The first Waukesha County Fair was held in 1842
in a poplar grove on Carroll Street in Prairieville.
(For those of you who know Waukesha, Carroll
Street runs between Grand Avenue and East
Avenue, near the Waukesha Library, which was
part of Milwaukee County at the time). It was
organized by the Milwaukee County
Agricultural Society.

It was a kind of 4th of July Celebration, with a
big dinner served in the poplar grove. The day's
highlights included a plowing match between
the farmers. About $40 in premiums were awarded.
The highest single premium was $3 for the best
yield of corn from one acre.

By 1853, Waukesha County had become a
reality. The agricultural societies of Milwaukee
and Waukesha Counties consolidated to organize
the event. Tickets to the event were 10 cents.
The Fair drew crowds of up to 4,000 people
daily with floral displays, a band, and a Ladies
Equestrian Display.

Sometime after the 1880s, the grounds were
moved to the Fountain House Property, which is
now the Fountain Springs Apartment Complex
on Grand Avenue. The Fair was held there for
a dozen years or so and then abandoned when
the Agricultural Society disbanded.

In the early 1900s, it was back as the Farmer's
Institute Dairy Show. It was held in Downtown
Waukesha; then in 1916, it moved to the Sales
Pavilion on Baxter Street which was owned by
the Waukesha County Livestock Breeders
Association, now the home of Waukesha Discount
Liquor. The Waukesha Dairy Show was held in
mid-March. On the Friday of Fair week, school
was let out early so everyone could attend.

In 1960, the Sales Pavilion was sold and the
Waukesha County Livestock Breeders Association
went out of business. The Fair was moved to
Wales Village Park and was named the Waukesha
County Fair. In 1966, the fair moved to its present
location at the Waukesha Exposition Center.
In 1969, 4-H built the Youth Building. The
Waukesha Horse Association constructed an
outdoor horse show ring. In 1971, the dairy barn
was added and in 1974 the beef barn was
constructed. Agri-business firms financed
both of these buildings. The swine building
was also added.

In 1972, a $1 parking fee was charged, and in
1981, a 50 cent admission fee was charged.
The Fair Association paid for the construction
of a regulation truck/tractor pull track. With the
construction in '82 of the East Exhibition Hall, the
Youth Building was renamed the 4-H Forum
(making and selling pizzas accomplished this).

Entertainment was added in 1984. In 1985, the
Waukesha County Fair Association took over
managing the Fair since 4-H no longer had the
finances or employees to do it. In 1988, beer
and in 1989 wine coolers were added, and the
first paid employee of the fair was hired
(an executive director).

The Waukesha County Fair Association has shown
its strong commitment to the Exposition Center
by working with 4-H in the development of the
grounds. Buildings, electrical services, walkways,
hill removal and many other improvements
have been funded by the Waukesha County
Fair Association.

The Waukesha County Fair leases the Exposition
Center grounds for the week of Fair for $50,000
base rent. A certain percent of the beer revenue
is paid to the county in addition to this rent.
Premiums paid by the Waukesha County Fair
this last year was $30,000.