RPPC POSTCARD POST CARD VIEW OF THE KOSSUTH COUNTY FAIR FLORAL HALL BUILDING IN ALGONA, IOWA. OCTOBER 22, 1906. CONDITION IS DATED ON THE FACE AND CANCELED 1906. FROM THE INTERNET:
History of the Kossuth County Fair
The Kossuth County Fair is located in Algona, IA. The Vipon family gave the land for the fairgrounds to the KCAA. The Vipon family was noted for selling a very expensive hog right before the depression. The hog was a duroc, Great Wonder I Am, which brought $40,000. The sale was held in an area south of the nativity scene on the current fairgrounds.
In 1857, the KCAA was formed. The first fair of this association was held in October 1858. The first business meeting was called on June 3, 1861, by Ambrose A Call, secretary of the newly reformed KCAA. The first fair under this association was held in September 1861.
In 1872, a new association was formed, with the first annual fair held on October 3rd and 4th. Twelve acres was purchased from the Stacy family in 1872 also to complete where the fairgrounds is currently now.
The Floral Hall was built in 1906, when originally built the building was used to exhibit produce, canned goods, flowers, and fancy work. It currently houses our commercial exhibits.
In the early 1900’s, the race track was ½ mile and extended up to the Floral Hall building. The grandstand was originally located on the east side of the race track. Our fairgrounds were noted for having one of the greatest dirt tracks for horses and race cars. Participants and spectators didn’t like the sun being in their eyes, so in 1930, the current grandstand was constructed on the west side of the track. WPA and CCC organizations helped with the construction.
The WWII POWs had constructed a nativity scene at their camp that was located by the current airport. At the conclusion of WWII, the nativity scene was moved to a dirt floor building on the fairgrounds. In 1962, a new building was constructed to house the scene. The building is still there and it is open to visitors at Christmas time.
A queen contest was held in earlier years and then stopped. It was started again in 1983 and has been a popular event every year since.
In 1994, the National Guard built a new armory on the west side of town. Their existing building sat on the fairgrounds, and the fairboard purchased it from the City of Algona. This building houses our 4-H exhibits.
One of the bigger assets at our fair is the free barbeque. Organizations and businesses in the county sponsor the meal and it is free to the public. In one of the earlier years, 14,000 people were fed.
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