Elkhart County 4-H Fair

Last updated
Elkhart County 4-H Fair
ECFair.jpg
Elkhart County 4-H Fair Carnival
GenreAnnual fair
Begins19 July 2024 (2024-07-19)
Ends27 July 2024 (2024-07-27)
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s) Goshen, Indiana
Years active1851–1916; 1919–41; 1946–2019; 2021–present
Inaugurated1851
Previous event21–29 July 2023
Attendance202,560 (2017)
BudgetUS$2,104,700(2010) [1]
Website www.4hfair.org

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair is conducted annually in Goshen, Indiana and is one of the largest county fairs in the country. [2] In 2017, 202,560 guests visited the Fair during the 9 day event. The Elkhart County 4-H Fair is known for its grandstand entertainment and concerts. Over 4000 Elkhart county youth are involved in 4-H, displaying 8000 projects at the Fair annually.

Contents

History

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair started in 1851 on Goshen, Indiana's courthouse square. Its goal was to give local farmers a place to learn about new farming techniques and a chance to compete for excellence in farming. During the American Civil War, the fair had to take a small break. Soon after, the fair looked for new ways to get urban dwellers interested in the fair resulting in more profit. In the early 1870s attendance skyrocketed when baseball games, sideshow performers, and horse races became the popular attractions at the fair. Twenty years later the County Fair featured a festival ride and merry-go-round, which became the fair's midway. [3]

No fair was held in 1917–18 because of World War I, 1942–45 because of World War II & 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds

The Elkhart County Fairgrounds hosts over 150 events during year when the Fair is not being held. The fairgrounds consists of 384 acres (1.55 km2) with 70 buildings and over 300 permanent RV sites in addition to 600 temporary RV sites. [4] One of the most popular non-fair events are RV travel rallies. In 2017, 12 RV travel rallies were hosted at the fairgrounds. In 2011, the fair board completed the purchase of an additional 253 acres (1.02 km2) to the east of the existing fairgrounds. [5] Planners are considering the use of the land for additional parking, camping, or exhibit space. [6]

The Elkhart County 4-H fair has been widely regarded as one of the best county fairs in the nation. When the fair is not in season, the fairgrounds stays busy with other events including the RV Rallies, Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale and is a year-round public campground. [7]

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair Week

Attendance

Elkhart County 4-H Fair Attendance: 2009: 258,832; 2010: 255,315; 2011: 235,495; 2012: 244,883; 2013: 280,175; 2014: 269,064; 2015: 255,253; 2016: 183,461; 2017: 202,560; 2018: 196,131; 2019 183,646; 2021 187,545; 2022 185,304; 2023 216,964;

Attendance by Year
YearAttendance
2009258,832
2010255,315
2011235,495
2012244,883
2013280,175
2014269,064
2015255,253
2016183,461
2017202,560
2018196,131
2019183,646
2021187,545
2022185,304
2023216,964
2024

The 4-H Fair Week Grandstand Events

There are approximately 600 volunteers for the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. The entire fair board is volunteer and sometimes fair board and other volunteers take a weeks vacation to volunteer their time. [9]

Future fair dates

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References

  1. "Nonprofit Report for ELKHART COUNTY 4-H & AGRICULTURAL EXPOSITION INC". Guidestar.org. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  2. "Purdue Alumni Club of Elkhart County". Archived from the original on April 11, 2006.
  3. "Elkhart County Historical Museum". Elkhartcountyhistoricalmuseum.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  4. "Year-Around Information for the Elkhart County Fairgrounds". 4hfair.org. Archived from the original on 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  5. "Elkhart County 4-H Fair purchases land to grow its future". Etruth.com. 2011-07-22. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  6. "The Elkhart County 4-H Fair". 4hfair.org. Archived from the original on 2012-06-17. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  7. "Attractions". Goshen.org. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  8. "Fair Queen Pageant - Elkhart County". 4hfair.org. 2012-04-02. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  9. "Clubs and organizations". Etruth.com. 2009-08-19. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2012-05-13.

41°34′41″N85°48′13″W / 41.57815°N 85.803702°W / 41.57815; -85.803702