In a state that has more cattle than people, Nebraska is renowned for its significant achievements in farming and livestock production. In the spirit of county fair season, let's visit some interesting fair entries in Nebraska’s recent and distant past!
That’s a big pig!
In 1928, a pig named Dazzler from Leigh, Nebraska in Colfax County made headlines. At 1,285 pounds, he was the unofficial World’s Largest Hog of the time!
Heavy-weight pumpkins
Growing huge pumpkins for the county fair is a rewarding pastime that has developed into a fussy and technical endeavor. In 1904, at the Custer County Fair in Broken Bow, NE, a local merchant offered an Estey organ to the winner of the largest pumpkin contest. The winning pumpkin weighed just 81.75 pounds, a good size for that time period.
Fast forward to August of 2022 in Syracuse, Nebraska, Duane Hansen set a remarkable record with his 846-pound pumpkin named "Berta." This impressive pumpkin was so large that Hansen used it to float 38 miles down the Missouri River, breaking a previous record for the longest journey by pumpkin boat. Growing pumpkins that size takes an incredible amount of time, trial and error, and tending to it like a beloved pet.
Custer County Fair display at Broken Bow in 1886. RG2608-2963
The Better Baby Contest - yes, this actually happened
The 1914 Nebraska State Fair had 500 entries from every county in Nebraska. While these contests did bring more attention to the care and physical development of children during a time of high infant mortality, they eventually fizzled out after losing popularity.
Caption: Photographer Emanuel Wolfe depicted several finalists in a Nebraska Better Baby contest, each wearing a prize ribbon. NSHS RG2836.PH0-532
When butter sculptures were all the rage
It takes about 600 lbs of butter to make a life-size Jersey Cow. J. E. Wallace was a Nebraska sculptor and taxidermist who carved butter statues all over the United States at the height of this 1890-1930 artistic frenzy. He made a life-sized Jersey cow butter sculpture for the 1923 Adams County Fair in Hastings, Nebraska. Butter sculpting is a big deal to our neighboring state fair in Iowa.
Not a fair entry, but still a record champion.
This record goes to our state tree, the Eastern Cottonwood. Given this title in 2013, the National Champion Eastern Cottonwood Tree is located near Beatrice, Nebraska. This remarkable tree stands 88 feet tall with a canopy spread of 108 feet and a trunk circumference of 36 feet, 9 inches. American Forests, a national conservation group, recognized it as the largest known eastern cottonwood.
Visit the Gretna Nebraska farmers market
Events like county fairs, Nebraska State Fair, and Husker Harvest Days draw visitors from all over the state and country, showcasing the state’s agricultural products and innovations. Nebraska is deeply rooted in agriculture, with each town and region contributing uniquely to the state’s rich farming heritage. The state’s agricultural success is not only a result of its fertile land and favorable climate but also due to the hardworking individuals and communities that have cultivated these lands for generations. Support Nebraska agriculture at your local county fair and the Gretna Farmers Market, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, where you can meet our county fair champions, Golden Rose Homestead and Papa Jack’s Treats!
