Western Idaho Fair

Western Idaho Fair
The Western Idaho Fair is an annual state fair of the U.S. state of Idaho. It has been held in the capital city of Boise, Idaho every late summer/early fall since 1897, except for a few scattered years in between. The 2008 Western Idaho Fair will be held August 15th through the 24th and features the theme “Play Your Heart Out.”
History
The first fair of the now known Western Idaho Fair was held in 1897 and was known as the Idaho Intermountain Fair. As with many fairs at that time the Idaho Intermountain Fair was primarily an agricultural exhibition. Livestock of all kinds was featured. Sheep, cattle, horses and hogs were shipped to Boise from all over the West for the event. [Hart 10 - Hart, Arthur A. Western Idaho Fair: A Centennial History. Boise. Joslyn & Morris Co., 1997.] In the spring of 1902, the fair association purchased 84 acres of land at the present day corner of Fairview and Orchard and moved the fair to that site. [Hart 22 - Hart, Arthur A. Western Idaho Fair: A Centennial History. Boise. Joslyn & Morris Co., 1997.] This was also the year that the fair welcomed William S. Cody’s (a.k.a. Buffalo Bill’s) Wild West Show to the Idaho Intermountain Fair. [Hart 27 - Hart, Arthur A. Western Idaho Fair: A Centennial History. Boise. Joslyn & Morris Co., 1997.] The fair of 1913 included its first full-fledged rodeo, called the Boise Stampede. This rodeo included the best livestock and contestants from other famous rodeos such as the Pendleton Round- Up and Cheyenne Frontier Days [Hart 30 - Hart, Arthur A. Western Idaho Fair: A Centennial History. Boise. Joslyn & Morris Co., 1997.] .The fair suffered pretty heavily in the next 20 years due to economic issues, wars, and a simple lack of interest. From 1913 to 1935 the fair changed names five times, and was not even held in eight of those years. Not until 1936 did Ada County Commissioners appoint a fair board to organize a new Western Idaho State Fair. Ed Sproat was named fair manager at that time and after a successful 1936 fair a gift of $1,000 was given to him for a “job well done.” This was the first time any money had been given to the fair volunteers. [Hart 54 - Hart, Arthur A. Western Idaho Fair: A Centennial History. Boise. Joslyn & Morris Co., 1997.] In 1967 the growing fair was moved to its current location at 5610 Glenwood, on the corner of Chinden and Glenwood in Boise. This is also the year that the name of the fair changed to its current name of Western Idaho Fair. Bob Lorimer, Idaho Statesman reporter and agricultural columnist for many years, wrote, “Even the name is new – and so is everything else except familiar faces and tradition.” [Hart 60 - Hart, Arthur A. Western Idaho Fair: A Centennial History. Boise. Joslyn & Morris Co., 1997.]
Events
Through the years Western Idaho Fair has showcased Idaho crops, livestock, arts, culture and has hosted a variety of food booths and vendors. The fair has hosted an assortment of judging competitions, horse racing, and popular entertainers. The list of notable people who have visited the Western Idaho Fair, either as guests or as entertainers, is impressive including Charles Lindbergh in 1927, Slim Pickens in 1946, William Shatner in 1968, The Doobie Brothers and President Ronald Reagan in 1976, Paul Revere and the Raiders in 1971 and 1975, The Charlie Daniels Band in 1984 and 1988, Muhammed Ali in 1985 and 1986, Reba McIntire and Conway Twitty in 1986, Johnny Cash in 1990 and many other distinguished artists and entertainers. The late J.R. Simplot of Idaho, world renowned for creating a process to freeze potatoes and thus supply McDonalds with its infamous French fries, was a fan of the draft horse and mule show and rarely missed a fair in his 99 years.

2008 Western Idaho Fair Grandstand Events [www.idahofair.com]
Horse Racing at Les Bois Park
•Friday, August 15, post time 6:00 PM
•Saturday, August 16, post time 1:30 PM
Gary Allan- Grandstand Concert
•Tuesday, August 19- 7:30 PM
•FREE with Fair Admission!
Chicago- Grandstand Concert
•Wednesday, August 20- 7:30 PM
•FREE with Fair Admission!
Corbin Bleu- Grandstand Concert
•Thursday, August 21- 7:30 PM
•FREE with Fair Admission!
The Temptations- Grandstand Concert
·Friday, August 22- 7:30 PM
·FREE with Fair Admission
Tractor Pull
•Saturday, August 23- 12:00 PM

Current Board of Directors [expoidaho.com]
•Glen Orthel, President
•Susie Boring-Headlee
•Clint Berry
•Mike Reynoldson
•Clair Bowman
•Mary-Michael Rodgers
•Ike Sweesy
•Bob Batista, Director
References