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The site of the parking lot at the future home of ACE Hardware in Reed City. (Herald Review photo/Joe Judd)

ACE Hardware store coming soon to Reed City

Cody M. Hensey, 18, of Evart, appeared in Osceola County's 49th Circuit Court on Friday, Oct. 15, for sentencing in connection to an attempted plan to murder one family in August 2020. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Evart man nets prison time for failed kidnap-rape-murder plot

The Green Gold Diner will hold its opening day on Tuesday. (Herald Review photo/Joe Judd)

Green Gold Diner opens in downtown Evart

Historic state and county fair photos from every state We tend to think of fairs-with their fried food, carnival rides, and smelly livestock pens-as all-American experiences. In reality, we weren't the first to come up with the concept; we merely adapted it from a millennia-old tradition. The first fairs, or "feriae," were put on by Ancient Romans. Typically surrounding their holy days, these events included games, competitions, feasts, and other festivities. By the time they made their way to the United States thousands of years later, fairs had shed their association with religion and shifted their focus to promoting agriculture and home skills, instead. While the focus of many county and state fairs is still agricultural, the events have continued to evolve and today feel more like carnivals than the educational experience they once were. Stacker curated a selection of historical state and county fair photos from every state. Using local and government archives, we've selected images that demonstrate the development of our country's fairs from lecture circuits to amusement events. Keep reading to see what your state fair looked like in the days of yore. You may also like: What marriage was like the year you were born

Historic state and county fair photos from every state

William Stockton, 7, left, and Jeremiah Michner, 8, right, go sledding and snowboarding during a snow day for Midland Public Schools Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 at Plymouth Park in Midland. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

When should Michigan expect its first snowfall?

Empty paint cans sit at a collection point. The manufacture and sale of lead paint is still permitted in over 55% of countries, presenting a continuing and future source of lead exposure for children and workers worldwide. (Photo by: Ken Welsh/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Health officials: Lead exposure from paint is 100% preventable

Group of students wearing protective face masks while raising their hands in class.

Epidemiologist: COVID-19 cases rise more in schools when students don't...

Tim James' original post on AskMidland, a Facebook group for Midland residents, shows a horse on the loose at Meijer.

Video: Horse on the loose at Meijer in Midland

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