Introduction:
Ever wondered what talents, skills, or passions your ancestors were known for?
County fairs were community showcases—places where farmers, homemakers, schoolchildren, and local craftsmen competed for bragging rights that were proudly recorded in the newspaper. Prize lists captured everything from the best corn and largest pumpkin to finest needlework, fastest horses, strongest oxen, and most beautiful floral arrangements. These columns are filled with names, ages, hometowns, and accomplishments that rarely appear anywhere else. If you want to understand what your ancestors did—not just where they lived—county fair prize lists are a goldmine.
Where to Find Them:
- Local weekly newspapers around harvest season
- Special “County Fair Edition” issues with extended coverage
- Agricultural newspapers and Grange publications
- State fair summaries reprinted in smaller county papers
- Local historical society newspapers and souvenir fair booklets
What You’ll Discover:
- Names of prize winners in dozens (sometimes hundreds) of categories
- Exhibits entered: baking, preserves, sewing, quilting, livestock, produce, crafts, art
- Ages of young competitors in children’s or school divisions
- Farm and business names associated with livestock or crop entries
- Notes about unusual or record-setting produce
- Social details—who judged, who sponsored prizes, and who attended
- Clues about occupations, hobbies, skills, and community involvement
Why It Matters for Genealogy:
County fair prize lists shine a spotlight on ordinary ancestors doing extraordinary everyday things. They help you understand your family’s expertise—skilled horse breeders, talented quilters, prize-winning bakers, or champion vegetable growers. These small mentions can confirm residence, document children otherwise missing from records, or reveal new branches of the family that participated together. They also capture the culture of rural and small-town life in vivid detail. If you want a snapshot of how your ancestors contributed to their community, the county fair pages are one of the most delightful—and overlooked—resources you can explore.
Examples:
