In a world of streaming entertainment, online shopping and digital experiences, there is still something special about walking through the gates of a county fair.
It is the sound of a tractor pulling down the track, the smell of fresh food cooking, the excitement of seeing a child meet a farm animal for the first time and the simple joy of sharing an experience together.
For Delaware County Fair Board President Jason Craig, that is exactly why county fairs continue to matter.
Fairs, he explained, also create revenue tha helps fuel the local economy.
“A huge benefit of a county fair is the economic impact to the local community that they’re in,” Craig said.
County fairs bring visitors into the community, creating business for local vendors, restaurants, hotels and shops while generating sales tax revenue.
“Fairs generate an incredible amount of revenue for businesses, for sales tax, and they’re a huge economic driver in that regard,” Craig said.
But the value of a fair goes beyond dollars and cents.
For many visitors, especially those who do not live or work in agriculture, the fair may be one of the few opportunities each year to connect with farming and learn where their food comes from.
“There’s not a lot of that in our communities anymore,” Craig said. “If you’re involved with agriculture, you know about agriculture. If you aren’t involved, then you have zero idea.”
The Delaware County Fair helps bridge that gap by bringing agriculture directly to visitors through its livestock exhibits, animal barns and youth programs.
For first-time visitors, Craig recommends taking time to explore everything the fairgrounds have to offer.
The midway is an obvious starting point for thrill seekers. Dreamland Amusements brings a wide variety of rides, including large-scale attractions that create the classic fair experience.
But the animal barns are a must-see.
The Delaware County Fair features more than 1,400 animals during fair week, offering visitors a chance to see everything from livestock raised by local youth to working farm animals.
“We are very fortunate in that regard,” Craig said. “You can see any type of farm animal - we’re going to have them all at the fair.”
When asked why county fairs remain relevant today, Craig pointed to their ability to bring people together and create lasting memories for families.
Those memories, Craig said, are part of what makes the fair different from other forms of entertainment.
Visitors can experience things they cannot find at a movie theater or shopping mall - live performances, hands-on activities, animals, competitions and the unexpected moments that happen when thousands of people gather in one place.
