ABOUT OUR FAIR
The Plymouth County Fair has been bringing people together for generations to celebrate agriculture, youth achievement, and community pride. What began in 1941 has grown into one of Iowa’s largest county fairs, featuring 4-H and FFA exhibits, entertainment, and family traditions that continue to evolve year after year. Today, it remains a place where hard work is showcased, memories are made, and the spirit of Plymouth County comes to life.
Our history
The first Plymouth County Fair held at the Le Mars fairgrounds was September 8-10, 1941.
After outgrowing the fair’s original headquarters in Merrill, the Plymouth County 4-H and Agricultural Society moved the fair to Le Mars, at the same site where the fair is held today.
On May 16, 1941, at a special meeting in the Union Hotel, the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce unanimously voted to purchase twenty acres for $3,000. It would be used for the promotion of agriculture, 4-H and FFA work in Plymouth County. An agricultural society would be organized by June 1, 1944.
They voted to authorize county 4-H clubs to erect buildings and make improvements. The girls used the county club for their exhibits and the boys had tents for exhibiting their entries. Other feature events were held at the nearby Le Mars Municipal Park.
In 1947, a block building and two livestock barns, one for swine and one for calves — at the cost of $950 — was constructed. The number of exhibits was growing rapidly.
In 1948, a loud speaker was installed and the sixth livestock building was consturcted.
At the 1949 fair, a record three-day attendance was set. Some 15,000 people attended.
In the following years, the fair continued to grow — new buildings, food stands, and bigger and better entertainment was incorporated. In 1956, eleven additional acres were purchased at a price of $1,000 per acre.
Another swine barn was built, with a scale under the roof, seating space for 100 people and a show ring. It was built for a cost of $7,004.
In 1964, the 4-H and Ag Committee was given permission to build a 4-H Food Stand. This was be a joint boys and girls club stand. In that year, the Fairboard bought what was known as the Girl’s 4-H Building for $550. The north end was used by the KLEM radio station. In 1966, the covered rest area was added.
In the mid 70s the Pioneer Village was developed. This involved moving existing buildings to the fairgrounds, a process which lasted until the mid 90s. A stage and daily entertainment was also added to the Village. Since then, many Village buildings have undergone renovation and it is a hub of activity in July and December, when the fairgrounds serves as the host site for a popular Christmas celebration.
Additional livestock buildings, commercial space, and a large multi-use building have been built to accommodate the ever changing needs of the community.
The fair continues to be one of the largest county fairs in Iowa — with more than 112,000 people attending the now five day event. The Plymouth County 4-H and FFA programs have more than 500 members.
1898
July 18 – Le Mars Sentinel. MERRILL: (from the Record) “Ex-mayor Moore, of the county metropolis, was down this way this week working in the interests of the county fair and incidentally the disposition of the fair grounds.”
1898
- 20 acres purchased – $3,000
Sept. 8-10 – First Plymouth County - Fair held at the new fairgrounds, located in Le Mars
1941
- 20 acres purchased – $3,000
- Sept. 8-10 – First Plymouth County Fair held at the new fairgrounds, located in Le Mars
1956
10.36 acres purchased – $10,360
1961
1885 School House – Originally located 2 miles east of Struble, the school was moved to the fair at a cost of $400. Known as Elgin No. 2, the Schlesser School, Groetken School, and the Deegan School, it originally ran north and south on the grounds. It was rotated to an east/west orientation when the Village was started.
1964
July 22 – Grading began for the 4-H food stand. It was completed by Aug. 10 for the 1964 fair. It was constructed with volunteer labor at a cost of $2500.
1974
5.08 acres purchased – $18,750
1975
The Country Store (built in 1930) became a part of the Pioneer Village. It was originally a neighborhood store.
1976
- Built in 1876, at 115 1st Ave NE, Le Mars, the Blair House was added to the Pioneer Village, thanks to the Rotary and Friday Clubs. The current tenant is Plymouth County 4-H.
- Built on site in 1976, at a cost of $3,129, the chapel is overseen by a committee who has been responsible for new stained glass windows in 2009 and new carpet in 2015.
- The Blacksmith Shop was built on site by area saddle club
1977
- The Hans Barm, Remsen, windmill was added.
- Using lumber from the Old Baptist Church and a home being torn down in Le Mars, the Pioneer Village Drug Store was built on site.
- Originally the office for the Le Mars Cooperative Lumber Company, and brought to the fair as a project of the Le Mars Kiwanis, the Bakery came to the Village in 1977.
- The original Kiddie Barn was constructed this year. It became obsolete and in 2012 the Kiddie barn relocated to the barn labeled as “Plymouth County
1978
- The Millenary Shop originated from the Struble area, where it was an outdoor kitchen.
- One of the first buildings built in Struble – in the early 1900s – moved to the Village. While in Struble, it was the scale house for the Struble Lumber Co. In the Village, it serves as the Marshall’s Office. The jail came from the Kingsley Police Department.
1979
3.5 acres purchased – $30,000
1980
The Village Ice House came from Washington township, north of Merrill. It was built in the late 1800s. While on the fair grounds, it has housed the open class antiques and collectibles, woodcarvers, served as a silent movie movie theater, and housed a food stand.
1981
- Stanton School #5 was brought to the grounds and called the Saloon. By 2006, it was beyond repair and replaced with a new build.
- The round barn was a working barn on the Tonsfeldt farm west of Le Mars. Built in 1918, it housed prize-winning Polled Hereford cattle. While a Village staple, it has been home to prize-winning open class exhibits and educational agricultural displays.
1982
- Known to those south of Le Mars, on K-49, as the Steel School house, the building came to the grounds and was to become the Toy Store. It was south of the Saloon, and housed woodcarvings. In 1991, it was moved west of the Depot.
- The Fire Station became a reality when it was constructed in 1982. Originally, it was planned to be made with used lumber, but the supplies were stollen.
1988
The filing station was moved in and the car port and gas pumps were added.
1991
- Built on the Coad Farm, south of Le Mars, the building was moved to the fair grounds for a cost of $750.
- Built in 1858, the Sportsman’s Club was Winter’s General Store, Hinton, lowa. In its original location, the building was used to store and buy grain.
- Towers, arch, and gates at gate two are built.
2001
3.87 acres purchased – $155,000
2005
An Altena Circle Steel sunshade (est. 1982) was taken down in 2004 to make room for the Pioneer Village Stage, which was constructed in 2005. Decking and a lift were added in the 2020s
2006
A new building was put in the Village to replace the Stanton School #5, which was beyond repair, It has served as a food stand.
2018
8.95 acres purchased – $268,500
2024
July 24-28 – The Plymouth County Fair
The Iconic Tonsfeldt
Round Barn
Built in 1918 by H.A. Tonsfeldt, the barn originally sat on the west side of Le Mars, where it was home to Tonsfeldt’s purebred cattle. Among the acclaimed cattle was his prized Polled Hereford bull, Ito’s Perfection.
In 1981, the Leonard, Marvin and Roman Langel families donated the barn to the Plymouth County Fairboard. In September of that year, sufficient funds had been secured to repair and move the barn to the Pioneer Village, located on the Plymouth County Fair grounds.
The century-old barn remains a majestic site on the fair grounds and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year during the annual county fair, held in late July.
In 2024, the Iowa Barn Foundation awarded the group’s Award of Distinction to the Tonsfeldt Round Barn. The barn has become a stop in the group’s annual barn tour, held in September.
Plymouth County Fair Round Barn, 500 4th Avenue NE, Le Mars (Plymouth County) – Built by H.A. Tonsfeldt for his Polled Hereford show cattle. Construction began in 1918 and took three years to complete. Barn is 61 ft in diameter and 68 ft tall with a 13.5 ft central silo. The barn was gifted to the Plymouth County Fair, and the $30,000 needed to move and restore the barn came from community fundraising and a match from the fair board. The barn was moved to is current home at the fairgrounds in September 1981. During the Fair, the Round Barn is home to educational agricultural displays. The barn is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (Award of Distinction).
Plymouth County
Fair Hall of Fame
In 1976, the Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame was created to recognize persons who have played an important role in the longstanding success of the Plymouth County Fair.
Thank you for your dedication to the the fair!
2025
Bob and Carol Kabisch
McDermott Family Shows
2024
Terry Reuter
Brad Harvey
2023
Tony Schroeder
Greg Roepke
2022
Carol Schneider
Dennis Morrice
2021
Albert Schulz
Bruce Brock
2020
Fair postponed due to COVID19
2019
Tom Galles
2018
Wayne & Julie Beitelspacher
2017
Tom Britt
Jerome and Eileen Dreckman
2016
Lorene Rexwinkle
Shirley (Woehler) Criswell
2015
Dave Hoffman
Iris Hemmingson
2014
AJ Lutter
2013
Jeff Klemme
Jim Lindgren
2012
Janet McNaughton
Don Beitelspacher
2011
Alice Ruhland
2010
Verl Lehner
Blog
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