History of the Allegan County Fair
1852: The Allegan County Agricultural Society was organized by Elisha Ely. The first fair was held at the County Court House, which was also the Baptist Church.
1854: The fair moved from the Court House to ‘the flats’
1856: The Board of Supervisors purchased eight acres in the current fairgrounds area.
1859: The first Exhibition Hall was built.
1860: The race track and grandstand were built.
1874: The Allegan County Agricultural Society purchased approximately 20 acres adjacent to the original purchase of land, now totaling approximately 30 acres.
1889: The first and only fair in Michigan to hold an evening fair. This was quite an attraction, seeing as the grounds and buildings were lit with 2000 candlepower arc lamps. The currency was furnished through the village from the Trowbridge Dam. Headline attractions included The Great Houdini and the Wonderful Douglas, who buried a man alive.
1990: One of the largest projects to date was the construction of the covered grandstand. With the track and grandstand area, the fair has a 12,000 seat capacity in front of the stage.
1999: A 1600 square foot addition was made to the stage, and a 3000 square foot backstage building was erected to accommodate performers and their entourage. It is a state of the art facility that features dressing rooms, showers, and offices for the entertainer’s use.
2000-2011: Over the years the Allegan County Fair has continued to grow. The fairgrounds property currently consists of approximately 115 acres of land, including a public campground. Among the buildings is one of the largest livestock barns and arenas of any county fair in the state- an indoor exhibit hall complex that is enclosed with over 38,000 square feet under one roof.
In the southwest area of the grounds you can experience a step back in time in the John Paul Historical Village. There, you will find a variety of building types and time periods. These buildings were moved here and re-assembled to become permanent structures at the Allegan County Fair.
Agriculture has been the backbone of the Allegan County Fair since the beginning. The 4H clubs, 4H members, and open class participants agricultural activities remain strong to this day. Animals, crafts, foods and antiques are judged daily at the fair.
Looking over the fair’s history, it is obvious that the founders of the fair strived for growth- which still holds true today. It is why the Allegan County Fair is one of the largest fairs in the State of Michigan, and why USA Today named the Allegan County Fair the most popular county fair in Michigan.
President
Rick Day
1st Vice President
Harry Chestnut
2nd Vice President
Jay Drozd
Treasurer
Aaron Hartman
Secretary
Roger Vanvolkinburg
Henry Barber
Tod Heckman
Katherine D. Lake
David Kiel
Brian Klingenberg
Tim McPherson
Robert Modreske
Craig vanMelle
Irene Waanders
Dan Wedge
Executive Director, CFE
Saree Miller
Sponsorship and Box Office Supervisor
Bonnie L. Miller
Building and Grounds Supervisor
Ron Long
Originally founded in 1972 by the Allegan County Historical Society and the Allegan County Fair board, the Village offers a unique experience that you cannot miss. The old school house from the Jewitt School District was the first structure in the village. Today, classes are still held in the school during the Allegan County Fair.
The next additions included two Farmer Museums followed by an old log church. In the Farmer Museums, you will find a rare 1905 Gale Automobile which was the first touring car in Allegan County. The Village has continued to expand and now includes the 1840’s House, Doctor’s Office, Town Hall, General Store, Fire Station, Gas Station, Caboose and much more.
During the fair, members of the Allegan County Historical Society will be available to guide you through the Village and answer any questions you may have.
We invite you to come and enjoy the beautiful Historical Village. No trip to the fair is complete without it!
Rocky Rooster is the beloved, albeit unofficial, mascot of the Allegan County Fair. He has become a meeting point, photo op, and friendly greeter at the fair for many years. If you’re at the fair early enough, you will occasionally find him in one of his many different disguises, such as Batman, Superman or Zorro.
Submit Your Photos of Rocky
Have some fun photos with Rocky? Share the love and post them to our Facebook page OR email them to acfair@allegancountyfair.com.
