Golden Valley County Fair

About Golden Valley County Fair

The first "fair" was held in 1912 and was called the Golden Valley Interstate Fair and was held at the newly created fairgrounds 1 mile west of Beach on what is now Harry Spiegelberg's land.  It included a 1/2 mile race track, well, dining hall, grandstand, stock sheds and a ladies display building.  The original committee consisted of H.C. Calendar, E.L. Holven, J.W. Snow, C.I. Cook, E.E. Noble and J.A. Miller.  The fair continued at this location until sometime during World War I.  In 1923, J.C. Russell, county agent, and a local group reorganized a fall fair but the old fairgrounds were never used.

During the 1930's a formal fair was not held but 4-H and Homemakers Achievement Days continued.  Then in 1941 the Beach Lions Club organized the Golden Valley County Fair and held the fair at the old airport that belonged to Dr. Bush & Paul Bunke.  In 1946 a measure was passed on the ballot to form a formal fair board and in 1948 the County Commissioners appointed Harry Halstead, Glenn Hathaway, Carl Johnson, Ed Kouba, Harry Kukowski, R.M. (Mac) Miller, Leo Nielsen, Orval Ross, Alvin Tescher, E.E. Ueckert, Tom Vanvig and George Wosepka.  A permanent site for the fair was established in 1949 through an agreement with the Athletic Association and in 1952 land was purchased to expand the fair grounds.

In 1950 the first of the current fair buildings was erected and since then 3 barns, 3 exhibit buildings, an arena, a concession stand and additional land has been acquired.

While many changes have occurred for the fair and its board the tradition of building community and family relations and providing a showcase for achievement still remains the same.