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The Dakota County Fair can thank Farmington, Minnesota, for rescuing it—not once, but twice.

A group of people established the Dakota County Agricultural Society (DCAS) in 1858, and one of its activities was to sponsor an annual fair. After a few years, however, interest waned, and no fairs were held from 1864 to 1868.

Worried about losing their significance, DCAS sent representatives to towns throughout the county to seek support and a permanent home for the fair. In 1869, Farmington was chosen to be the host. The role came with big responsibilities: pay for the necessary infrastructure and buildings and make sure the fair was a success. But Farmington rose to the challenge and put on a great fair—so successful, in fact, that a larger site was needed three years later.

The DCAS purchased land in nearby Empire Township for that purpose and relocated buildings, stalls, and pens from the Farmington fairgrounds. But the new location was a flop, and the fair struggled. Finally, in 1900, the DCAS sold the land and again asked for help from Farmington, who created an unofficial fairground each year by closing its streets and asking shopkeepers to clear their shelves for exhibits. After sixteen years like this, the DCAS purchased twenty acres in nearby Castle Rock Township.

Now ready to take ownership and ensure the fair’s future, the county purchased the land and an additional five acres. For the county’s 53rd fair in 1918, three new buildings and a racetrack were constructed. A dance pavilion was eventually built, adding excitement and the fair’s sole source of income throughout the difficult Great Depression years.

The county continued to support the fair through the Great Depression, using taxes for debt payments and advancing cash as needed. After World War II, interest in the fair began to pick up, and youth attractions were added. The county purchased 160 acres in 1977 to expand the fairgrounds, and the event grew steadily.

In 2014, the University of Minnesota’s master gardeners began moving their educational and display gardens to the fairgrounds. Their six acres of gardens, adjacent to a large gravel and sand mining site owned by Dakota Aggregates in Rosemount, needed a new home. Traffic and dust from the mining site had become a safety concern. The gardens now have greater visibility (the fair draws 130,000 visitors each August), and the fairgrounds look better than ever.

When visiting the fair, Farmington tutors, teachers, students, and families should be sure to visit the Dakota City Heritage Village, a 1900-era village and museum, complete with costumed docents. Established in 1978, the non-profit is comprised of twenty-two buildings, including a working blacksmith shop, train depot, family home, millinery shop, newspaper office, and schoolhouse, where the first-ever Farmington teachers provided tutoring in basic subjects to children of local farmers.

One of the biggest of Minnesota’s ninety county fairs, the Dakota County Fair is a mainstay of entertainment in Farmington’s summer schedule—and a big part of its history.