A Brief History of the Alaska State Fair

June 5, 2002

The Alaska State Fair has a history as long and varied as the community it resides in - the heart of the Matanuska Valley. The Valley's original inhabitants were the Dena'ina, a group of Athabascan Indians. The population of the Valley grew in 1914 when a railroad spur was placed to the coal fields at Chickaloon. In one year, all available homesteading land had been staked. However, the combination of World War I, rugged conditions and a limited market caused many homesteaders to abandon their farms.

The U.S. Government made the final, and successful, effort in 1935. A farming colony was established in the Valley, with the intent of opening up Alaska, providing food to the military in case of war, and to give families on relief a new start. Two hundred and three families were selected from Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. They arrived in the Valley in May 1935. Four years later, 40 percent of the original colonists still remained.

During the next year, the colonists constructed their homes, cleared fields and built a community. By July 1936, they were ready for a celebration. The Matanuska Valley Fair Association was formed and they decided to hold a four-day Fair September 4 through September 7. They raised money for the original Fair by selling stock, and within a few days, $1,200 had been raised. Admission was set at $1 for adults, $2 for a season pass and free for children under 8.

The first Fair, held at school grounds, coincided with the opening of the Knik River Bridge, which linked Anchorage and the Valley by road for the first time. This, combined with the railroad, meant that people from all over the state would attend. That year's events included the crowning of the Fair Queen, a baby show, boxing matches, horse races, dances, a rodeo and baseball games. There were also hundreds of agricultural entries, including giant cabbages, grain, carrots, onions, celery, peas and other vegetables.

In 1938, the Fair acquired a permanent site, where the Palmer Pioneer Home is now located.

In 1939, a then-record 1,600 visitors attended the Fair.

The giant cabbage contest tradition began in 1941, when Colonel Ohlson, Manager of the Alaska Railroad, offered $25 for the largest cabbage. Max Sherrod of the Valley took the prize with a 23 pounder. It was also during this year that 14 acres were added to the Fairgrounds.

"War jitters" contributed to the five-year hiatus of the Fair from 1942 to 1946. But the Fair was back in full swing in 1947, with 160 exhibitors. That number grew to 205 in 1948.

Due to expensive physical improvements, the Association treasury dipped to $35 in 1949. The Fair needed some new attractions to draw crowds, and 1950 saw the first carnival rides at the Fair. An air show was added in 1951.

The new attractions worked, because by 1956, attendance had grown enough to justify the Fair Board's petition to the Alaska Legislature for official designation as the State Fair.

1960 was a big year for the Fair. Not only did John F. Kennedy attend, but it was also the Fair's 25 th anniversary. The crowds came out to celebrate, and attendance reached 30,000.

1967 was the Fair's first year in its present 300-acre location, and the final total attendance reached 72,000. The Fair became home to Colony Village in 1975. The village, which currently houses a theatre, offices, displays and a post office, preserves some of the buildings from Palmer's early days. Visitors can see the former St. John Lutheran Church , Hesse-Smith House, MacNevin House, Wineck Barn and Evan Jones House on the Fairgrounds today.

The attendance numbers weren't the only thing getting larger with time. In 2000, Barb Everingham set the current record for the largest cabbage, with her 105.6 pounder.

And the Fair has continued to grow. In 2003, more than 312,419 visitors attended the Fair. They saw, among other things, the more than 10,000 exhibits that the Fair now boasts. The Fair is also large enough to currently require 12 full-time employees, 420 temporary employees and 300 volunteers.

But the Fair hasn't changed that much. Visitors do enjoy a wider range of events, such as big name entertainers, but the heart of the Fair still centers on the things the original colonists started with - agriculture, lots of food, friends and family, and an old-fashioned, good time.