The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board was established as the State Fair Board in 1937 (Chapter 463, Acts of 1937). It received its present name in 1980 (Chapter 85, Acts of 1980).

​Vision and Mission:
The Board fosters agriculture by promoting and assisting agricultural fairs and exhibits. It gives financial aid to qualifying organizations for premium awards to exhibitors of agricultural displays. Annually, the Board issues the Maryland Fair & Show Schedule.

County fairs in Maryland are held in the months of July, August, September, and October. Each year, the Maryland State Fair is held at Timonium in Baltimore County and runs eleven days ending on Labor Day.

The Board's nine members are appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Secretary of Agriculture to five-year terms (Code Agriculture Article, secs. 10-301 through 10-303).