Fairgrounds Heritage Foundation

06/11/2026

Viva Calle is happening on June 14. The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is the southern hub of the route. FHF will be at the Fairgrounds with a display table, giveaways, a few great items from our collection, and information about the 2026 fair. Stop by and say "Hi Neighbor!"

06/10/2026

A nod to our county agricultural past, the Fairgrounds Heritage Foundation received a donation of over 40 fruit box ends from Marianne R. Fruit lugs were shallow, ventilated crates or boxes historically used by farmers to harvest and transport delicate produce (such as cherries, apricots, and grapes) straight from the field to packing houses. A "lug" refers to the box's volume and shape, which were specifically designed to prevent bruising by not stacking fruit too deeply. During the height of agriculture in the Santa Clara Valley, companies like the Sunsweet and Mayfair Packing Company relied heavily on these. Many ranches and farms displayed their best products for judging at the Santa Clara County Fair. The canneries also had feature booths displaying their products and latest canning innovations. How many worked at any of the valley ranches or canneries and remember these boxes, or remember seeing the displays at the county fair? We'd love to hear your story!🍑🍅🧄🍇

06/03/2026

We recently acquired this mint condition lapel pin from the Fire Fighters Rodeo. The rodeo ran for many years in the 1950's and 1960's over Memorial Day weekend. Proceeds supported the firefighters Women and Children's fund.

05/20/2026

In January 2026, we received a donation from Teri Foley Smith of a pristine condition copy of Dick Barrett’s booklet A Brief History of the Santa Clara County Fair. The booklet contains many facts and history of the early years of the development of the property and the people who made it all happen. This booklet is one of our ‘go-to’ sources for early fair history. Dick Barrett was a regular columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, which ran from 1954 until his retirement in 1977. Dick wrote about politics, local history, people and events. He graduated from Santa Clara High School, class of 1928, had a passion for local history and was a strong supporter of the county fair. Dick was a family friend of Teri’s parents and this edition was dedicated to Teri. Thank you Teri for this wonderful donation to our collection.

05/13/2026

The upcoming Fair is a cornerstone of community engagement and historical awareness. The Fairgrounds Heritage Foundation is dedicated to preserving our local history and connecting community members. Our latest newsletter highlights exciting exhibits, volunteer opportunities, and collaborative efforts with local professionals to enrich the Fair experience. We invite everyone to participate in this celebration of our heritage. See our newsletter here: https://conta.cc/3QAc9P7

05/12/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend?? Come out to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds for the Autorama Car Show. New cars, vintage cars, custom cars, hot rods, music, food, and a military helicopter flyover, landing and display. Sunday is Shelby car day with ALL Shelby inspired cars for a START YOUR ENGINES Moment Of Sound! 1:00 SHARP! See you this weekend!

Tickets available online or at the gate. See more info below or at https://www.thefairgrounds.org/events/american-veterans-autorama/

04/22/2026

FHF has recently acquired two fantastic items from 1951, a match book cover and a button. Matchbook advertising was used as a ‘miniature billboard” concept, peaking in the 1940s–50s as a popular, low-cost marketing tool. The fair used this advertising practice from very early in its history. We have samples of matchbook covers in our collection from 1949 through 1976. The design on the matchbook cover was similar for several years. All of the matchbook covers featured the Cheery Farmer and the early years said “Hi! Neighbor Come to the Fair.” The 1960’s and 1970’s matchbook covers were strikingly similar to each other. Several had the Cheery Farmer, while some had the fairground arch, others had Bozo the Clown. Each matchbook cover had the dates of the fair, some with the year and some without the year. The pin back buttons were also used as ‘miniature billboard’ advertising. The illustration on this button was used from 1947 until 1953, with new dates updated each year. FHF has a 1 ¼” button from each of these years in very good condition. The fair continued to have buttons over the years and eventually displayed the yearly fair theme.

09/25/2025

It's the season for Haunted Houses! and a great partner with the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. The word on the street is - It's a terrific and scary haunted house. Come down and see what all the Boo's are about.

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09/16/2025

Join Us for Trivia Tuesday!

Who was the most notable person to portray the Cheery Farmer?

There were several people who portrayed the Cheery Farmer but the most notable person was T.M. "Ebb" Bohn. Ebb was an amateur radio talent show host on KEEN radio in the 1940’s. Ebb Bohn portrayed the Cheery Farmer for nearly 20 years. Donning blue overalls, a straw hat, and yellow duster, Ebb greeted millions of fairgoers and hosted other programs at the fairgrounds until his retirement from this role in 1971. He was often accompanied by his wife, Helen, as Mrs. Cheery Farmer. The Cheery Farmer has become synonymous in the minds of many as a symbol of the County Fair since the first fair. In 1941, the friendly cartoon farmer was created through a design contest to represent the fair’s agricultural roots. Mr. Bill Becker won the contest with the drawing of the Cheery Farmer. Mr. Al Buhot, Chairman of the Fair’s publicity committee, posed for the first drawings. The Cheery Farmer appeared at many functions during the year to help promote the County Fair. The local newspapers also conducted a contest for a fair slogan. Mrs. Lawrence Perry, a San Jose resident, won a $25 prize for “Hi, Neighbor, Come to the Fair''. This slogan was printed on the carpet bag carried by the Cheery Farmer and was used in many advertising and promotional materials. For decades, signs of the Cheery Farmer were a memorable sight in the city. A 14’ sign featuring the Cheery Farmer pointing south to the fairgrounds was famously placed on the Bank of America building in downtown San Jose, particularly during the fair's earlier years in the 1950s. This practice was a well-known way to advertise the event and built nostalgia for many residents. In recent years, the Cheery Farmer has continued to be a vibrant part of the fair, both in advertising and as a live character. Do you have a Cheery Farmer story to share with us?

09/13/2025

Come join us today at Cars in the Park at History San Jose .