Data were obtained on the activities and attiudes of 48 associate members and 229 commercial exhibitors at county and district fairs. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the data. Analysis of the data showed that most associate members had participated in more than one county or district fair in 1970, but less than one-fifth had participated in the Wisconsin State Fair. Commercial exhibitors had exhibits at only one county or district fair, and only 1 in 10 had participated at the state fair or at Farm Progress Days in 1970. The majority of both associate members and commercial exhibitors employed the equivalent of less than two full-time employees for fair work, but some employed the equivalent of 10 or more full-time employees throughout the year for fair work. About one-fifth of all respondents obtained at least 40% of their gross income from fairs. Slightly less than half of the commercial exhibitors spent $250 or more to exhibit at the fairs. Most respondents maintained that elimination of the fairs would have a marked impact upon them. Slightly more than half of the respondents specified changes that they felt should be made to improve fairs--improving the facilities, organization, and administration. Implications of the study results are that two main characteristics must be recognized: (1) fairs are composed of both local and non-local people, and (2) the motives of people involved in fairs may be altruistic or personal. (Author/DB)