We all have traditions passed down from generation to generation. For many of us in agriculture, one of those traditions is the county fair.
I grew up in Waukesha County, home to the oldest county fair in Wisconsin. The Waukesha County Fair began in 1842, bringing families together to celebrate agriculture, community, and hard work long before I was born.
Some of my earliest memories are from the week before the fair. Our family would head to the grounds to set up hog pens. At five years old, my job was simple — two wires on the bottom and one on the top corner of each pen. It may have seemed small, but it mattered. That was my first lesson in responsibility and pride in doing a job well.
County fairs have always been about competition but also education. In the early years, farmers learned from farmers through livestock exhibitions, plowing contests, equipment demonstrations and the sharing of best practices, ladies equestrian and floral displays. Over time, as fewer fairgoers came directly from farms, the audience changed, and so did the role of the fair. Today, fairs are as much about educating the public as they are about friendly competition. Many attendees are several generations removed from agriculture, making these events a bridge between farm families and consumers.
Educational efforts like Farm Bureau’s Adventures in Agriculture displays help families understand modern farming. We explain what it takes to produce a gallon of milk — not just the cow, but the veterinarians, nutritionists, truck drivers, crop consultants, plant workers and retailers involved. We share how livestock contributes to soil health, conservation and sustainability. It’s about showing the full story of agriculture today.
But fair traditions run even deeper than exhibits in our family. My grandfather served 25 years as superintendent of the cattle division at the Wisconsin State Fair, working with youth and experienced exhibitors. He started the practice of milking the dairy cow in milking stalls and requiring the allies in the barns to be kept clean at all times. My father showed the Champion Hog at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1953 and later dedicated more than 50 years to serving the Waukesha County Fair as a hog superintendent and fair board member. He believed fairs should be educational, respectful and something the entire community could be proud of.
I followed in his footsteps through 4-H, showing dairy cattle, hogs and beef. I also showed a champion hog at the state fair but remember that the competition is only part of a fair experience. The camaraderie with the other exhibitors that’s what makes the fair experience rewarding. Today, my children and grandchildren continue that tradition, learning lessons that extend far beyond ribbons. Fairs teach work ethic, responsibility, sportsmanship and pride. They are classrooms, reunions and proving grounds where one generation quietly hands responsibility to the next.
Traditions don’t continue on their own. They continue because people volunteer, mentor the youth and help in the background to make the fair run smoothly. If we invest our time and share agriculture’s story, these traditions won’t just survive — they will thrive.
And someday, our grandchildren will be the ones setting up the pens and sharing the story of agriculture.
Written by Rob Klussendorf, Promotion and Engagement District 8 Representative
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