Big Sky Country State Fair

History of the Fair

Our History

Gallatin County Fairgrounds (GCF)

Gallatin County Fairgrounds (GCF) has been serving the community since 1902 and the first Fair was held on the grounds in 1903. The property was purchased by a group of Bozeman pioneers in 1898 from the University of Syracuse with the express purpose of creating a regional Fairgrounds.

The property is currently comprised of 26 buildings on 78 acres surrounded by the City of Bozeman. Downtown lies a few blocks to the south, Walmart and the major shopping corridor along North 7th is immediately west, major hotels are within the immediate vicinity, and direct access onto I90 is right around the corner.

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History

Big Sky County State Fair.

Historically, the Fairgrounds has served as a gathering place for
the agricultural community and as host to the summer and winter fairs.
Those roots still play a prominent role at the Fairgrounds today as the Gallatin Valley has grown and urbanized, and other uses and groups of people have become equally as prominent. Increasingly, sports such as ice hockey, baseball, and the shooting range draw as much interest as 4-H and rodeo. The local 4-H continue to have their year-end shows to finish their projects.

Our recent history shows that the name of our Fair has changed over the years from GallaCo to Gallatin County Fair and in 2016 to Big Sky County State Fair.

The story of the Fairgrounds mirrors the story of Gallatin County: new and vibrant uses have begun encroaching on the more traditional agricultural uses and some of those agricultural uses have begun to move.

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