HISTORY OF THE KENDALL COUNTY FAIR
The Kendall County Fair officially began in 1841. The first Kendall County Agricultural Fair was held in Oswego in 1854. Only in 1856, did the Fair take place in Plano. Beginning in 1857, the Kendall County Fair spent the remainder of its original 53 years in Bristol and Yorkville vicinity. The Fair was celebrated for four days in September and appeared to be one of the best county fairs in the state of Illinois.
Entertainment included horse races, chariot races, musical entertainment, games of chance, greased pole competitions, mule races, foot races, and an ice cream stand. Exhibits consisted of horticulture, floriculture, livestock, needlework, and machinery.In 1894 the Kendall County Fair began as a joint stock company and became an association. Entertainment at the time included America’s great pastime, baseball. In 1904, the decision was made to shorten the fair to only two days due to structural expenses and slow ticket sales. Despite every attempt to increase ticket sales during the next few years, the Fair Association was unable to meet its debts. The decision was made to end the Fair and in August 1907 the headline read: “Died in 53rd Year, Kendall County Old Fair is a goner.”
After working diligently since 1988, the Fair opened again in 1993 as a dream became a reality for many dedicated individuals. The Kendall County Fairgrounds is on Route 71, less than a mile west of Route 47, just south of Yorkville in a true country setting.
The objectives of the Kendall County Fair is to further the education objectives of the 4-H program in agriculture and home economics; to improve and encourage the breeding of fine stock and poultry; to stimulate the study of arts and sciences; to hold and give an annual fair where the products of the same may be exhibited, and to do any and all other things that are necessarily incident thereto.
The Kendall County Fair now usually takes place around the first weekend in August and runs four days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Entertainment usually includes local business demos, truck and tractor pulls, country western bands, and a rodeo. Also, contests, commercial exhibits, hand crafters’ market, great food, good company and more, are what draw community members from Kendall County and neighboring counties to gather every year!
The current Kendall County Fair Board consists of 18 members and is supported by many volunteers and sponsors. LeaAnn Koch is the current President of the Board. Before LeaAnn, Mike Drendel held the title of President of the Board from 1991 to 2019.
