It all began as a plowing contest.

The Butler County Senior Extension Association, Vo-Ag instructors and farm groups organized a get-together of sorts in Connoquenessing Township in the summer of 1948.

Competing for cash prizes, 4-H members and the Future Farmers of America showed off their plowing skills during the post World War II era.

A year later, the Machine Dealers Association applied to the state legislature for a charter on behalf of the Butler Farm Show board.

The legislature granted the charter in July 1949, and a three-day show was held in August. The big draw was KDKA stars Slim Bryant and his Wildcats.

Now, more than 50 years later, the Butler Farm Show draws crowds of almost 100,000.

The Farm Show's humble beginnings have turned into what is one of the largest farm shows in the state.

The Farm Show has had its ups and downs, but Lee Boy Miller, one of the Farm Show's directors, has compiled a list of Farm Show milestones.

Here are some of the Butler Farm Show's historical moments:

1952The Butler Eagle Bowl was established. The Eagle Bowl is presented each year to the family that participates in the Butler Farm Show to the greatest extent and with the highest degree of success. The Walter Henricks family of Butler was the first recipient.

1954Tractor. Weight. Horsepower. The farm show directors put them all together and brought the first tractor pull contest to the show. The Butler County Tractor Maintenance Association sponsored the first contest.

1955Farm Show directors decided to buy property for a permanent site for the show. Land was bought in Connoquenessing Township from Earl M. Baisely and W.L. Roe. A 50-cent parking fee was charged to help pay for the acquisition.

1957The 3 ½-acre lake was constructed on the Farm Show grounds.

1958It was a building year for the Farm Show. An agriculture building - now the Grange Building - was erected, three cattle barns were built, 1,000 feet of gas lines were laid, and a 1,600 foot water line was installed at a cost of more than $10,000.

1961The airport was moved to its current location adjacent to the show grounds. A hangar was built for plane storage.

1965Signs of the Cold War came to the Farm Show. The U.S. Navy displayed a large-scale model of the Polaris submarine missile.

1966The Farm Show was expanded to a five-day event and parking was increased to $1 per car.

1968Bad weather struck Butler County and the Farm Show. High wind and rain storms brought down several tents at the show.

1972Women finally got to compete in the greased pig contest. Light and heavyweight horse-pulling contests were added, as a was a successful shuttle bus service from Butler to the Farm Show grounds.

1973Butler County 4-H and FFA exhibited and sold their livestock projects for the first time.

1977-78The horse and sheep barns were completed.

1984The beef barn was completed.

1989 and 1991New exhibit halls were built for more commercial exhibits.

1994The CB Rangers Building was purchased for a permanent office.

1995A new milking parlor was constructed at the dairy complex.

1995-97The grandstand was built in sections as funds permitted.

2002Auditorium pavilion was construction just passed the Farm Show office.