It was in the summer of 1950 that the Gallia County Junior Fair had its actual beginning. That year the FFA and 4-H members held a one day show on the lot of a local equipment dealer.

Additional facilities were required and in 1952 the fair was moved to the Holzer Airport where it was increased in size and became a three day fair with rides, concessions, and a program.

In 1956 the fair was held on this new site and a restroom was the only building that year.

In 1958 another new building, the Activities Building was erected to permit the display of FFA and 4-H projects.

In 1961 another building was erected for the display of commercial exhibits and designated as the Commercial Building.

In 1964 a modern building with restroom and shower facilities was completed.

In 1966, a new fair board office was built in the upstairs of the Commercial Building.

In 1968 new hard surface roads were built on the main fairgrounds, flood control drainage was installed, and expansion of electrical wiring in all buildings took place.

In 1973 due to an increase in livestock entries, the horse barn was converted to a dairy barn and a new horse barn which would hold up to one hundred horses was constructed.

In 1975 new restrooms and shower facilities were added to the campgrounds and both the main fairgrounds and campgrounds were connected to the Gallipolis City Northwest Sewer Project. Through twenty-five years the fair has grown and expanded to become officially recognized as the largest exclusive junior fair in the state of Ohio. The need for more land became a necessity, therefore in 1975, the board made a momentous decision and purchased an additional fifty-four acres adjacent to the present fairgrounds. This brought the total acres now owned by the fair board to ninety-five acres.

In 1977 the fair expanded to a six day event and a permanent fence was installed around the main fairgrounds. Also, a new meeting room was added to the fair office and one-half miles of roads were built in the parking areas.

In 1985 a ten year mortgage on the land purchased in 1975 was burned in a ceremony conducted at the fairgrounds. A set of portable scales were purchased.

In 1987, increased electricity needs demanded a new electrical service in the beef barn.

In the fall of 1989, due to another large increase in project numbers in the sheep and swine barn, the Board realized that it was once again time to make necessary preparations for the construction of a new barn to house projects.

In 1994-1996 the board of directors worked diligently to secure a lease arrangement with Producer’s Livestock Association. Because of this arrangement, an auction facility became a reality and area farmers once again were able to sell their livestock at a local facility. Also in 1996, the midway was moved from the center of the fair grounds to the front of the grounds.

1998 saw the Board looking into acquiring additional land with the hopes of moving the fairgrounds out of the floodplain which has continued to plague the site with flash flooding as often as six times in one month.

In the fall of 2004, the board began negotiating an agreement with the Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship Training Program to use the fairgrounds site as a training program in exchange for site prep work for the new fair grounds.

The fair’s campgrounds officially opened for business in April of 2005.

In the winter of 2015, a firm was contracted to do a feasibility study to determine if it was feasible to relocate the fairgrounds, with facilities to host other events outside of the fair, to the adjacent site owned by the fair board. The result of this study was yes there is a need for these facilities and we could potentially utilize the fairgrounds year round for activities and events. In addition, these events would have a very noticeable economic benefit for our businesses in Gallia County. It was also during this time that in the morning of February 25, 2015 the 1961 Commercial Building was a total loss due to a fire. With these things in mind, the board put the Long Range Committee to the task of putting together a comprehensive plan to provide for new fairgrounds and facilities to host events year round. This process included hosting several community meetings for getting input of using the insurance money from the fire to rebuild on the current site or construct a new building on the new site. Ideas were also gathered on what they would like to see at the new site. This information was the beginning stages of the comprehensive plan for the relocation project. During the public meetings, funding of the relocation efforts was also discussed. Several options were presented and discussed and in the late spring and early summer months directors met with the commissioners to discuss the potential of placing a one-quarter of a percent sales tax issue on the November ballot. This was agreed to and the issue was voted on in November, but unfortunately failed by 149 votes. The issue was again agreed to be placed on the spring primary ballot, but this time it failed by 248 votes. It was during this process that a subcommittee of the Long Range Committee was formed. It was named the Relocation Committee who’s primary responsibility was to seek out ideas for raising funds to move to the new site. This committee was composed of directors and interested individuals who will work with the fair board with the end goal of raising money to make the move happen.  During this same time the Long Range Committee was successful in applying for a grant through the Ohio Department Of Agriculture Capital Improvements Fund.

The Southern Ohio Agriculture Community Improvement Fund grant was matched from leftover money from the fire to construct a 75’ x 100’ open air pavilion during the summer of 2018. The plans are to connect these two pavilions together to make one 100’ x 210’ open air pavilion to hold events. These efforts of moving the fair grounds and securing the necessary finances to support this move, continue today as the safety of visitors to all the various events on the fairgrounds is and has been a very important concern of past, current, and future Boards.