The State Fair Of West Virginia Will Soon Mark 100 Years Of Tradition And Economic Growth In The Greenbrier Valley

Sunday, August 3, 2025

The State Fair of West Virginia will soon complete 100 years of bringing fun, food, and farming to nan Greenbrier Valley. What began successful 1921 arsenic a elemental workplace show pinch a fewer bluish ribbons has blossomed into 1 of nan biggest celebrations successful West Virginia.

The locals person swapped a fistful of pig pens for a sprawling midway, countless rides, and unrecorded music. Today nan Fair pumps jobs and smiles into nan Valley, while nan smell of fried mixed and caller hay fills nan aerial for tens of thousands of visitors each August.

From Humble Beginnings To A Major Event

The State Fair’s origins day backmost to 1921, erstwhile a group of farmers successful nan Greenbrier Valley came together to beforehand section agriculture and supply a gathering spot for nan community. Initially called nan Greenbrier Valley Fair, nan arena showcased livestock, crops, and section products. The first twelvemonth saw nan building of nan harness racing way that still stands coming arsenic a awesome feature.

By 1941, nan West Virginia Legislature officially named nan arena nan State Fair of West Virginia. Despite a region during World War II, nan Fair resumed successful 1946 and has only continued to turn since then.

Expanding Its Reach

What started arsenic a section cultivation accumulation has expanded into a multifaceted arena that now includes nationally recognized euphony acts, carnival rides, nutrient vendors, and acquisition exhibits. It is nary longer conscionable astir showcasing section agriculture but has go a awesome intermezo and taste arena pinch thing for everyone.

As a nonprofit organization, nan State Fair of West Virginia useful year-round to guarantee its success. They attraction connected strategical planning, organization involvement, and reinvestment successful nan region, each of which lend to nan event’s continued growth.

Economic Impact: By The Numbers

The State Fair is simply a awesome economical contributor to nan Greenbrier Valley. It draws much than 160,000 visitors annually, galore from extracurricular nan region, who enactment successful section hotels, dine astatine section restaurants, and bask nan area’s attractions.

A caller study revealed that nan Fair generates complete 16.9 Million USD each twelvemonth for nan state. This includes much than 2.5 Million USD successful taxation revenue, arsenic good arsenic boosted income for section businesses. The Fair besides creates important employment opportunities, pinch complete 200 workers hired for nan event, contributing 280,000 USD successful payroll during nan 10-day event.

Additionally, section nonprofit organizations, schools, and civic groups use from nan Fair. The State Fair pays much than 65,000 USD for services provided by these organizations during nan event.

Beyond nan 10 days of nan Fair, nan fairgrounds service arsenic a year-round venue for different events specified arsenic RV rallies, festivals, and expos. This year, nan inaugural Wild Trails Festival attracted attendees from each complete nan country, generating important attraction for nan region.

Supporting Agriculture And Education

At its core, nan State Fair of West Virginia remains a ceremony of nan state’s cultivation roots. The arena showcases section livestock, produce, and workplace products, keeping nan traditions of agrarian West Virginia alive.

The Fair besides supports younker engagement successful agriculture done 4-H and FFA programs, offering scholarships and hands-on acquisition opportunities. Many participants spell connected to prosecute careers successful agriculture, contributing to nan region’s system and preserving its farming legacy.

Impact On Local Tourism And Community Pride

While nan economical benefits of nan Fair are clear, its taste effect is arsenic important. The State Fair of West Virginia is 1 of nan state’s astir beloved traditions. It fosters a consciousness of organization pridefulness and relationship crossed generations.

Tourism officials in installments nan Fair pinch helping to raise nan floor plan of nan region, encouraging visitors to return twelvemonth aft year. Attendees often research different section attractions specified arsenic nan Greenbrier River Trail and nan Greenbrier Resort, strengthening nan area’s tourism industry.

Looking To The Future

The Fair’s 100th day bash is conscionable astir nan corner, and nan group successful complaint are already looking up pinch excitement. They’re moving connected shiny caller buildings, amended shows, and ways to person nosy connected nan fairgrounds moreover erstwhile summertime ends. All these updates are not conscionable for fun; they’re smart moves that will support nan Fair increasing and make judge nan Greenbrier Valley keeps humming pinch occupation and visitant dollars.

The Fair’s hundredth day isn’t conscionable a chance to look backmost astatine nan past; it shows really overmuch it still matters to their economy, their farms, and their people. For a century, it’s been a surviving communicative of toughness, time-honored customs, and nan existent bosom of West Virginia.