Located in the Sacramento Valley,
the 13th District Agricultural Association better known as the
Yuba-Sutter Fair is long on history and tradition. The first fair was
held in Marysville, Yuba County and was actually the California State
Fair in August of 1858. Agricultural societies were organized and the
first state fairs were held on a rotating basis. The first state fair
was held in San Francisco in 1854, the second in Sacramento, the third
in San Jose, the fourth in Stockton and the fifth in Marysville.
Thereafter, the state fair was held annually in Sacramento; however,
our district fair continued to be held at the pavilion erected at
Cortez Square in Marysville. There were 16 fairs held between the
years 1858 and 1879. The district fairs were held until the turn of
the century and then continuity of fair activities is difficult to
trace. Sometime in this era, the idea of holding a county fair
replaced the district plan. In the 1920's, noteworthy fairs were held
near Browns Valley and the community of Arboga. Originally, the 13th
District Agricultural Association comprised of counties Yuba, Sutter,
Yolo and Sacramento. Decentralization resulted in the exclusion of
Sacramento County in 1889 and Yolo County left in 1893.
In the early 1930's, a group of
interested citizens established a rodeo arena at the Flying I Ranch in
the Arboga District. A half-mile racetrack plus pens and a building
for livestock exhibits was constructed. At the same time, other
exhibits were displayed in the Yuba county Memorial Auditorium. This
was used for the annual fairs and rodeo until 1940. Later it was
deemed advisable to obtain a site more centrally located and covenant
to the residents of Marysville and Yuba City. Consequently in July
1941 a ten-acre tract of land at our current site was purchased for
$1,020. Activities were halted abruptly during the war years.
Additional adjacent land was purchased and the fair has been held
annually since 1945, although the severe flood of 1955 curtailed
operations that year.
Today the 13th District
Agricultural Fair is one of fifty-four district agricultural
associations. Twenty-four county fairs, two citrus fairs and the state
fair make up the 81 State Fair system.
