Almost all states in America have a state fair. They last for one, two or three weeks. The Indiana state fair is one of the largest and oldest state fairs in the United States. It is held every summer. It started in 1852. Its goals were to educate, share ideas, and present Indiana's best products. The cost of a single ticket to enter the fair was 20 cents. During the early 1930s, officals of the fair ruled that people could attend by paying with something other than money. For example, farmers brought a bag of grain in exchange for a ticket. With the passage of time, the fair has grown and changed a lot, but it's still one of Indiana's most celebrated events. People from all over Indiana and from many other states attend the fair. Experts say such fairs are important, because people need to remember that they're connected to the earth and its products, and they depend on animals for many things.