The Minnesota State Fair – a little bit of history.
In 1917, the United States entered the Great War, World War 1, which touched the life of every American. Some State Fair organizers believed the fair should be cancelled in 1917 due to the rations that had been imposed on necessary resources. Many of the resources that made the Minnesota State Fair possible. To name a few, there were rations on gasoline, sugar, wheat and meat. In addition, many believed the railways that transported people and livestock to St. Paul would be reallocated for the war efforts.
However, the Agricultural Society presented an idea for the fair to be a “food training camp”. The idea was to introduce Minnesotans to new agricultural products, livestock and farm machinery. Agricultural machinery had been exhibited at the fair since 1860, but the 1917 fair featured the most efficient models. With the increase in demand for food, combined with the Army taking both men and horses for the war effort, there was more motivation for farmers to have a mechanical driven farm. The 1917 fair also provided fair attendees with classes on food production. Class offerings ranged from gardening to canning. Even children were encouraged to form clubs to plant gardens or raise livestock.
http://www.mnopedia.org/event/minnesota-state-fair-1917
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