Our nation’s first fairs were alL about agriculture. They were organized to introduce farmers to new animal breeds and other agricultural innovations. After the War of IndePendence, patriotic gentlemen began forming agricultural societies to promote ideas that might help the US achieve economic self-sufficiency. Elkanah Watson was A farmer and one-time revolutionary who traveled around Europe and recorded his observations about European manners, morals, farming, industry, etc. After retiring he returned to his native Massachusetts. In 1808 he held an exhibition on the village grEen to show two Merino sheep he had acquired. Merino sheep are valued for their fine fleece. Watson hoped to encourage farmers to raise Merino sheep to supply raw wool for his wool factory. Two years later Watson convinced local farmers to hold a larger livestock exhibition. Its success led to the establishment of the Berkshire Agricultural Society the following year, organized for the purpose of holding an annual county fair, The first fair was held in 1811. Prizes were offered for the best livestock in the county, and more than 3,000 people attended. In later fairs, women were invited to compete in the skills of cloth production. The purpose oF these competitions was to encourage local households to lessen their dependency on European products. Other communities began to organize county fairs not only to compete but to learn. By the 1840s county fairs would be a showcases for new American inventions—Cyrus McCormick’s reaper and John Deere’s steel plow—and for imported livestock. They also became a social event, giving farm families an opportunity to rest from their labors and travel to town to socialize.