Polk County WI Fair History

07/29/2026

A very good year at the Red School house where the Polk County Historical Societies hosted. 1871 visitors with lots of activities.

07/27/2026

A few photos and video clips from Sunday at the fair. It was warm!

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07/26/2026

Saturday photos and videos of the fair.

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07/25/2026

Photos from the Polk County WI Fair - Friday, July 24, 2026 https://photos.app.goo.gl/N4NzoJwD7fPRgMQw8
Lots of exhibits, animals and clips of judging chickens and cattle. A lovely day with a breeze and in the 70s on the second day of the fair.

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07/24/2026

Scott Hanson filmed the Grandstand Ribbon Cutting. You can view the short ceremony at

The Polk County Wisconsin Fair began in 1886 at the current site in...

07/24/2026

For a lot of Thursday photos of the Fair check out https://photos.app.goo.gl/i6zcpD3dr84bGhwz9

07/23/2026

A busy day Wednesday at the fair as the exhibitors brought in all of the entries. Thursday thru Sunday the fair is on beginning at 9am when most buildings open.
The Red School House got some decorations, vacuuming and exhibits as folks from Cushing's Sterling Eureka and Laketown Historical Society got it ready for its 66th year of hosting history on the fairgrounds. It hosted the 1861-66 fairs too, although then just south of Osceola - so it connects with the very first fair in the county.
We didn't get out to take many photos yesterday, but expect to watch the maple syrup judging Thursday morning (not Friday) and wander through the carnival and exhibits.

07/22/2026

Today, Wednesday, July 22, is entry day at the fair. At 1 pm you can pick up your entry envelope and wristband under the big tent by the administration building on the south end of the fair grounds.
Good Luck!
Stop in at the Historic Red School House and see what we have on display this year!

07/21/2026

Monday activity at the fair grounds picked up with trucks delivering things, vendor stands being setup, the big trucks from the carnival pulling in and fair volunteers hustling about getting things ready.
Three of us from the Sterling Eureka and Laketown Historical Society (SELHS) located in uptown Cushing were at the Red School House doing some maintenance.
We put in the 25 year old air conditioner donated 15 years ago and it worked fine. A wooden wheel chair wedge in front of the outside door should make it more handicap accessible. Inside Bert secured some of the old desks to planks to make them more stable. We put up displays from the Luck Historical Society with its Yo-Yos for sale and from SELHS.
We made a run to Walmart to get some of the free cookies we hand out -- quite a bit more expensive this year than last, coffee for the pot - also much more expensive than last year, and some cups and towels etc. SELHS covers the cost of this. However this year we have a box by the coffee and cookies for donations.
Wednesday we will bring a vacuum cleaner, duster, broom and mop to clean starting at 9 in the morning and then be ready for other historical societies to bring their displays in the afternoon.
The School House is actually older than the fair itself, having been built about a year before the first fair just south of Osceola and part of the fairs there from 1861-66. After that, the fair moved to St Croix Falls restarting in 1886 - 140 years ago.
Did you know that for the first fair in 1886 the first grandstand was built? It was replaced in 1909 and now in 2026. Thursday afternoon (not sure of the time) there is a dedication of the new grandstand that will include a little history of the fair too.
Monday Photos

07/20/2026

Today is cleanup day and the start of setup at the Red School House on the fair grounds. It will be open 10-2 as we stick the air conditioner in the windows, dust the desks, sweep the floor and do some repairs on the old desks and otherwise get things ready for Wednesday - entry day and the fair Thursday - Sunday.
We have invited the 9 historical societies in Polk County to each have a display at the school house as well as the Polk County WI Genealogical Society. The school house is hosted by the historical societies each year with activities for children and displays old school memorabilia.
Did you know that the School House came from Farmington Center where it was part of the first six Polk County Fairs held around it just south of Osceola? It was moved to the fairgrounds after it closed about 1960 and has been a historic stop at the fair for the past 66 years.
Photo of the 2021 dedication of the new ramp and stairway - a Boy Scout Eagle project by Russell Bagley.