It all began as a plowing contest in 1947 sponsored by the Machine Dealers Association.

In the summer of 1948, the Butler County Extension Service, Vo-Ag instructors and farm groups organized a get-together in Connoquenessing Township. Competing for cash prizes, 4-H members and the Future Farmers of America showed off their plowing skills.

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 star Slim Bryant and his Wildcats.

Sixty years later, the Butler Farm Show draws crowds of almost 100,000.

From humble beginnings, the event has turned into one of the largest farm shows in the state.

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

1952

The 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.

1954

Tractor. 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.

1955

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

1957

The 3½-acre lake was constructed on the farm show grounds.

1958

It 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 waterline was installed at a cost of more than $10,000.

1961

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

1965

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

1966

The farm show was expanded to a five-day event and parking was increased to $1 per car.

1968

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

1972

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

1973

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

1977-78

The horse and sheep barns were completed.

1984

Beef barn was completed.

1989 and 1991

New exhibit halls were built for more commercial exhibits.

1994

The CB Rangers Building was bought for a permanent office.

1995

A new milking parlor was constructed at the dairy complex.

1995-97

The grandstand was built in sections as funds permitted.

2002

The auditorium pavilion was constructed just past the farm show office.

2005

The Butler Farm Show was named the Outstanding Agricultural Fair in Western Pennsylvania by officials at the state fair.

2006

Work was completed on expanding the covered grandstand bleachers to seat up to 4,000 people, and the Meridian building housing the eating facilities was renovated.