It’s that time of year again. Time for the South Dakota State Fair! This week’s What’s New Wednesday exhibits some State Fair history. This “official souvenir program” celebrates the 1944 South Dakota State Victory Fair. The year 1944 saw the U.S. still embroiled in WWII. Morale and the “victory” war-cry were important to keeping the home front engaged. This year, the fair ran from Sept. 4-9, in its home, Huron. Many businesses advertised in it. One of the advertisements from the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company reminded fair goers that holding on to the War Bonds, or not cashing them in, “holds the line” on the home front. Even in the State Fair program, people were encouraged to do what they could to support the war. The State Victory Fair reminds of all that went into mobilizing the home front for war. Despite it being fair time, the war had an effect on all aspects of life.
SDAHM 2017:022:004 donated Robert V. Lee