The Colorado State Fair Weaves History and Ag Into Fun
In partnership with: Colorado Department of Agriculture
For 11 days each August through early September, nearly half a million Coloradoans venture to Pueblo to enjoy carnival rides, agriculture exhibits, live music, parades, rodeos and more at the Colorado State Fair.
Dating back to 1872 – before Colorado was a state – the fair is rooted in agriculture, where visitors can enjoy Colorado’s delicious local products in fair favorites like fries, sausages and beer in addition to specialties like sloppers – open-faced cheeseburgers smothered in Pueblo green chile.
Colorado State Fair competitions are a big draw for both competitors and audiences alike. They range from animal competitions showcasing livestock to food competitions such as pies, canning, homebrew beer and hobby wine. General entry competitions are open to both amateurs and professionals and include, needle and porcelain art, floriculture, quilts, and dolls. The fine arts competitions allow people to experience art gallery-like exhibitions, with unique pieces by emerging and professional artists.
“Our beer and wine competitions are different from other competitions,” says Trisha Fernandez, general entry and fine arts coordinator. “All judges are certified by the Beer Judge Certification Program.”
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Steeped in History
Originally held by the Southern Colorado Agricultural and Industrial Association, the fair sat on a 100-acre site north of Pueblo where horse shows and races were all the rage, with approximately 1,400 in daily attendance.
In 1888, the fair moved to 50 acres of land in Pueblo near Mineral Palace Park.
Now expanded to 102 acres, the fair has paved streets and historical buildings that support activities and entertainment while preserving its history and agricultural past.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022, the fair has seen many changes.
“Fairs used to be where people gathered to talk about agriculture,” says Scott Stoller, general manager. “Now, only 1% to 2% of people are involved in agriculture, so the fair is a place where people come to learn about agriculture, which is important since 100% of people rely on food and fiber.”
A Bright Future
Looking ahead, the Colorado State Fair has a 25-year facilities Master Plan with an emphasis on agriculture that includes a permanent ag space with interactive activities for year-round learning.
“We started building our Colorado Proud Farm Trail in 2022 and working on commodity cubes – activity centers that focus on geographic areas of Colorado and their agriculture, like Palisade peaches and San Luis Valley potatoes,” Stoller says.
Other new fair elements include climate-friendly green spaces and a new show barn for the livestock competitions.
Mark your calendar for the next Colorado State Fair, Aug. 25 through
Sept. 4 to experience all the fun and excitement while learning about Colorado agriculture. Visit coloradostatefair.com to learn more.