Agricultural fairs are an important annual event in 19th century rural areas. They provided an opportunity for the community to gather and learn. Fairs were organized to promote modern agricultural techniques, equipment and livestock breeds. They also provided opportunities to show off modern domestic innovations like sewing machines, washing machines, freezers and electricity. County fairs held and still hold competitions for the best agriculture and domestic products. Commercial vendors, entertainment and midways eventually made their way into the fair landscape.
The Oct. 2, 1875 Harper’s Weekly supplement published this image and a short article titled The Winning Cow. The short article reads:
“The ‘winning cow’ is of vastly greater importance then the so much talked of ‘winning horse.’ The value of the race-course, under judicious regulations, in the improvement of our breed of horses is very great; but it is of even more consequence that the breed and every circumstance affecting the profitable care of cattle should receive the utmost consideration of our people. Our agricultural fairs have done much to promote this consideration by encouraging competition and by rewarding excellence. Our illustration represents the most pleasant phase of this competition. The young farmer has brought home from the fair the winning cow and is exhibiting the medal to his good and beautiful wife, who doubtless justly appropriates to herself no small share of the medal of honor. The cow receives from the daughter’s hand most grateful attentions in the shape of delicious morsels, which she can better appreciate than any medal, while the curious and envious geese near by sustain their traditional character.”