About the Augusta County Fair
The traditional county fair has been a part of Augusta County history for well over 100 years. The initial effort to establish a county fair began in 1811 when the Augusta Agricultural Society was organized. One of the initial goals of this group was to start an agricultural fair in Augusta County.
The early fairs featured agricultural stock exhibits and competitions and also included home exhibits including hair and stock mattresses, currant and gooseberry wine, and homemade butter, lard, and soap, just to mention a few of the fair attractions.
From 1949 until 1953, the event was designated as the official State Fair of Virginia and expanded to one full week in length. In 1954, the State Fair of Virginia moved to its current location in Richmond. After the move, the local fair was renamed the Staunton-Augusta County Agricultural Fair.
During the 50's and 60's, the fair included horse races which were held on a half-mile track that circled Lake Tams. The last fair was held at the Staunton Fairgrounds beside Gypsy Hill Park in 1963.
In 1970, the assets and charter of the Augusta County Fair was purchased by a group of five investors. In 1971, the name of the fair was changed to the Greater Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Fair. Although not agricultural in emphasis, this fair is still in operation and held each year on the Eastside Speedway grounds on Route 340 in Dooms.About this same time, another group of agricultural leaders and Ruritan Club members in the county organized an effort to form an agricultural fair in Augusta County similar to those held in the past. The Augusta Agricultural and Industrial Exposition, or Augusta Expo, as it is now known, opened on the grounds on the Wilson Elementary School near Fishersville in 1969. The initial Augusta Expo fair was held under tents for two years until it moved to its present 200 acre site in Tinkling Spring at the Intersection of Interstate 64 and Route 608.
Augusta Expo sponsored an annual fair until 1992 when it was decided by the Board of Directors to cease having a county fair.
In September of 1993, a letter was sent out from David Fiske, then Agriculture Extension Agent for the County, to civic groups and interested individuals concerning a meeting to discuss starting the Augusta County Fair as we know it today. As a result of that meeting, the first Augusta County Fair opened on Wednesday, August 23, 1995.
2008 will be the 13th year for the Augusta County Fair since the 1993 reorganization effort. | 