair. One thousand feet of water-filled channels featured boats which promised to transport passengers through "gloomy caves of gleesome gladness".[2] In 1916, the House of Capper, a covered Veranda, was built. It was formerly a shaded place to rest, the Professional Arts Building, and a bandstand at one time.[10]

The Cottonwood Court was built in 1928 and renovated in 2003. The building was originally used as an automobile building, which later became the Commercial Building, the finally the Cottonwood Court.[11] The Grandstand was built in 1930.[12] The Domestic Arts Building was built in 1930 and renovated in 2003.[13] In 1931, a sandpit was landscaped and rename as Lake Talbott.[2][14] The Encampment Building was built in 1934. It was home to POWs and State Fair Soldiers during WWII.[15]

The COVID-19 pandemic ended their 107-year streak of hosting annual fairs in the state. That meant the 2020 fair was scrapped.