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A look back at the first Benton County Fair The Benton County Fair was born in 1904, in an era when land could be purchased for $5 an acre, an oak bedroom suite for $18, ice cream for 19 cents a dish. Bentonville's economy relied heavily on apple exports (the crop value exceeded $1 million in 1901) and the area was covered in thousands of acres of fruit orchards. The Fair was originally called the Benton County Free Fruit Fair and was held in a around the Benton County courthouse and downtown Square. A huge crowd gathered to see hundreds of exhibits including canned fruits, jellies, preserves and wines as well as farm and garden products, art, flowers, plants and needlework. Livestock was tied to the east side of buildings on the Square. Then as now, the county fair was an opportunity for young people to display and win awards for a year's worth of hard work, long hours, and dedication to their projects in 4-H clubs. There was a carnival and evening performances which included high-wire acts, a high-diving dog, a merry-go-round, ferris wheel and more. Entertainment included a man driving a car around the Square blindfolded without hitting anyone or anything and another person playing music on the rims of partially-filled water glasses. The "Fruit Fair" grew as Benton County developed until the Square could no longer hold it. In 1940, the Benton County Fair Association was established and purchased three acres for the new fairgrounds in order to make the fair bigger and better. Horse races were also popular, and when the fair moved to the fairgrounds, a race track was built across from the fairgrounds. I showed steers," he recalls. "I remember a lot of us slept in the barn with our animals. There'd be a bunch of kids crashed out all over on straw bales. It was fun." Johnny says he still sees some of those childhood fair friends in his dealings in the county. In 2004, Benton County celebrated 100 years of the Benton County Fair. The 118th Annual Benton County Fair will run September 27 through October 1, 2022. Best of all, everyone can participate! You don't have to live on a farm or raise livestock to be part of a county fair. Look for fair books at your extension office detailing dozens of free classes to enter, or check the website of your county fair for online registration. From food preservation, baking, gardening and crafts the county fair offers it all! 2022 Benton County Fair 13