Description: Alfretta Ronemus and her mother took home this engraved tea set as a prize in a baby contest in 1854. It was valued at $300 in 1854, which would be equivalent to approximately $6,000 today. The set consists of eight items, four of which are included here. Many of the items bear the inscription "Presented to ___ by the Clark County Agricultural Society as Premium for being the Finest Baby shown at the Annual Fair - 1854 - ." The first image shows a teapot that measures 18 by 12 inches (46 by 30 cm). The second image shows a cream pitcher that measures 18 by 12 inches (46 by 30 cm). The third image shows a coffee urn that measures 18 by 12 inches (46 by 30 cm). The final image shows a serving tray that measures 11 by 1 inches (27 by 2.5 cm). The first baby contest in the United States took place in Springfield, Ohio at the second annual Clark County Fair on October 5, 1854. The 10-month-old winner, Alfretta Ronemus of South Vienna, Ohio, was picked out of a crowd to enter the contest. Her mother protested that Alfretta was not dressed in suitable clothes for the occasion, but the organizer insisted that she enter the child. Alfretta may have won the first prize because she was dressed in a simple white dress with a black silk jacket, while the other children were decked out in fancy "furbelows." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1490_1534010_001
Subjects: Daily Life; Arts and Entertainment; Teapots; Contests; Prizes
Places: Springfield (Ohio); Clark 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: 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: 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)