Sussex County Farm and Horse Show
sussex county farm horse show tenday agricultural fair held sussex county fairground augusta new jersey every august attracts approximately attendee annually run nonprofit organization since since sussex county farm horse show designated new jersey state fair origin sussex county farm horse show date back formation branchville riding club time automobile still rare sight countryside horse primary mode transportation branchville riding club established however recreational riding member riding together pleasure various destination throughout county walter r wright president riding club proprietor riding stable culvers lake enlisted aid mr mr condit compton miss lydia bale wellknown horsewoman county together organized small horse show walter wright pupil rolison farm first horse show success branchville riding club organized open horse show ackerson field ross corner following year first many show would held year follow horse show moved new ring william l bass farm old newton road time club charged cent admission offered ribbon trophy sharpen competition depression year intervened however horse show held october member branchville riding club organized branchville community horse meet ground selected risk insurance company known selective insurance group inc branchville new jersey club held meet ground selected risk invitation dlb smith company founder horseman also horse show participant horse show would held location next year horse show included class competition participant monies generated competition donated sussex county tuberculosis league prompted success show sussex county horse show association formed augustus whitmore president wr decker secretary lydia bale treasurer horse show saw doubling number participant similar number occurring attendance exceeded spectator first time first “queen fair” competition took place horse show event officially incorporated sussex county horse show year horse team pulling took center stage heavyweight record pull pound achieved mike ike team owned william h sanford son sparta township record stood bill rock team owned harold daniel newark valley new york pulled pound sussex county horse show drew spectator larger outdoor show east surpassed national horse show held madison square garden suggestion francis morrow local representative rutgers cooperative extension sussex county horse show merged several agricultural group reincorporate sussex county farm horse show year forward event would run horse show agricultural fair result merger new “fair” expanded oneday event threeday event sussex county farm horse show held due world war ii returned one year later expanded day event accommodate continuing growth paid admission horse event officially recognized american horse show association one year later fair expanded fiveday event attendance representing growth year sussex county farm horse show rated top horse show attendance exhibitor interest disaster struck however hurricane connie hit new jersey hard fair underway branchville fairground flooded necessitating rescue fair animal horse h animal fair closed one day early resulting monitory loss first time since prevented fair donating money local charity worst yet come however five day hurricane connie hit new jersey hurricane diane came raging stressing overflowing stream several local dam failed branchville experienced approximately million property damage despite closing one day early admission reached mark first time horse show sussex county farm horse show named “honor show” american horse show association time horse show attracting best horse talent country entry complete junior division number ring increased three ring year fair expanded sixday night event number entry horse show increased attendance exceeded early apparent sussex county farm horse show outgrown branchville fairground parking limited spilled onto privately owned property local resident making enough money parking car property pay tax addition internal pedestrian traffic becoming dangerous due increased crowd people within crossing ring temporary stable lastly sheer size fair entirely composed temporary tent structure raised taken close fair becoming untenable response sussex county farm horse show formed committee locate suitable property purchase new fairground limiting number site three farm owned bill mcdanolds located augusta new jersey purchased would however many year move new property would made construction new ground began first creation pond several access road construction accelerated several year later sussex county farm horse show moved new location augusta new location became known sussex county fairground opening new fairground however go smoothly celebration nation bicentennial sussex county township encouraged bring float fairground would paraded around main ring opening night time admittance fee collected pedestrian entrance gate today rather roadway access point attendee entered car result many consider worst traffic jam ever occurred sussex county property ownership sussex county farm horse show able construct permanent building first building constructed walter richards building house home economics division exhibit art exhibit h exhibit permanent structure included livestock pavilion horse show office variety livestock stable snook museum fair administration building fair newest building shotwell h building opened honor phoebe ralph shotwell many year dedication h sussex county farm horse show purchased trademark new jersey state fair renamed new jersey state fairsussex county farm horse show today fair attracts approximately attendee continues maintain agriculture horse show root agricultural display livestock horse show today fair also includes type entertainment including concert petting zoo demolition derby tractor pull standard modified carnival ride pig race lawnmower race chain saw art auction many many activity enjoyed age covid pandemic caused show cancelled deferred new jersey state fair