The Heart of America: Why County and State Fairs Matter More Than Ever
- Emily Thabes
- Aug 9
- 5 min read
A reflection from the Beltrami County Fair
Standing at the historic Doud Cabin during this year's Beltrami County Fair, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and energy of community celebration, we're reminded of something profound: county and state fairs aren't just summer entertainment. They're living repositories of American values, innovation, and hope. As a historical society, we have a unique opportunity to recognize these institutions as vital threads in the fabric of our nation's story.
Our Fair's Rich Beginning
The first Beltrami County Fair was held in 1906, not in Bemidji, but in Blackduck. The organizers had big dreams from the start. The Beltrami County Agricultural Association had organized this opportunity for farmers to display the fine crops and vegetables grown "up north," with the express purpose of making the rest of the country take notice.
What a sight it must have been! The Blackduck American described turnips that weighed up to 10 pounds, 18-inch cucumbers, along with potatoes, pumpkins, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, squash, beans, peas, onions, watermelons and tomatoes. The newspaper was so impressed that it boldly predicted our region would become known as having the richest agricultural counties in the entire union.
Railroads, already well-established in the county, brought hundreds of visitors from other communities to the fair. Those early fairgoers knew how to celebrate properly. Crowds were treated to free exhibitions by Herschell's dog circus, baseball games, minor sports (standing jump, hop-step-jump, etc.), a 100-yard foot race, a 200-yard foot race, horse races, a concert by the Bemidji band, and a Grand Ball in Blackduck's opera house.
The fair moved to Bemidji in 1907, where organizers found better facilities and a fine race track. Even then, innovation was part of the fair's DNA. "Balloon Ascensions" were offered at the fair in 1907. (Eight years later, the 1915 Beltrami County Fair offered "airship rides.") Imagine the wonder on people's faces seeing flight for the first time at their local county fair!
A Living Connection to Our Heritage
By 1922, the fairgrounds were home to the Doud Cabin, built by Freeman Doud, one of the first homesteaders in Bemidji. This cabin has quite a journey of its own. That cabin, which originally stood on what is now part of Diamond Point, has since been re-located to two other fairgrounds, moving from the site near what is now the Boys and Girls' Club to the fairground site where Target now stands, and finally, in 1991, to the current location north of town on U.S. Highway 71.
The cabin represents something beautiful about our community's commitment to preserving history while adapting to change. Just like our county fair itself, the Doud Cabin has found new homes while maintaining its essential character and purpose.
Celebrating Our Greatest Investment: Our Youth
County fairs have always been about our young people, and that tradition has only grown stronger over the decades. For over a century, organizations like 4-H and the Future Farmers of America (now the National FFA Organization) have used these platforms to nurture the next generation of leaders, innovators, and citizens.
4-H, founded in the early 1900s, revolutionized youth development with its simple but powerful philosophy: learning by doing. Those four H's (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health) represent a holistic approach to education that recognizes young people as capable contributors, not just passive recipients of knowledge. When a 4-H member raises a calf, manages a garden, or presents a project, they're not just learning agriculture. They're developing responsibility, public speaking skills, problem-solving abilities, and the confidence that comes from seeing a commitment through to completion.
The FFA, established in 1928, has transformed countless lives by connecting classroom learning with real-world application. FFA members don't just study agriculture; they live it, breathe it, and innovate within it. They learn that agriculture isn't just farming. It's food science, environmental stewardship, technology, business management, and feeding the world.
Hands-On Learning in a Digital Age
In our increasingly digital world, the hands-on experiences these organizations provide have become more valuable, not less. When a young person learns to care for livestock, they're learning responsibility that no app can teach. When they grow a garden, they understand the patience and persistence required for any worthwhile endeavor. When they present their projects to judges and community members, they develop communication skills and confidence that will serve them whether they become farmers, teachers, engineers, or entrepreneurs.
These experiences teach young people that they can create value with their own hands and minds, that hard work produces tangible results, and that failure is not defeat but education. In a world that often tells young people they're consumers first, county fairs remind them they're creators, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Our Role as Historians and Community Stewards
As members of a historical society, we understand that history isn't just what happened. It's what continues to occur. County fairs like ours represent living history, where traditions established by our ancestors continue to shape young lives today. The same spirit that drove pioneers to share seed varieties and farming techniques now motivates 4-H members to develop sustainable agriculture projects and FFA chapters to tackle food security challenges.
When we document and celebrate these institutions, we're not just preserving the past. We're investing in the future. Every photograph of a young person proudly displaying their project, every story we collect from longtime fairgoers, every record we keep of evolving agricultural practices becomes part of the historical record that future generations will use to understand this pivotal moment in American history.
A Living Legacy
Much has changed, many things have been added, but the display of talents and products in the county are still the mainstay of the fair. The next time you walk through a county fair, remember: you're not just seeing livestock and vegetables. You're witnessing the continuation of American values, the development of future leaders, and the preservation of knowledge and traditions that have sustained us for generations.
That's the real magic of places like the Beltrami County Fair. From those first 10-pound turnips in Blackduck to today's innovative youth projects, our fair continues to celebrate what makes our community strong. And as historians, we have the privilege and responsibility to ensure these stories continue to be told.
Visit Us This Weekend!
The 2025 Beltrami County Fair continues through Sunday, August 10th. Weekend hours include exhibits open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday, and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. The carnival is open from noon to 5:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday with special armband pricing.
Be sure to stop by the Doud Cabin area, where the Beltrami County Historical Society has daily activities, including rope making, a pioneer toy scavenger hunt, a mini museum store, and blacksmith demonstrations. We'd love to meet you and share more stories about our community's rich heritage!
For the complete schedule and more information, visit beltramicountyfair.org or call (218) 444-8169. Gate admission is free, with daily parking just $5.