{"id":2625955,"date":"2026-07-07T08:49:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-how-the-great-american-state-fair-is-creating-little-patriots\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T08:55:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:55:19","slug":"heres-how-the-great-american-state-fair-is-creating-little-patriots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-how-the-great-american-state-fair-is-creating-little-patriots\/","title":{"rendered":"How The Great American State Fair Is Creating Little Patriots"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fheres-how-the-great-american-state-fair-is-creating-little-patriots%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2625955&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., celebrates the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary with numerous patriotic activities, exhibits, adn events aimed at creating lasting memories for children and families. Despite some criticism for low attendance and inconsistent booth decor, the fair successfully showcases America&#8217;s diversity, history, and spirit through themed programming, interactive displays, and cultural representations from all 50 states and territories. Highlights include educational activities at the Department of War booth, a Treasury Department initiative encouraging financial savings, and rodeo performances depicting the american West. Some states faced funding challenges or opted out, but others, like Pennsylvania, stepped up with private sponsorships to participate. the fair serves as a festive tribute to American heritage and aims to inspire the next generation of patriots, emphasizing unity, history, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/matt-gaetz-requests-pledge-of-allegiance-before-hearings-nadler-shoots-him-down\/\" title=\"Matt Gaetz Requests Pledge Of Allegiance Before Hearings; Nadler Shoots Him Down\">national pride<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As people travel from all over the country to visit the nation\u2019s capital, glimmers of patriotism are sprinkled around the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. <\/p>\n<p>Little girls run around the grassy National Mall doing cartwheels in their red, white, and blue attire. Across the mall, young boys stop by the Department of War booth, getting war paint on their faces from <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >active-duty service members<\/a>. As the sun sets on the Capitol building, a young family from Kentucky cheers \u201cUSA! USA! USA!\u201d as the U.S. plays in the World Cup. <\/p>\n<p>Despite criticism that the fair is a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/opinion\/columnist\/2026\/06\/30\/great-american-state-fair-trump-attendance\/90741971007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flop<\/a>\u201d and some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/06\/11\/politics\/several-states-not-participating-trump-state-fair\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">states not showing up to represent<\/a>, the Great American State Fair is doing exactly what it was intended to do: create lifelong memories in little patriots so they can carry on the torch for the next 250 years. <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When President Trump first stepped into office in January 2025, he made it clear in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/celebrating-americas-250th-birthday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">executive order<\/a> that \u201c[i]t is the policy of the United States\u2026 to provide a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/for-americas-250th-celebration-bring-back-the-freedom-train\/\" title=\"For America&#039;s 250th Celebration, Bring Back The Freedom Train\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-king-charles-iii-crowned-at-westminster-abbey\/\" title=\"LIVE: King Charles III crowned at Westminster Abbey.\">grand celebration<\/a> worthy<\/a> of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>This week, that grand celebration is expressed on the smiling faces and in the laughter of children who traveled across the country to stay up past their bedtime and party hard.<\/p>\n<p>The fair has daily programming from June 25 through July 10, with each day focused on a specific theme \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/freedom250.org\/celebration\/the-great-american-state-fair\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">celebrating the people, traditions, innovations, and spirit that make America the greatest nation on Earth<\/a>.\u201d It features more than 150 exhibits from 56 states, territories, government agencies, and businesses with events like youth livestock showcases, daily rodeos, live music, and educational speakers.  <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Visitors can travel to almost every state, meet local representatives, and be immersed in decorations that showcase what makes each state so special. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can see all the states in one place and also what\u2019s different in each state,\u201d Manny Casanova from Marietta, Georgia, told The Federalist. \u201cThe United States is so unique\u2026 I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any other country like it.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>When visiting the U.S. Treasury Department booth, patriots born after Jan. 1, 2025, are eligible to open a Trump Account and receive a $1,000 contribution from the Treasury Department. <\/p>\n<p>Kids who stop by the booth get a free bag full of swag that encourages financial savings and says, \u201cI\u2019m a little investor\u2026 Every coin I save helps my future\u2026 I\u2019m dreaming big\u2026 My future starts today.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At the Department of War booth, little patriots can shake hands, get face paint, and take pictures with active-duty service members from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Space Force, and Air Force. There\u2019s also a scavenger hunt to find historical facts from the last 250 years so kids can connect with history.<\/p>\n<p>The fair has also received criticism for appearing empty, with The Washington Post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2026\/06\/26\/great-american-state-fair-has-bumpy-beginning-its-opening-day\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">reporting<\/a> that the crowd size is \u201csparse compared with past National Mall events\u201d and the New Republic <a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/article\/212455\/trump-great-american-state-fair-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing<\/a> it \u201clacked energy \u2014 and people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although the fair often looks empty during the middle of a work day, spreading the fair out across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/places\/000\/national-mall.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vast<\/a> National Mall helps ensure visitors aren\u2019t crowded shoulder to shoulder. The National Mall\u2019s grassy fields are also heaven for little girls wanting to flex their cartwheel skills and kids with the itch to run around.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, the state booths could\u2019ve been more consistent with their decor. Each state managed their own booth and relied on private sponsorships or tax dollars to fund them.\u00a0States like Kansas and South Dakota have displays with nothing but metal pipes holding up panels of state facts printed on white canvas. <\/p>\n<p>The estimated budget of $100,000 to fund the booth and staffers was a struggle for some states and one reason why states such as Maine decided not to participate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/18\/nx-s1-5860627\/great-american-state-fair-dc-logistics-participation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a> to NPR. However, many other states were able to gather private donors together to ensure their state was represented. <\/p>\n<p>After Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pulled out of the fair at the last minute claiming \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4631515\/mccormick-pennsylvania-state-fair-booth-overruling-shapiro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">there weren\u2019t any businesses from the state interested in being featured at the festival<\/a>,\u201d Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and Democrat Sen. John Fetterman stepped in to make sure the Keystone Stone state was represented. In just a few days, they gathered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4631515\/mccormick-pennsylvania-state-fair-booth-overruling-shapiro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">private sponsors<\/a> to help fund the booth, filling it with the most beautiful display of historic American flags. <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>States who opted out of the fair due to poor planning or a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome missed a vital opportunity to honor America, do something positive, and encourage the next generation of little patriots. <\/p>\n<p>Despite some disappointments, other state booths do well, with coloring activities for kids and interactive games. Indiana displays their claims to fame through mini-golf courses and Nebraska offers a Union Pacific train simulator. Florida gives out free manatee and alligator stuffed animals. Many visitors even said Florida was their favorite booth. The Sunshine State consistently had the longest line throughout the week leading up to Independence Day and the most immersive decor. <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the east side of the mall, horses and cows fill the rodeo arena with daily shows where little patriots can watch bull riding, horse bucking, and cow herding. Cowboys and cowgirls even walk over to the fences at the end of every show to let the kids pet the animals and take pictures. <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Abigail Nichols       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe story of the cowboy is the story of America,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/freedom250.org\/media-center\/press-release\/freedom-250-brings-rodeo-250-to-national-mall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Binion Cervi of Cervi Rodeo Company, the company behind the fair\u2019s rodeo. \u201cAs our nation celebrates 250 years of freedom, innovation, and perseverance, there is no better place than the National Mall to honor the men and women whose grit, determination, and spirit helped build the American West.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The daily rodeos give little patriots a taste of the American West, and with it the American spirit, right on historic soil. Every volunteer and booth leaves kids with encouragement to pursue their own American Dream, leaving the next 250 years of America in good hands, one little patriot at a time. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Abigail Nichols is a contributor and former intern at The Federalist. She holds a Master of Social Work and currently works as the National Journalism Center\u2019s coordinator.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patriotism shines at D.C.&#8217;s Great American State Fair<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3849,"featured_media":2625956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Fair1-e1783047905995.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[82325,7825,81521],"class_list":["post-2625955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-american-traditions","tag-patriotism","tag-state-fair-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Fair1-e1783047905995.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3849"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2625955"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625959,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625955\/revisions\/2625959"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2625956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2625955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2625955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2625955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}