Pennsylvania is home to 110 county fairs that are registered with the PA State Association of County Fairs. Each of these fairs work to promote their local agriculture and community. The Franklin County Fair is no exception. Our county is filled with a rich agriculture industry but most people don’t realize the impact farming has on us. Everyone at our fair has a mission to promote our agriculture and educate the public on it’s importance. Agriculture is part of everyone’s lives every day. The Franklin County Fair aims to help teach people, while also providing them with quality family time.

Our History

The Franklin County Fair can date all the way back to 1854 when it was considered the Franklin County Agricultural Fair and was organized by the Agricultural Society of Franklin County. Then, in 1868, the Franklin County Farmer’s and Mechanics Association took over and changed the name to Franklin County Fair. This fair continued through the 1880s before it came to an end.

It wasn’t until 1914 that another fair was held; this time being called the Harvest Home Picnic and Farmers’ Picnic and was held at the Red Bridge Park. The Picnic became increasingly popular with more people attending each year. Before the Picnic in 1922, it was voted to change the name back to Franklin County Fair. For the next 12 years, the fair grew in size with more animals and exhibits being added. The community event came to an end in the 1930s.

Shortly after the fair ended, people began forming Sportmen’s Clubs. The county clubs banded together to host a carnival to raise money. Other groups gained interest and in 1961, the 4-H Dairy Clubs started holding their round-ups and a dairy barn was built in 1962 at the fair’s current location. The carnival steadily grew and it was decided that the name Franklin County Fair would be adopted again.

The Franklin County Fair, as we know it today, has been in commission since 1965. There was always something new being added to the schedule, most of which still exist today. The fair continued to grow, and by the 1980s, it was booming. Things were looking great until the late 2000s when the economy took a downturn. Attendance began to dwindle and the fair began to struggle. Everyone was looking for ways to help the fair.

2015 marked a special year for the fair; it was the 50th Anniversary. Many special events took place and a special anniversary book was printed. The fair office was dedicated to Gerald W. Reichard and the dairy cattle barn no.1 was dedicated to John Shearer. This celebration began the upturn of the Franklin County Fair.

New board members were elected and new ideas were presented for the fair. Everyone’s goal was to revive the Franklin County Fair and make it what it once was. Many big things took place, and it worked. 2016 began the hard work and dedication to turn the fair around. The “New and Improved” Franklin County Fair was well on it’s way to being a staple in the community again. Now, today, the fair continues to improve and people are beginning to attend and enjoy the fair again.