Sussex County Farm and Horse Show facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sussex County Farm and Horse Show
Incorporated in 1940
Genre	non-profit Agricultural Fair
Dates	07-14 August 2021
Frequency	Annually
Location(s)	Augusta, New Jersey
Inaugurated	1923 in Sussex County, NJ
Website	The New Jersey State Fair

The Sussex County Farm and Horse Show is a big, fun event held every August in Augusta, New Jersey. It's a ten-day fair that brings together farming, horses, and lots of entertainment. About 220,000 people visit each year! Since 1940, it has been run by a non-profit group, meaning it's not about making money but about serving the community.

Since 1999, this special event has also been known as the New Jersey State Fair. It's a place where you can learn about agriculture, see amazing horse shows, and enjoy many other exciting activities.

The Story of the Sussex County Fair

How the Horse Show Began

The story of the Sussex County Fair started way back in 1919. This was when the Branchville Riding Club was formed. Back then, horses were super important for travel, especially in the countryside. But this club was for people who just loved to ride horses for fun! They would ride together to different places around the county.

In 1923, the club's president, Walter R. Wright, decided to organize a small horse show. It was for his riding students at Rolison Farm. This first show was a huge hit! Because it was so popular, the Branchville Riding Club decided to hold a bigger, open horse show the next year. This happened at Ackerson Field, Ross's Corner. It was the first of many exciting shows to come.

By 1926, the horse show moved to a new ring on the William L. Bass Farm. People paid 25 cents to get in. Winners received ribbons and trophies, making the competition even more exciting!

Growing the Horse Show in Branchville

After a short break during the Great Depression, the horse show returned in 1933. It was held at the Selected Risks Insurance Company grounds in Branchville, New Jersey. The company's founder, D.L.B. Smith, loved horses too and invited the show to his property. The show stayed at this location for 43 years!

The 1933 show had 15 different competitions and 51 participants. All the money raised, about $280, went to help people with tuberculosis in Sussex County. This success led to the creation of the Sussex County Horse Show Association.

In 1934, the number of participants doubled! By 1935, over 1,000 people came to watch. That year, they even had the first "queen of the fair" competition.

The event officially became the Sussex County Horse Show in 1936. That year, two horses named Mike and Ike set a record! They pulled 9,840 pounds in a horse team pulling contest. This record stood for many years. By 1938, the show attracted 3,000 spectators. It was one of the biggest outdoor horse shows in the eastern United States!

The Fair Becomes a Farm and Horse Show

In 1940, something big happened. A local expert suggested that the horse show join forces with several farming groups. This led to the event becoming the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. From then on, it was both a horse show and an agricultural fair! This merger also made the event grow from one day to three days.

The fair took a break from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II. It came back in 1946. Just one year later, it grew again to a four-day event. In 1947, 10,000 people paid to attend.

The horse events became officially recognized by the American Horse Shows Association in 1950. The fair then expanded to five days in 1951. By 1952, attendance reached 20,000 people! This made the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show the top horse show for visitors and exhibitors.

In 1955, Hurricane Connie caused problems. The fairgrounds flooded, and animals had to be rescued. The fair closed a day early, which meant no money could be donated to charities that year. Soon after, Hurricane Diane hit, causing even more flooding and damage. Despite this, over 50,000 people still attended the fair in 1955!

By 1958, the horse show was named an "honor show" by the American Horse Shows Association. It attracted the best horse talent from all over the country. By 1960, there were 1,500 entries, including a full junior division for young riders. The number of horse rings grew to three. In 1963, the fair expanded to six days and nights. By 1965, horse show entries reached 2,400, and attendance was over 65,000!

Moving to the Augusta Fairgrounds

By the early 1960s, the fair had become too big for the Branchville grounds. Parking was a huge problem, with cars spilling onto private properties. It was also getting dangerous for people to walk between the horse rings and temporary stables. Plus, setting up and taking down all the temporary tents for the fair was a massive job.

So, the fair organizers decided to find a new home. In 1963, they bought a farm in Augusta, New Jersey. But it took many years before the fair could actually move there.

Around 1972, construction began at the new site. They started by creating a pond and building access roads. Construction picked up speed a few years later. Finally, in 1976, the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show moved to its new location in Augusta. This new place became known as the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

The first opening at the new fairgrounds was a bit chaotic! To celebrate the nation's 200th birthday, each Sussex County town was asked to bring a parade float. Also, people paid admission fees from their cars as they drove in. This caused a huge traffic jam, which many people remember as the worst in Sussex County history!

With their own land, the fair could now build permanent buildings. The first one was the Walter Richards building. It holds exhibits like home economics and art. Other permanent buildings include the Livestock Pavilion, horse stables, the Snook Museum, and the fair's main office. The newest building is the Shotwell 4-H Building, opened in 2007. It honors Phoebe and Ralph Shotwell for their dedication to 4-H programs.

The New Jersey State Fair Today

In 1999, the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show bought the name "New Jersey State Fair." So, it officially became the New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. Today, the fair still attracts about 220,000 visitors. It continues to celebrate its roots in agriculture and horses with displays, livestock shows, and horse competitions.

But today's fair also has tons of other fun things to do! You can enjoy concerts, a petting zoo, and exciting demolition derbies. There are also tractor pulls, carnival rides, and even pig races! You can watch lawnmower races and see amazing chain saw art auctions. There are so many activities for people of all ages to enjoy!

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 show to be canceled. But it returned in 2021, bringing back all the fun and excitement!