The History of the Manitowoc County Fair

Poster from the 1905 Manitowoc County Fair

Cotton candy, animal judging, carnival rides, and races have been part of the unique history of Manitowoc County Fair since 1859.  A fair has been held in many locations throughout the county every year since 1859, except 1911.  It was not until 1972 that the fair found its permanent location at the Manitowoc County Expo.

The very first fair was held in 1859 at Washington Park.  Before the fair was held, a concerned group of Manitowoc citizens were looking for ways to improve conditions related to farming and agriculture.  Their solution was to hold an agricultural fair, which would encourage farmers to produce quality cattle, horses, and farm produce.  The fair was called the First Cattle and Agricultural Fair and was held on October 3-4.  The various departments of the fair included horses, cattle, sheep, swine, grain and seeds, flour, vegetables, fruit, farm implements, manufacturers, mechanical, needle work, poultry, and dairy.

After several years at Washington Park, the fair moved to the Seventh Ward to a place called the Northwestern Hill.  This location was between Washington and Marshall Streets and between 21st and 22nd streets.  A one-half mile track was laid out, as the event had grown too large for its initial Washington Park location.  The fair was held at Northwestern Hill until 1874.

In 1874 the Manitowoc County Agricultural Association was formed.  Farmers were unhappy about the fair’s location on the eastern boundary of the county and felt that a more central location was needed.  The fair moved to a site at Clarks Mills in the town of Cato.  During this time, admission to the fair cost between fifteen and twenty-five cents for individuals, or one dollar for family tickets. Games of chance, gambling, and the sale of intoxicating beverages were prohibited.  This site also featured a one-half mile track, which was used for harness racing events.

In 1883 a movement was launched to bring the fair back to Manitowoc.  Under the leadership of Fred Schuette, the Industrial Association of Manitowoc County was organized, which helped purchase the land for the new fair grounds in the Sixth Ward of the City of Manitowoc.  This site featured a one-half mile track and a small two-section grandstand.  The first fair at these grounds was held in the fall of 1884.  William Rahr became the dominating figure in revitalizing the fair in 1905, which included bringing in registered cattle from outside Wisconsin to stimulate interest in better livestock.  When Rahr retired in 1910, a fair was not held the following year until new leadership took over in 1912.

In 1926 at the Convention of Fair Board in Milwaukee, F.C. Borcherdt declared that Manitowoc’s fair was the “blue ribbon fair of Wisconsin” because more registered cattle were exhibited at the Manitowoc fair than at any other county fair in Wisconsin.  The Manitowoc County Fair continues to hold the title of the “blue ribbon fair of Wisconsin.”