WSF celebrates 120 years
For 120 years, the Wyoming State Fair (WSF) has proudly been “where Wyoming comes together.”
Spanning 137 acres with more than 60 structures, the Wyoming State Fairgrounds has hosted 113 fairs to date and now welcomes over 470 event days each year. This growth has brought with it a far-reaching impact which continues to connect people, preserve traditions and celebrate Wyoming’s western lifestyle.
To honor this milestone year, the WSF invited the public to share their favorite memories and stories. These personal reflections showcase the fair’s lasting impact on families, friendships and futures across generations.
Stories from the fairgrounds
Longtime exhibitor Danny Tadewald recalls the moment he laid eyes on his now wife Susie, a retired EMT who used to work the WSF, while waiting for his fair credentials.
“I was smitten, totally smitten,” Danny says.
Though they had known of each other for years, it was the WSF that brought them together. They agreed to meet after their duties ended at the Beer Garden, where Wyoming Musician Chancey Williams was performing.
“We danced the night away,” Danny says.
The two later married in the Ford Grandstand Arena and continue to serve together as proud members of the F.A.I.R. Posse.
For Nancy Mickelson, the WSF was the highlight of her teenage years more than six decades ago.
At 13, she joined 4-H and began showing dairy cattle, eventually competing across Wyoming and beyond.
In 1962, Mickelson, Laurell Miskimins Fogg, Janelle Miskimins Gaddis and Linda Hunziker, all members of the only all-girl judging team, represented Wyoming at the National Dairy Judging Congress in Waterloo, Iowa.
Mickelson recounts WSF was the ultimate reward for all of the hard work that went into each year’s projects.
“Fair was one of the best experiences of my younger years, and I would gladly do it again. I love those memories,” she says.
Gaddis, a member of the dairy judging team previously mentioned, also remembers showing her Brown Swiss Happy Ours Keeper’s Midway, which won WSF champion five years in a row between 1958-63.
“The picture of me with the trophy donor is a memory I’ll always treasure,” she says.
Today, Crook County Fair Manager Jasmyne Bryant reflects on how showing livestock at the WSF shaped her path and gave her experiences she will never forget.
“Looking back now, it’s wild to think I once stood in the shoes of an exhibitor, and today I find myself managing a county fair,” Bryant says. “The journey has truly come full circle. Being involved in 4-H and FFA, competing at the fair and seeing where it has led me are all experiences which have shaped my path and opened up so many incredible opportunities.”
Eastern States Exposition Agriculture Retail and Events Assistant Kim Wolfe fondly recalls always looking forward to attending the WSF, stating her favorite competition was the Champion of Champions Showcase on the green grass.
She also recounts the quality cattle, Pioneer Memorial Museum, quilt shows, sheep camps and rodeo, stating, “It was always the perfect mix of high-level competition and the relaxed feel of the fairgrounds by the river.”
A legacy for generations
As WSF looks ahead, it will continue to honor heritage, traditions and history while ensuring the fair remains relevant for generations to come. WSF remains an institution proudly showcasing the best of Wyoming.
“We are proud to reflect on 120 years of tradition while looking toward the future,” said Courtny Hinds, WSF general manager. “It’s the people and their memories that make the fair what it is today.”
Share a story
WSF has been touched by the stories that have been shared and invites the public to continue sharing memories and cherished moments.
Submit stories and photos online at wystatefair.com/120-years/, e-mail WSF Marketing and Communications Liason Kota Provence at dakota.provence@wyo.gov or mail them to PO Box 10, Douglas, WY 82633.
