Cannon Grange has a long tradition of holding an annual agricultural fair. The first fair was in 1933 and continued until suspended during the Second World War. The fair was reinstated in 1975 and has been held annually ever since.

In 1975 numbering of the fair was restarted as the "first annual" and that is why the 2002 fair was styled as only the 27^th annual. However, for the 2003 fair the former numbering was reinstated and that fair became the 71^th Anniversary Fair.

The fair has always been 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. the last Sunday in August, rain or shine, at the Cannon Grange Hall.

Fair admission is only two dollars for adults, children twelve or under are free of charge. Where else can one get such value? An authentic agricultural fair complete with exhibits, farm animals, entertainment and good safe fun for the entire family.

Fair attendance often exceeds at least two thousand adults and children. The one in 1981 saw attendance of five thousand! Traditionally popular events in the '80s and '90s included a working oxen show, but was discountiued when the adjacent property was developed.

As one would expect of a small town country fair there is an exhibition of baked and canned goods, crafts and collections, vegetables, flowers, needlework, farm animals and photography, all submitted by local citizens for fun and the hope of winning a blue ribbon or, failing that, a red, white or green one.

Children especially enjoy entering their exhibits. It delights Cannon Grange to see the excitement on the faces of children to see which ribbon they won. The fair is produced primarily with children in mind.

A refreshment tent serving hot food, featuring the Grange Burger (which defines a burger with 'everything") is a featured attraction.

At 4 P.M., at the conclusion of the fair, produce, flowers and baked goods from the exhibits are auctioned for the benefit of Cannon Grange. Many times the prices rise skyward for a prize entry.

Space is rented to concessionaires for a moderate fee.

Proceeds from the fair are an important contribution to the cost of maintaining the historic Grange building in addition to philanthropic works.

In days gone by the emphasis for exhibits and entries was more on farm produce and larger farm animals.

Today, exhibits are submitted mainly by back yard gardeners and people with small animals, such as rabbits, ducks and chickens, which are often pets instead of farm animals.

Each year there are the same general departments of exhibits as well as special categories - such as a state baking contest or quilting contest -- that change every year.

Baked and canned goods (cookies, brownies, bars, pies, decorated cakes, sponge or angel food cake, coffee cake, yeast bread, quick bread, muffins, jam, jelly, fruit butter, relish, pickles, canned fruit, canned vegetables);

Crafts and collections (this is a popular department for children);

Vegetables and fruit (snap beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, egg plant, cucumbers, onions, peppers, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, melons, pumpkins, parsley, berries, corn, radishes, herbs);

Flowers (asters, cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, dahlias, sunflowers, gladioli, salvia, snapdragons, roses, arrangements and collections);

Sewing and needlework (clothing, quilts, hand knitting, crocheting, afghans, needlework, rugs, novelties and household items (e.g. pillows, toys, decorative aprons));

Poultry and fowl (large fowl, bantam, water fowl, exotic and game birds);

Rabbits (any breed) (popular for children with pets);

Draft Cattle was once a category but that has gone the way of the buffalo.

Photography (A modern addition. Color and black and white with a special category for a theme photograph each year.)