West Bend
Wisconsin
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Washington County Fair Park
History
1850's
In November of 1855, an ad hoc committee gathered in Hartford to take the first steps toward organizing an agricultural society. Approximately one year later a meeting was held at the Courthouse in West Bend where a constitution and bylaws were adopted. The same time, a full board of officers was selected, thereby creating the "Washington County Agricultural and Industrial Society". The society's mission was to promote and improve the condition of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical manufacturing and household arts within Washington County.
1860's
There was no Fair held in 1862 due to the Civil War. However, the Fair resumed in 1865 and was held in Hartford. In 1867, land was purchased for $65 an acre. The land accommodated a ½ mile track on the north end of the 25 acre site. It cost $400 to develop the track. The Fair was held for three days in September each year. Approximately 10,000 people attended the Fair annually. $192.75 was paid out in premiums; expenses for the Fair was $19.19 and State aid from Wisconsin was $100. Admission to the Fair was 25 cents for adults, 10 cents for children,
25 cents for a one horse carriage and 50 cents for a two horse carriage.
1990's
In the early 90's, the State Health Department mandated that Washington County upgrade or move the Fair. In 1993, the Washington County Development Committee began work on the plans for a future site of a Fair Park. Various sites in the county were considered and after a lengthy planning process, the decision was made by the Washington County Board to purchase the property where the present Fair Park is located.
The 1999 Washington County Fair was held at the newly developed Fair Park, July 23-27. The Fair facility increased from a 13-acre parcel in the Village of Slinger to a 133-acre parcel in the Town of Polk. The 24,000 sq. ft. air conditioned Pavilion Building housed approximately 4,650 junior class, open class and senior citizen exhibits. Four new livestock barns and a milking facility were built at the corners of the livestock complex and were complimented in the middle by a livestock show arena. A seasonal toilet was erected at the north end of the livestock complex and housed a shower facility for exhibitors. Two wash racks were built which enabled 40 animals to be washed at a single time.
For the first time, national entertainment was offered to fairgoers at no additional charge. Visitors were treated to the rock group "Styx" and country acts "Trace Adkins" and "The Oak Ridge Boys".
An admission fee was charged at $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for youth. Children 8 and under were free. In spite of Fair officials dealing with 5" of rain the evening before opening day, a record attendance was set at 75,000 people.
2000's
The 2000 Fair, held July 24-28, was a great success. Fairgoers returned for a second year, commenting they felt they were attending the Fair for the first time as the grounds had improved tremendously from the previous year. The Pavilion Building was once again filled with 630 junior exhibitors and 478 open class exhibitors showing a total of 4,448 junior exhibits and 2,214 open class exhibits. A tent was erected for llamas and the goats were housed under the overhangs of the Sheep/Swine barn.
A draft horse barn and a pleasure horse barn were added to the complex. Entrance signs were installed off of the main roadways as well as additional asphalt paving, wayfinding signs, street signs and plantings and trees throughout the Park. WTKM Radio, Hartford, erected a "polka pavilion" and the Richfield Lions/Lioness Clubs donated a shelter area. Portable lights were rented to accomplish better lighting in the parking lots as well as identifying parking lots with alphabetic and numerical markings to help fairgoers find their vehicles.
Admission fees remained at $3.00 for youth, however adult fees were $5.00 before 4:00 p.m. and increased to $7.00 after 4:00 p.m. Entertainment was in abundance with a variety of musical acts, from country, to rock, to polka, to blue grass. National entertainment included the rock group "Cheap Trick" and country acts "Willie Nelson" and "Pam Tillis".
Attendance at the 2000 fair was 109,000 people.
Facility enhancements were made for the 2001 Fair, held July 25-29. Electrical updates were made as well as an overall facility paging system was installed. Inkind donations were received, enabling the commercial tent flooring area to be paved as well as the entertainment stage area. Additional work on parking areas was done to allow maximum numbers of cars to be parked on the grounds. A spoilage pile of dirt at the north end of the grounds was removed which enabled parking for an additional 500 cars. Various landscaping improvements were made including grass seeding of areas, tiling of wet areas, and the planting of additional donated trees.
The Pavilion building held over 5600 displays of arts, crafts, foods and agriculture. Barns were filled with livestock exhibits and once again a llama tent was erected along with an additional goat tent. Cats and dogs were judged and then returned home with exhibitors.
Admission fees remained at $3.00 for youth, however adult fees were $5.00 before 4:00 p.m. and increased to $8.00 after 4:00 p.m. National entertainment included the rock group "REO Speedwagon" and country acts "Tanya Tucker" and "Sammy Kershaw".
The record attendance of 120,000 fairgoers was set.
1850's
In November of 1855, an ad hoc committee gathered in Hartford to take the first steps toward organizing an agricultural society. Approximately one year later a meeting was held at the Courthouse in West Bend where a constitution and bylaws were adopted. The same time, a full board of officers was selected, thereby creating the "Washington County Agricultural and Industrial Society". The society's mission was to promote and improve the condition of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical manufacturing and household arts within Washington County.
1860's
There was no Fair held in 1862 due to the Civil War. However, the Fair resumed in 1865 and was held in Hartford. In 1867, land was purchased for $65 an acre. The land accommodated a ½ mile track on the north end of the 25 acre site. It cost $400 to develop the track. The Fair was held for three days in September each year. Approximately 10,000 people attended the Fair annually. $192.75 was paid out in premiums; expenses for the Fair was $19.19 and State aid from Wisconsin was $100. Admission to the Fair was 25 cents for adults, 10 cents for children,
25 cents for a one horse carriage and 50 cents for a two horse carriage.
1990's
In the early 90's, the State Health Department mandated that Washington County upgrade or move the Fair. In 1993, the Washington County Development Committee began work on the plans for a future site of a Fair Park. Various sites in the county were considered and after a lengthy planning process, the decision was made by the Washington County Board to purchase the property where the present Fair Park is located.
The 1999 Washington County Fair was held at the newly developed Fair Park, July 23-27. The Fair facility increased from a 13-acre parcel in the Village of Slinger to a 133-acre parcel in the Town of Polk. The 24,000 sq. ft. air conditioned Pavilion Building housed approximately 4,650 junior class, open class and senior citizen exhibits. Four new livestock barns and a milking facility were built at the corners of the livestock complex and were complimented in the middle by a livestock show arena. A seasonal toilet was erected at the north end of the livestock complex and housed a shower facility for exhibitors. Two wash racks were built which enabled 40 animals to be washed at a single time.
For the first time, national entertainment was offered to fairgoers at no additional charge. Visitors were treated to the rock group "Styx" and country acts "Trace Adkins" and "The Oak Ridge Boys".
An admission fee was charged at $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for youth. Children 8 and under were free. In spite of Fair officials dealing with 5" of rain the evening before opening day, a record attendance was set at 75,000 people.
2000's
The 2000 Fair, held July 24-28, was a great success. Fairgoers returned for a second year, commenting they felt they were attending the Fair for the first time as the grounds had improved tremendously from the previous year. The Pavilion Building was once again filled with 630 junior exhibitors and 478 open class exhibitors showing a total of 4,448 junior exhibits and 2,214 open class exhibits. A tent was erected for llamas and the goats were housed under the overhangs of the Sheep/Swine barn.
A draft horse barn and a pleasure horse barn were added to the complex. Entrance signs were installed off of the main roadways as well as additional asphalt paving, wayfinding signs, street signs and plantings and trees throughout the Park. WTKM Radio, Hartford, erected a "polka pavilion" and the Richfield Lions/Lioness Clubs donated a shelter area. Portable lights were rented to accomplish better lighting in the parking lots as well as identifying parking lots with alphabetic and numerical markings to help fairgoers find their vehicles.
Admission fees remained at $3.00 for youth, however adult fees were $5.00 before 4:00 p.m. and increased to $7.00 after 4:00 p.m. Entertainment was in abundance with a variety of musical acts, from country, to rock, to polka, to blue grass. National entertainment included the rock group "Cheap Trick" and country acts "Willie Nelson" and "Pam Tillis".
Attendance at the 2000 fair was 109,000 people.
Facility enhancements were made for the 2001 Fair, held July 25-29. Electrical updates were made as well as an overall facility paging system was installed. Inkind donations were received, enabling the commercial tent flooring area to be paved as well as the entertainment stage area. Additional work on parking areas was done to allow maximum numbers of cars to be parked on the grounds. A spoilage pile of dirt at the north end of the grounds was removed which enabled parking for an additional 500 cars. Various landscaping improvements were made including grass seeding of areas, tiling of wet areas, and the planting of additional donated trees.
The Pavilion building held over 5600 displays of arts, crafts, foods and agriculture. Barns were filled with livestock exhibits and once again a llama tent was erected along with an additional goat tent. Cats and dogs were judged and then returned home with exhibitors.
Admission fees remained at $3.00 for youth, however adult fees were $5.00 before 4:00 p.m. and increased to $8.00 after 4:00 p.m. National entertainment included the rock group "REO Speedwagon" and country acts "Tanya Tucker" and "Sammy Kershaw".
The record attendance of 120,000 fairgoers was set.