May 10, 2011

Several efforts had been made since the 1800s to establish a state fair in Arkansas. The gathering now known as the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show started in North Little Rock (Pulaski County) in 1938. Opening as the Arkansas Livestock Show, it ran from November 9 to November 13. Only 17,000 people attended, and the show lost $23,000. In 1939, the fair and show were moved back a month, to mid-October, for better weather. This photo from the first five-day event in 1938 appears to depict a showing of horses.