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 Location
Kalamazoo County
Fairgrounds
2006 Dates
Monday August 7 through Sunday August 13
Purpose
of Event
The purpose of the Kalamazoo County Fair Board is to conduct an
annual fair that promotes local agriculture and creates a positive
experience for families in Kalamazoo County and surrounding areas through
exhibits, entertainment and participation.
The Event
In 1846, the Michigan
Agricultural Society formed the First Fair of Michigan in order to feature
the popular sport of harness racing. Interestingly enough, what is now the
Oaklands on Western Michigan University's campus, actually was the housing
for the breeding horses at this time. More than 150 years later, the
Kalamazoo County Fair is still a major form of family entertainment in
southwest Michigan, as well as a major venue for promoting agricultural
awareness. Surrounded by farming communities, the Fair offers 4-H
clubs and other interested youths the opportunity to showcase their work
in all agricultural areas.
A
not-for-profit organization, the fair's 15-member board, all volunteers
from the Kalamazoo County Agricultural Society, donates approximately
4,500 hours per year. Originating in Schoolcraft, it later moved to Lake
Street and Portage Road where it was known as the National Fair Grounds. A
third move found the fair at Rose Street and Kalamazoo Avenue, and finally
at its present location on East Lake Street.
Information
provided by Kalamazoo County Fair
Click
here for more information
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