Summer means festivals of music, food, and culture. And there is no older blend of those than Kansas Fairs. I love the sights, sounds, experiences, and smells of the fair. The images on Fair posters are works of art designed to appeal to people like me. Here's a brief sensory tour of some of our Fair posters. After this taster, you can thumb through all our Fair posters on Kansas Memory and learn about the history of Kansas Fairs from our Cool Things article.
THE SOUNDS
The imagery of these posters evoke the sounds that I love to hear at the Fair. I love the way that different types of music overlap as you wander from state to stage and the constant hum of people and activity that create a sense of energy and community. Also, I often get distracted in the exhibit halls by the noises of gadgets and equipment or livestock.
The top image of this poster depicts many sounds of the Fair. You can imagine the conversation of the crowd,the noise of the machine at left, the music of the carousel in the back, the grunts of pigs and whiney of horses at the lower right, and the occasional roar of the crowd from the race track in the background.
The multiple images in this poster provide a wealth of sounds. You can hear the whiney of horses in the central image, and at the left music from a marching band drifts over the fair grounds. The animals at the right moo, baa, and oink. At the top you can imagine all of the sounds of the horse races: the panting of horses, rattle of sulkies, thunder of horse hooves, and shouts of encouragement from thier riders.
THE EXPERIENCES
The Fair is your opportunity to pet animals, play with gadgets, go on carnival rides, and participate in contests. These Fair posters illustrate these participatory aspects of the Fair.
Feeling competitive? This poster emphasizes some of the contests and races you can participate in or watch. But if competition's not your thing, this poster informs you that you can also examine new equipment (at left), ride the carousel (at right), and see animals.
This dynamic poster crams in a lot of Fair experiences. The backdrop features several welcoming exhibition halls. The backdrop also depicts the refreshment tent. Two men in discussion at the left are a reminder that the Fair is a place where business transactions take place. At the right is a small boy awestruck by a large pig. The jockey and his horse at the center allude to the ongoing horse races at the Fair.
THE SMELLS
Ahh... the smell of popcorn, funnel cakes, and roasted meats layered in shimmering waves of summer heat. Even when the sun goes down the air remains heavy with the mingled scents of different foods. Now that's a Fair! There's also the entwined scents of perfumes, sun tan lotions, and bug sprays. Plus, the smell of livestock is just as prevalent today as it was during the first years of the Fair. But it's only been since the early 1900's that you are welcomed at the end of the day by the smell of car exhaust as you sit patiently (or maybe not so patiently) to leave the car park. 
The smell of the Fair comes alive in the images from this poster. You can smell the grass of the pasture, the odors of livestock, gusts of dust and sweat from the races, and the belching smoke from equipment. The mouthwatering fragrance of piles of freshly ripened fruit and vegetables and the aroma of food and beverages from a picnic appetize.
This poster tantalizes your taste buds with a pile of fresh fruits and vegetables from the Fair. By including freshly cut melons, the artist conjures the smell of melon musk. The glossiness of the grapes makes them appear freshly washed and juicy. Presenting the produce heaped together represents abundance and plenty.
THE SIGHTS
"Step right up! You won't believe your eyes." I love all of the exciting things you can see at the Fair. There are elaborate displays and an assortment of contests and competitions. These posters try to inform and excite us about the things we can see at the Fair.
The literal centerpiece of this poster is the elaborate multi tiered Wheat and Produce Windmill sculpture. By depicting people examining new mechanical and agricultural equipment,and animals the image informs you that you can do the same. A sulkie race can be observed in the background and the image also shows that you can purchase things such as dairy products and soda. In addition, you can see and hear music from the concert band in the balcony and by ascending the stairway in the back to the balcony you can get a bird's eye view of the exhibits and see people as well as be seen by others.
The message imbedded in this poster is that the Fair is a grand visual feast. The imagery evokes Ancient Rome by positioning the by like a charioteer as he enters the fair's triumphal archway. This imagery is further supported by the flags of the race track in the background suggesting a Roman Coliseum. Tall structures like the smokestack and windmill as well as the elaborate knotting of the horses' tails create the impression that the Fair is a grand triumphal tribute.
This informative poster attempts to encapsulate the sights of the Fair. New agricultural equipment surrounds the race track while female horse riders, sulkies, and bicycles compete in races. Within the track are livestock, carriages, and a ball game. Above the Fair floats a hot air balloon complete with flags.