Why does Iowa have a state fair in the middle of August?

[GulfCoast66]

43. But was it like that when they started the fair?

I’d imagine the Texas state fair goes back till the late 1800’s early 1900’s. Not going to google it for conversation purposes. Back then there was no center pivot irrigation or even deep well irrigation. That didn’t come about till the 60’s. I would guess only east Texas had much row cropping anyway as it is more like northwestern Louisiana where my family lived. Probably cotton and corn in areas where the climate allowed. West Texas and even the Hill country was all about livestock. And gives us great Brisket bbq!

And never underestimate what seed hybridization did for farmers. Yield went up and time to harvest way down. Not talking GMO. Just good breeding.

And in East Texas, without grain dryers harvesting corn in August or even September meant rotten grain in the bin. It had to dry in the field and afternoon thundershowers don’t allow that. I bet they did not really start harvesting till October going into November. Don’t count out climate change as well.

My mother was raise north of Shreveport Louisiana. Harvest there was an October thing. September was still summer.

On edit: They would not kill their lard pigs till before Thanksgiving and sometimes after. Even up till Christmas. Too hot an the fried cracklings were a holiday treat.