The Griggs County Fair Board is the governing body of the Griggs County Fair. The current members include:
President, Dr. Vernon Knudson
Vice-president, LeRoy Jungels
Secretary, John Swenson (Griggs County Extension Agent)
Treasurer, Dale Donat.
Other members include: Mrs. Carrol (Maxine) Torgerson, Mr. Barry Olsen, Mrs. Kenny (Mae) Monson, Mrs. Curtis (Bebe) McCardle, Joe Zimprich, Ingvard Haugen, Harvey Benson, Rodney Brekken, and honorary member, Aldo Iverson.
The fair consists of two main divisions. Participants may enter their exhibits either in the open class division or the 4-H division.
The open class division is open to any resident of Griggs County and includes a variety of classes, including livestock, home economics (canning, baking, arts, crafts, and textiles). There were 101 entries in the open class division for the 1981 fair.
The 4-H Division is open to any enrolled 4-H member of Griggs County. Classes in the division include livestock crops, home horticulture, woodworking, electricity, arts and crafts, photography, health and safety, home economics. There were 439 entries in the 4-H division in the 1981 fair.
The Griggs County Fair is held during the second weekend in July. Various events, which are scheduled during the fair days, include the Ladies Luncheon and Style Show, Livestock and Home Economics Judging Contest, Tasting Bee, Hobby Show, Fiddlers' Contest, Carnival, Parade, Square Dancing, and the 4-H Premium Sale. A large event scheduled during the fair is the Miss Griggs County Pageant. The queen chosen at this event reigns over the festivities of the fair and participates in the Miss North Dakota Contest. The pageant was started in Griggs County five years ago.
The fair barn is the only remembrance of the early fairs. It was first used in 1919. At the early fairs, horse racing was a major attraction. The racetrack can still be seen, but the grandstand burned in 1962. The Griggs County Fair has gone through many changes in its long history and still remains a social gathering place for farmers and townspeople.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial Page 228