State Fairs: A Means of Exposing America’s Youth to the Veterinary Profession?

State and county fairs have existed for a long period in the United States and many parts of the world. One of the first recognized state fairs in the US was held in 1841 in New York.1 That fair's purpose was the hosting competitive exhibitions for livestock, homemade goods, and farm produce. These events served as entertainment for rural communities where access to such venues was limited. Fairs also were an opportunity for farms to exhibit their produce and livestock. Over the years as more of the population moved away from agricultural production, fairs are a method of keeping urban communities connected to their rural roots. Recently, livestock shows have become a prominent business centered around the core values of hard work, manual labor, educational development, nurturing animals to grow, and to teaching a grass-roots work ethic.