Description: This photograph shows (from left to right) James Rhodes, Nancy Campbell, an unidentified man, and a certain Kaltenbach, with Nancy's Junior Division Champion barrow at the 1968 Ohio State Fair. Another photograph of Nancy and her junior champion in this collection accompanies a news release issued by the Ohio Expositions Center which reads "Nancy Campbell of Washington C.H. [Court House] is the proud owner of the 1968 Ohio State Fair Grand Champion barrow in the Junior Division. 'Ralph'--the 220-pound champion--is Nancy's first 4-H project. She is a member of the Livestock Lads and Lassies 4-H Club. Nancy's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harry Campbell." The Ohio State Fair is an annual exhibition held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus that showcases Ohio farming and commercial products and achievements. In the 1840s, farmers began to join agricultural organizations, and the state of Ohio began to take an interest in the challenges that farmers faced. As a result, the state government created the Board of Agriculture in 1846. The Board of Agriculture planned to hold the first statewide fair in 1849, but a cholera epidemic forced the fair's cancellation. The first Ohio State Fair was held the next year instead. The city of Cincinnati hosted the fair in 1850, which went on for three days. Ultimately, the Board decided that the state capital should be the permanent site for the state fair, and it moved to Columbus in 1874. By the 1870s, the state's railroad system had improved significantly, and it was much easier to travel from all parts of the state. The current fairgrounds, known today as the Ohio Expo Center, were completed in 1886. The Ohio State Fair has been held at these fairgrounds ever since. This photograph is part of the Ohio Expositions Commission Photograph Collection, a series of black and white photographs, the majority of which were taken between 1955-1968, which consist of livestock at fairs, primarily horses, and documents many types of State Fair activities, especially horsemanship and livestock activities. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA768AV_B01F03_002
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Expositions and fairs; Livestock; Prizes; Swine; Agriculture--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Attached caption reads: "Ohio State Fair, Columbus, Ohio. 1937. (Please do not remove or handle this photograph.)" This is a photo of a the Federal Writers Project exhibit at the 1937 Ohio State Fair. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F06_038_001
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Exhibits; Works Progress Administration of Ohio (U.S.)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photograph of the champion steer and his owner accepting their prize at the Ohio State Fair in 1968. Governor James Rhodes is pictured at left. The Ohio State Fair is an annual exhibition held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus that showcases Ohio farming and commercial products and achievements. In the 1840s, farmers began to join agricultural organizations and the state of Ohio began to take an interest in the challenges that farmers faced. As a result, the state government created the Board of Agriculture in 1846. The Board of Agriculture planned to hold the first statewide fair in 1849, but a cholera epidemic forced the fair's cancellation. The first Ohio State Fair was held the next year instead. The city of Cincinnati hosted the fair in 1850, which went on for three days. Ultimately, the Board decided that the state capital should be the permanent site for the state fair, and it moved to Columbus in 1874. By the 1870s, the state's railroad system had improved significantly, and it was much easier to travel from all parts of the state. The current fairgrounds, known today as the Ohio Expo Center, were completed in 1886. The Ohio State Fair has been held at these fairgrounds ever since. This photograph is part of the Ohio Expositions Commission Photograph Collection, a series of black and white photographs, the majority of which were taken between 1955-1968, which consist of livestock at fairs, primarily horses, and documents many types of State Fair activities, especially horsemanship and livestock activities. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA768AV_B01F03_001
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Expositions and fairs; Livestock; Prizes; Cattle; Agriculture--Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Ohio Picture Book. Page: 33. Picture: 40. Credit: None. Caption: State Fair, Cleveland, in 1860's." This is a photograph of a drawing of a State Fair in Cleveland. There are signs for both Carriage Entrance and Carriage Exit as well as Foot Entrance, Foot Exit and Ticket Office. There are stables along the right side which are labeled "All Work & Draft Horses." Stables at the top right are for "Roadsters." At the top center a sign reads " [?], Devons & Ayershires [Ayrshires]" and below that "Short Horne." The Ohio State Fair is an annual exhibition held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus that showcases Ohio farming and commercial products and achievements. In the 1840s, farmers began to join agricultural organizations, and the state of Ohio began to take an interest in the challenges that farmers faced. As a result, the state government created the Board of Agriculture in 1846. The Board of Agriculture planned to hold the first statewide fair in 1849, but a cholera epidemic forced the fair's cancellation. The first Ohio State Fair was held the next year instead. The city of Cincinnati hosted the fair in 1850, which went on for three days. In the early years of the fair, most visitors and exhibitors came from the general vicinity of where the fair was being held. Transportation connecting the state together was still limited. As a result, the Board of Agriculture decided to move the fair to a different location each year so that more people would have access to it over time. A number of cities hosted the fair, including Columbus (1851, 1855, 1864, 1865), Cleveland (1852, 1856, 1862, 1863), Cincinnati (1850, 1857), Dayton (1853, 1860, 1861, 1866, 1867), Sandusky (1858), Zanesville (1859), Toledo (1868, 1869), Springfield (1870, 1871), and Mansfield (1872, 1873). Ultimately, the Board decided that the state capital should be the permanent site for the state fair, and it moved to Columbus in 1874. By the 1870s, the state's railroad system had improved significantly, and it was much easier to travel from all parts of the state. The current fairgrounds, known today as the Ohio Expo Center, were completed in 1886. The Ohio State Fair has been held at these fairgrounds ever since. There are two large tents and one smaller tent as well as several more permanent buildings. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F10_12_01
Subjects: Ohio State Fair
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Ohio State Fair - 1940 - WPA Exhibit" This is a photo of a WPA exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. The exhibits read, "WPA CARES FOR AMERICAN CHILDREN" and "WPA ASSISTS THE FARMER." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F03_10_001
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Exhibits; Works Progress Administration of Ohio (U.S.)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a young man receiving a prize in the 4-H beef cattle show with his bull. The Ohio State Fair is an annual exhibition held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus that showcases Ohio farming and commercial products and achievements. In the 1840s, farmers began to join agricultural organizations, and the state of Ohio began to take an interest in the challenges that farmers faced. As a result, the state government created the Board of Agriculture in 1846. The Board of Agriculture planned to hold the first statewide fair in 1849, but a cholera epidemic forced the fair's cancellation. The first Ohio State Fair was held the next year instead. The city of Cincinnati hosted the fair in 1850, which went on for three days. Ultimately, the Board decided that the state capital should be the permanent site for the state fair, and it moved to Columbus in 1874. By the 1870s, the state's railroad system had improved significantly, and it was much easier to travel from all parts of the state. The current fairgrounds, known today as the Ohio Expo Center, were completed in 1886. The Ohio State Fair has been held at these fairgrounds ever since. This photograph is part of the Ohio Expositions Commission Photograph Collection, a series of black and white photographs, the majority of which were taken between 1955-1968, which consist of livestock at fairs, primarily horses, and documents many types of State Fair activities, especially horsemanship and livestock activities. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA768AV_B01F13_001
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Expositions and fairs; Livestock; Prizes; Cattle; Agriculture--Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph from the Columbus Free Press Collection showing visitors outside of the Dairy Products Building at the 1985 Ohio State Fair. A banner advertises the Butter Cow sculpture inside, as well as available dairy products including milk, ice cream, cheese and milkshakes. The "butter cow" has been a tradition sponsored by the Ohio State University and Dairy Processors of Ohio at the State Fair since the early 1900s. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B02F09_10
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Agriculture--Ohio; Dairy industry; Dairy products; Cows;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph from the Columbus Free Press Collection showing the butter sculpture at the 1985 Ohio State Fair. This sculpture, credited to artist Dan Ross, shows a veterinarian standing with a cow and calf. The "butter cow" has been a tradition sponsored by the Ohio State University and Dairy Processors of Ohio at the State Fair since the early 1900s. Dan Ross served as the sculptor each summer for more than 30 years. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B02F09_09
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Agriculture--Ohio; Dairy industry; Dairy products; Cows;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Legendary country musician Johnny Cash performing at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio, 1964-1970. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07260
Subjects: Ohio State Fair (Columbus, Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Musicians; Rock music
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows Governor James A. Rhodes riding a Ski Whiz, a snow mobile model produced by Massey-Ferguson between 1968 and 1974, with an unidentified man at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio State Fair is an annual exhibition held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus that showcases Ohio farming and commercial products and achievements. In the 1840s, farmers began to join agricultural organizations, and the state of Ohio began to take an interest in the challenges that farmers faced. As a result, the state government created the Board of Agriculture in 1846. The Board of Agriculture planned to hold the first statewide fair in 1849, but a cholera epidemic forced the fair's cancellation. The first Ohio State Fair was held the next year instead. The city of Cincinnati hosted the fair in 1850, which went on for three days. Ultimately, the Board decided that the state capital should be the permanent site for the state fair, and it moved to Columbus in 1874. By the 1870s, the state's railroad system had improved significantly, and it was much easier to travel from all parts of the state. The current fairgrounds, known today as the Ohio Expo Center, were completed in 1886. The Ohio State Fair has been held at these fairgrounds ever since. This photograph is part of the Ohio Expositions Commission Photograph Collection, a series of black and white photographs, the majority of which were taken between 1955-1968, which consist of livestock at fairs, primarily horses, and documents many types of State Fair activities, especially horsemanship and livestock activities. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA768AV_B01F06_001
Subjects: Ohio State Fair; Expositions and fairs; Summer; Sports and leisure
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Aerial view of the Ohio State Fair and surrounding area, Columbus, Ohio, 1969. Visible in the center of the image is the Ohio History Center under construction. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01032
Subjects: Ohio State Fair (Columbus, Ohio); Fairgrounds; Aerial photographs
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Signs for an exhibit at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. The origins of the Ohio State Fair go back to the 1840s. In 1846, the Board of Agriculture was formed. The first state fair was scheduled for 1849, though it was delayed for a year by an outbreak of cholera. After another year of waiting, the fair was held in Cincinnati. Originally the fair was held in a different place every year, due to the difficulty in traveling long distances. When the year 1874 rolled around, it was decided there should be a permanent location for the fair. Columbus was chosen as it was the state capital, and this was made possible by much improved transportation. The fair has very rarely been cancelled, the only examples being a few years during the Second World War. During that time the fairgrounds was being used by the U.S. military. After 1945, things were business as usual. In 2003, the number of state fairs over the years reached 150. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06670
Subjects: Ohio State Fair (Columbus, Ohio); Animals; Snakes
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)