Why our focus is on Agriculture?

With the demise of the small family farm, the opportunity for families to be exposed to the agricultural industry is harder to achieve. The Essex County Agricultural Society wishes to carry on the traditions that Essex County Fair was build on. State Fairs are of the largest sources of agricultural, educational exhibits to take your youngsters to or for you to take a stroll down memory lane. The number of exhibitors at livestock shows and horse shows is huge.

The Essex County Fair offers an alternative. It is a small fair with a personal touch., but it has most of the agricultural aspects of the bigger fair. The barns house livestock of many species, horses, dairy cattle, beef, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and rabbits, Historical and agricultural displays are set up in Floral Hall and the Cooperative Extension Building. Livestock shows are scheduled daily so check our website and flyers for times.

Harness Racing Continues

Harness racing is a rural past time that became popular at the end of the eighteen century. By the mid 1800’s it had become an institution at hundreds of country fairs across the nation. From these races came the development of the American Standardbred. The Standardbred is bred with endurance, temperament, and anatomy uniquely suited to racing under harness. The Essex County Fair continues to carry on the harness racing tradition.