Ohio State Fair Informations

The Ohio State Fair is one of the largest State Fairs in the United States. The event is held in Columbus, Ohio during late July through early August. As estimated in a 2011 economic impact study conducted by Saperstein and Associates; the State Fair contributes approximately 68.5 million dollars to the state's economy. In 2015, attendance was 982,305, the Fair's highest 12-day attendance on record.

From the very first three-day Fair in 1850 in Cincinnati to the 12-day exposition of today (from 1981 to 2003, the Fair lasted 17 days), the Ohio State Fair has celebrated Ohio's products, its people, and their accomplishments. The Fair's vast programme offers concerts, sports competitions, exhibitions, a horse show, rides, and food stalls. The concert series lineup is usually announced in late February or early March.

In 1846, the Ohio Legislature created the 53-member Ohio State Board of Agriculture. One of the Board's first acts was to establish a District Fair. The resulting 1847 District Fair at Wilmington, Ohio and the 1848 District Fair at Xenia, Ohio were both successful, leading to the planning of a State Fair.

The first Ohio State Fair was planned for September 1849, but an outbreak of Asiatic cholera forced cancellation of those plans. The following year, autumn dates were chosen to lessen the risk of cholera. Even so, the superintendent of grounds, Darius Lapham, died of the disease just a few weeks before the opening date.

Camp Washington, Cincinnati (two miles north of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio) was the site for the first Ohio State Fair, October 2–4, 1850. The site was described as 8–10 acres with grassy slopes, shade trees, and numerous tents. The grounds were enclosed by a 10-foot (3.0 m)-high board fence. Cattle were tethered to a railing along the carriage road.

The railroads offered strong support to the early State Fairs. Special rates were offered whereby exhibits were transported without charge, and the exhibitor rode for half fare. Several Central Ohioans contributed to the support of the first Fair, including Alfred Kelley, owner of the Columbus and Xenia Railroad.

Cash premiums at the first Fair did not exceed $20, with the exception of an award of $50 given to essayists on the topic "Improving the Soil." During the early State Fairs, winners received medals, not ribbons, as awards. In 1850, the silver medal was valued at $3.

The public was admitted only on the second and third day of the first Fair. Day one was devoted to setting up and judging. Admission was twenty cents, but exhibitors could buy a $1 badge for admission of their families. A visitor could also buy a $1 badge, which admitted one gentleman and two ladies. The two-day attendance was estimated at 25,000 to 30,000 people.

Transportation around Ohio was difficult. Therefore, the majority of exhibitors came from close proximity to the Fair. Officials reasoned that moving the Fair ought to increase interest and attendance.

Over the next 22 years, the Fair was held in the following cities:

From 1874 until 1885, the site of Columbus' Franklin Park served as home to the Ohio State Fair. Finally, in 1886, the Fair moved to its current location to what is currently called the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds. The main entrance to the site was at the southwest corner of the grounds along Woodard Avenue. It is now along 11th Avenue.

On July 26, 2017, the opening day of the 2017 Fair, a swinging ride known as Fire Ball broke apart mid-swing, flinging passengers out of the ride. One rider, 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell, was flung 50 feet (15 m) and killed on impact. Seven other riders were seriously injured, two of whom were reported to be in critical condition. The ride had been inspected earlier in the day and cleared for operation. The Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State Highway Patrol have begun an investigation into the incident, and the Fair announced that it would not operate any rides on July 27 until they are all re-inspected by state authorities. Governor John Kasich considered it to be the "worst tragedy" in the Fair's history.

In response to the incident, the ride's manufacturer, KMG, as well as Chance Morgan—which produces a similar ride, requested that other rides of the same type be shut down pending an investigation into the failure. Preliminary findings by KMG found that the failure was caused by "excessive corrosion on the interior of the gondola support beam" over the life of the 18 year-old unit.

1853 – Entertainment crept into the Fair programming with the first pony rides for children and monkeys dressed in hats that danced to minstrel tunes.

1860 – Fair premiums rose to $200 (up from $20 in 1850).

1884 – In July, prior to the Fair's opening, a racing mare kicked over a lantern, resulting in 100 stalls being burned. Loss to buildings was set at $1,100. The dead mare was valued at $5,000.

1886 – The current Ohio State Fair site was dedicated on Tuesday, August 31 during the 37th Ohio State Fair. Governor Foraker accepted the grounds in front of a crowd of 6,000.

1890s – At least 16 railroad companies served Columbus and the Fair.

1894 – A college football tournament was held this year, with Denison University, Miami University, Wittenberg University, Buchtel and Ohio State University participating.

1896 – The Ohio State Fair became the first fair with an electric lighting system. This made it possible to offer night-time racing. Also this year, horseless vehicles made their first appearance at the Ohio State Fair.

Complete article available at this page.