The 1920 Mahoning County Fair had a special visit by Republican Presidential candidate Warren G. Harding, whose campaign stopped at the fair. Harding went on to become the 29th president. Candidates for public office found fairs to offer free public exposure.

CANFIELD — A tradition was born 174 years ago when the Mahoning County Agricultural Society was formed, thanks to the enthusiasm of Eben Newton and Elisha Whittlesey.

Whittlesey focused on the desire for a fair in a speech to the Congregational Church in 1847, where the topic was “Competitive Exhibitions as a Means of Awakening More Active Interest in All Industrial Pursuits.”

After an 1846 fair that was held on the green in Canfield Village, the Mahoning County Fair continued to grow each year into the state’s largest county fair. It has logged 174 years of memories that are now in the archives of the Canfield Fair Board and the Canfield Historical Society.

According to the historical society’s archives, the 1847 fair was held on the village green and eight to 10 competitors were given a piece of ground “within the suburbs of the village” to plow in a timed competition.

The fair continued one more year in the center of town before being moved to the present location. The society had purchased five acres south of the village that was to be a permanent home for the fair.

In all those years, the fair plowed on. It went through the Civil War, World War I and World War II.

“We went through those wars and even a great depression,” 2020 fair board President Ward Campbell said. “To our knowledge, it has never been canceled. Even though the adult fair will not take place this year, the Junior Fair will be held, so there will be a 174th fair.”

This year’s Mahoning County Junior Fair is Sept. 2-7, closed to the public but have a virtual window.

BIGGER AND BETTER

While the first few fairs were more like a community get-together, following fairs saw an increase in competitions, displays and profits. Historical society information notes that the 1867 fair saw a profit of $500 in the dining hall.

In 1869, the fair had expanded to 14 acres and a new floral hall was built for the ladies. The 1874 fair was known for its elegant display of Boston carpets.

In March 1888, historical society notes show the Mahoning County Agricultural Society purchasing five additional acres so a half-mile long race track could be built.

By the time the 1900s had begun, the fair had grown into a regional event, drawing people from northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. In 1904, records show visitors arriving at the gate at 3 a.m. and the fair officials opening the gate to let them in at 4 a.m. By 7 a.m. the fairgrounds was said to be “littered” with people.

The show that year was the “Great Western Train Robbery,” which featured rough and reckless horse riders performing in awe of the crowd. As people went home later that day, the roads leading out of Canfield saw an increase in “rough” riding from people inspired by the show.

TIME PASSAGES

One hundred years ago, the fair was loaded with memorable tidbits. It was 1920 and prohibition was in effect. One ice cream stand near the Coliseum was featuring beer in bottles, but the beer was almost nonalcoholic, which many beer makers produced to stay in business.

Another great moment from 1920 involved politics. Candidates for public office found fairs to offer free public exposure. Republican presidential candidate Warren G. Harding addressed a crowd from a shaded platform near one of the barns. He went on to become the 29th U.S. president.

It should be noted that 1920 saw the first use of electric lights on the grounds.

In 1924 a new north-to-south race track was built, and the following year a new grandstand was added.

The year 1929 saw the number of fairgoers set a record of 50,000. Most all of them had a good time except for one local man.

“The records show Bob Neff of Canfield was bitten by a live bear that the state fish and game commission had on exhibit,” said Laura Zeh-Valquez, curator of the Bond House for the Canfield Historical Society.

By 1995, almost 150 years from the first fair, the Mahoning County Fair, or Canfield Fair as it has become known, was situated on 353 acres that included 175 acres of parking. It had 70 buildings and 34 restrooms, 800 benches, 16 paved midways and a trailer park.

Grandstand shows in the past 70 years have featured top national performers with a lineup of greats such as Bob Hope, Willie Nelson and Wayne Newton. The big name shows came shortly after World War II when fairgoers asked for bigger name performers.

THIS YEAR

For the first time, 2020 will see no performers, no adult fair, no rides and no crowded midways. Instead, it will be limited to Junior Fair participants with animal projects. The harness racing will take place, absent of pari-mutuel betting and spectators.

All is not a loss however. In this era of advanced technology, the fair board had opted to go with a virtual fair. On the Canfield Fair website, (www.canfieldfair.com) visitors can take part in a variety of fair fun. For example, one can cast a vote for their favorite wiener dog that will compete in the first-ever virtual wiener dog race. Rooster crowing is another virtual area people can view.

The memory of 2020 will go down in the record books for Ohio’s largest county fair. As for the future, fair board members are already setting sites on the 175th fair.