STATE FAIR

A 'state fair' is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs.
Originally a state fair was just a competitive exhibition of livestock in various competitions, the display of farm products which were not necessarily for sale, and the competition among various fair goers and participants in such categories as handicrafts, baked goods, jams and jellies, etc., but has since been expanded to include carnival amusement rides and games, music, races, tests of strength and skill, etc. Large fairs can see more than a million visitors over the course of a week or two.
Events similar to state fairs are also held annually in each state capital in Australia, known as ''Royal Shows''. Australian Royal shows are organised by state agricultural and horticultural societies, and are described further in the agricultural show article.

Contents

List of state fairs

United States

Awards

See also

List of state fairs

United States

State or Region	Fair Name	Location	Attendance (year)
Alabama	Alabama State Fair	Montgomery
Alaska	Alaska State Fair	Palmer
Alaska	Tanana Valley State Fair	Fairbanks
Arizona	Arizona State Fair	Phoenix	1,303,690 (2006) [1]
Arkansas	Arkansas State Fair	Little Rock
California	California State Fair	Sacramento	941,502 (2006) [2]
Colorado	Colorado State Fair	Pueblo	400,351 (2006) [3]
Connecticut	Connecticut Agricultural Fair	Connecticut
Delaware	Delaware State Fair	Harrington	307,000 (2007) [4]
Florida	Florida State Fair	Tampa	434,067 (2006) [5]
Georgia	Georgia International Fair	Perry
Georgia	North Georgia Fair	Marietta
Illinois	Illinois State Fair	Springfield	700,000 (2006) [6]
Indiana	Indiana State Fair	Indianapolis
Iowa	Iowa State Fair	Des Moines	1,053,978 (2004) [7]
Kansas	Kansas State Fair	Kansas
Kentucky	Kentucky State Fair	Louisville	614,477 (2006) [8]
Louisiana	State Fair of Louisiana	Shreveport
Louisiana	Greater Baton Rouge State Fair	Baton Rouge
Maine	Bangor State Fair	Bangor
Maryland	Maryland State Fair	Timonium
Michigan	Michigan State Fair	Detroit
Michigan	Upper Peninsula State Fair	Escanaba
Minnesota	Minnesota State Fair	Falcon Heights	1,680,579 (2006) [9]
Mississippi	Mississippi State Fair	Jackson
Missouri	Missouri State Fair	Sedalia	340,000 (2005) [10]
Nebraska	Nebraska State Fair	Lincoln	289,683 (2006) [11]
Nevada	Nevada State Fair	Reno
New England	New England's Great State Fair	West Springfield
New Hampshire	Hopkinton State Fair	Contoocook
New Jersey	New Jersey State Fair	Augusta
New Mexico	New Mexico State Fair	Albuquerque
North Carolina	North Carolina State Fair	Raleigh	795,930 (2005) [12]
North Dakota	North Dakota State Fair	Minot	247,970 (2006) [13]
New York	Great New York State Fair	Syracuse	932,387 (2006) [14]
Ohio	Ohio State Fair	Columbus	814,512 (2006) [15]
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Fair	Oklahoma	Near 1,000,000 [16]
Oklahoma	Tulsa State Fair	Tulsa	971,449 (2005) [17]
Oregon	Oregon State Fair	Salem
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Farm Show	Harrisburg	over 400,000 (2006) [18]
Tennessee	Tennessee State Fair	Nashville
Tennessee	Mid-South Fair	Memphis
South Carolina	South Carolina State Fair	Columbia
South Dakota	South Dakota State Fair	Huron
Texas	South Texas State Fair	Beaumont
Texas	State Fair of Texas	Dallas	Appx 3 million (2003) [19]
Texas	East Texas State Fair	Tyler
Utah	Utah State Fair	Salt Lake City
Virginia	State Fair of Virginia	Richmond
Washington	Central Washington State Fair	Yakima
Washington	Evergreen State Fair	Monroe
Washington	Western Washington Fair	Puyallup
West Virginia	State Fair of West Virginia	Fairlea
Wisconsin	Wisconsin State Fair	Milwaukee	861,408 (2006) [20]
Wyoming	Wyoming State Fair	Douglas

Awards

State and county fairs are famous for a variety of competitions. Awards are generally given according to the following scale

★ First place - blue ribbon

★ Second place - red ribbon

★ Third place - white ribbon

★ Fourth place - yellow ribbon

★ Fifth place - green ribbon

★ Sixth place - orange ribbon

★ Seventh place - purple ribbon

★ Eighth place - brown ribbon

See also

★ World's fair

★ Agricultural show