The Vinland Fair began life in the late 1800s as the Vinland Grange.
The Grange was an organization of local farmers. The first fair was held in 1874 and included fruit and vegetables on display. The fair was held often from 1874 to the early 1900s, but as other local fairs popped up that became more popular, its schedule wasn’t regular.
In 1907, the fair was revived, and later that year, the fair board voted to hold it every year. The fair has been held every summer since 1908.
Throughout the fair’s history, fruit and vegetable displays have always been its sweet spot, and in the first half of the 20th century, horse and cattle shows were also a major draw.
The fair lost some attendance during WWI, but during the 1920s and 1930s in particular, it was the center of community activity, especially during the Great Depression, where fair winnings could help families get by.
The Grange sponsored the fair until 1977, when the fair incorporated. The Vinland Fair Association Fairground Exhibit Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
The Vinland Fair was featured on KTWU’s “Sunflower Journeys” in November 2017. Watch to see what you could be seeing at this year’s fair!