2012 Mower County Fair Preview

Night falls as people enjoy the midway at the 2011 Mower County Fair. Herald file photo

128 yearsand counting

By Camille Anderson

Livestock exhibitors, entertain-ment junkies, history buffs andcarnies are at it for the 128th time inMower County, as Tuesday will markthe opening of another free countyfair.For Neal Anderson, its his 12th

go-around as a fair board member.However, this year may add a littlepressure, as its also his first as boardpresident. If 2012 is anything like lastyears fair, Anderson is ready forroughly 80,000 ormore visitors who

could walk through the gates fromAug. 7 to 12.Im not scared for being over-

whelmed, he said.Furthermore, the fair board has

installed a few new events to bringin even more people: Wine tastingwill be held in the beer garden from5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday. On Fridaythere will also be figure-eight trailerraces at the grandstands at 7 p.m.Wheels, wheels, wheels, An-

derson joked.

See FAIR, Page 6

2 FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012 AUSTIN DAILY HERALD MOWER COUNTY FAIR PREVIEW

4-Hersready forthe fair

By Matt Peterson

Ferris wheels, stuffed animals and greasy, friedfoods may be the universal symbols for countyfairs, but in Mower, 4-H comes first.Locally, that program has been running strong

for years, and this years fair is shaping up to be an-other busy one for its participants, according toMelissa Koch, Mower County 4-H coordinator. Of460 local 4-H members, at least 346 will exhibitprojects during this years Mower County Fair many with multiple projects and one with as manyas 28.Were just really excited, Koch said. Its our

big showcase of the year. Its a bittersweet end tosummer.

Collin Grass, of LeRoy, leads his grand champion steer around the auction ring during the 4-H Ribbon Auction at last years MowerCounty Fair. His older brother Lucas claimed the honor the two years previous. Herald file photo

Continues on Page 3

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD MOWER COUNTY FAIR PREVIEW FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012 3

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Gloria Hansen, of Austin, carries a water bucket past other 4-Hers washing sheep at the first day of the 2011 Mower County Fair. Herald file photo

The sounds of cattle and smell of hogswill be evident when the fair opens onTuesday, Aug. 7. But the 4-H action starts asearly as Saturday, with horse competitionsin the arena. Fashion and food review proj-ects were already judged about a weekago, and finalists in those categories willshowcase theiraccomplish-ments, as well.A menagerie ofother categoriesare scheduledas well, includ-ing goats, rab-bits, llamas,dogs, horticul-ture projectsand more.Like every

year, Universityof MinnesotaExtension employees, fair board membersand 4-Hers have been prepping and or-ganizing since January. Exhibits will be openfor the public to see from Tuesday throughSunday. A complete list of 4-H events,among the many other activities at thisyears fair, is listed inside this tab, down-loadable at mowercountyfair.com and avail-able in the Mower County Fair Book atmany local city offices and retailers.

Continued from Page 2

Its out bigshowcase ofthe year. Itsa bittersweet

end tosummer.

-Melissa Koch


Grandstand out, but events still onBy Jason Schoonover

Get ready for some grand changes at the fair this year.With the grandstand out of commissioner, the Mower

County fair will be using temporary bleachers for seating atthe fair.The positive news is that despite a structural engineers re-

port deeming the grandstand unsafe for use, all the eventsare continuing as planned.The good news is the events will all go on, said County

Coordinator Craig Oscarson.But the grandstand will not be business as usual. With po-

tential repairs estimated to cost more than $500,000, thefocus now is on the short-term and ensuring events continueas scheduled, which county officials promise they will.To fill in for the grandstand, the county will rent four sets

of temporary bleachers at about $1,400 per set to combinefor a seating capacity of about 1,200, according to Oscar-son.Estimated average attendance at the grandstand is 500 to

1,300, with the highest attendance typically being the Sun-day demolition derby.It should be sufficient, Oscarson said.The grandstand experience will be much different this

year, with the temporary bleachers expected to be set upnorth of the current grandstand to face south. Fair-goers willlikely enter the grandstand from the west and be funneledto the bleachers. There will also be barriers and temporarybathrooms, so people dont try to pass through any poten-tially dangerous areas during the demolition derby or othershows to reach existing restrooms near the old grandstand.Though the experience will be different, Oscarson said,

he expects the changes to be a minor inconvenience thisyear. For example, there wont be any overhead protectionfrom sun or rain.Along with the costs of temporary bleachers, the county

will also rent concrete road blocks and take other precautionsto ensure safety from potential debris.With the bleachers, transportation, barriers and other fac-

tors, the cost could total around $10,000.Despite the hassels, Oscarson said, this is the best option

given the challenging circumstances, and he commended

the fair board for catching the problem before anything hap-pened.We kind of got lucky in that we found out the concern

before a tragedy happened, he said.The county board is responsible for building projects at

the fair grounds and most of the discussions on the grand-stands future will come in future months.Options include repairing the old structure, building a

new one or tearing it down and continuing to rent. Repair-

ing the structure or building new would each cost upwardsof $500,000.One person has already come to Oscarson expressing a

willingness to volunteer 200 hours of carpentry work to helprepair the existing grandstand.Oscarson said volunteer labor and donations could prove

to be a deciding factor in the future of the facility, though hesaid fundraising and different options have only been dis-cussed in passing.

Spare bleachers await arrangement at the Mower County Fairgrounds Tuesday afternoon. Two 40-foot-wide and 10-foot-tallportable bleacher sections will also be added to the grounds this week. Fair board members hope the spare bleachers will seat1,000 to 1,500 spectators. Matt Peterson/[email protected]


Mowers futuregrandstand options

A crew checks safety fencing at the Mower County Fairgrounds. Concrete barriers will be placed in front of the fencing as well, toprovide supports for the demolition derby and other activities. Matt Peterson/[email protected]

REPAIR THE CURRENT GRANDSTANDPlan: Fix all structural issues and repair seating

deficienciesCost estimate: $700,000 or more $500,000 to fix the

structure and at least $200,000 for other repairs toseating

A NEW GRANDSTANDPlan: Tear down the existing grandstand and build a new,

1,500-seat structureCost estimate: $500,000 or more

METAL BLEACHERSPlan: Tear down the current grandstand and replace it with

metal bleachersCosts estimate: $200,000 to $250,000

RENT BLEACHERSPlan: Tear down the grandstand, build a minimal structure for

sun and rain protection and continue renting bleacherseach year.

Cost estimate: $7,000 to $10,000 a year (costs could varyif bleachers are needed for multiple events each year).


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This year is all about au-tocross, demolition derbies, andMotokazie Supercross at thegrandstand. Supercross willopen the grandstand events at7 p.m. on Tuesday. The demo-lition derbies will be heldWednesday at 7 p.m. and Sun-day at 2 p.m. Other events in-clude the NPTA tractor pull inon the Thursday at 7 p.m.,Great Frontier Bull Riding at 7p.m. Saturday.Even though the grandstand

is deemed unsafe, temporarybleachers will be set up for thisyears fair with the possibility tohold more than 1,000 people.

Its not the perfect situa-tion, Anderson said, But itsall we can do for now.This year at the fair there will

be a new green space. The newspace will be located next to thegrandstands with a gazebo andmore benches for a corndogchili-cheese fry craving crowd.Its a new look for 2012-

2013, Anderson said.Teen night is on Tuesday

from 8 p.m. to midnight, andkids day will be held from 1 to5 p.m. on Wednesday.On Tuesday, there will be a

firework show at 10 p.m. to cel-ebrate this years fair.The Creative Arts building is

also a big part of the fair, set upfor photography, fine arts and

food and home crafts. Thebuilding will open at noon onTuesday, and 10 a.m. Wednes-day through Sunday.There are many unique-

nesses in the fair this year, An-derson added.The Fair Square is back this

year with the classic entertain-ment. The Spamettes will playat 5 p.m. Tuesday during open-ing ceremonies. And the fair isalso a venue for locals to showoff their unique talents, the Am-ateur Talent Show will be heldat 1 p.m. Saturday.As always, 4-H will be a sta-

ple, too. A horse show, livestockbarns and numerous projectsare just a few things 4-H willshowcase.

Fair:New green spacedebuts at fair this year

Continued from Page 1

Madison Christenson goes for a ride on the midway of last years Mower CountyFair. Herald file photo

A crowd enjoys the nice night listening to SherwinLinton at the Fair Square at the Mower County Fair.


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Fairgoers will probably notice im-provements to the Creative Arts Building. The fair board received Equal Share

Grant dollars to put new steel siding on theinterior of the building, rewire the interiorof the building and put up new light fix-tures. This improvement has brightened upthe interior of the building, according tofair officials.Fair board members hope fairgoers will

notice this improvement when attendingthe fair.The building was built in 1945 as a

horse barn measuring 150 feet by 38 feetbefore being converted for creative arts.Equal Share Grant funds come through

the 2008 Clean Water, Land and LegacyAmendment. The state sales tax increaseplaces additional revenue toward the Artsand Cultural Heritage Fund. In 2011, the Minnesota Legislature au-

thorized the Department of Agriculture tospend $1.4 million of Legacy Amendmentfunds each year to provide grants to each ofthe states county fairs.

Legacy Fundsused for fair

improvements

LEFT: Sadie Miller enjoy a fair treat with herbrother Cole, 4. ABOVE: Liam Mayers, 4, and family friend KaylieKrebsbach, 4, feed goats the children's barnyard.RIGHT: Tim Vaughan of Pleasant Hill, Mo. goesfor an eight-second ride on Snowball during theGreat Frontier Bull Riding show.

RIGHT: Adam Maxfield, of Austin,rounds a turn in a cloud of dustduring the 250 B heat race in theMotokazie Motocross show at thegrandstands of the Mower CountyFair.

Sights of the fairThe Mower County Fair

is back Aug. 7 to 12.Here is a look at someof the Heralds photos

from the 2011 fair.

Herald file photos

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 98:30 a.m. 4-H Dog Agility Class followed by Dog Obedience and

Showmanship Show, Crane Pavilion10 a.m. FFA Childrens Farm Yard, Creative Arts &

Horticulture Buildings open10:30 a.m. Tractor Driving Contest, FFA and Open ClassNoon All Buildings and Exhibits open

All FFA, Open Dairy and Beef must be in buildingsSherwin Linton, Fair Square

1 p.m. 4-H Fun Show, games, Horse Arena2 p.m. Sherwin Linton-Fair Square4 p.m. Sherwin Linton-Johnny Cash Show Fair Square

FFA Beef Show, Crane North Arena4:30 p.m. Parade on grounds5 p.m. 4-H Barrow Show, Crane Pavilion5:30 p.m. Open Class Beef Show, Crane Arena6:00 p.m. Forte Milers, Fair Square7 p.m. NTPA TRACTOR PULL, Grandstand7:30 p.m. Karaoke, Fair Square8-10 p.m. 4-H Horses released9 p.m. Tracey Blake Project, Beer Garden9-11:30 p.m. Teen Dance, Fair Square10 p.m. All exhibit buildings close

FRIDAY, AUGUST 108 a.m. 4-H Swine Show, Showmanship and Gilt classes9 a.m. Open Class Dairy Show, Crane Pavilion, North

4-H Cat show, 4-H Garden10 a.m. FFA Childrens Farm Yard, Creative Arts &

Horticulture Buildings open4-H Pet Show, 4-H Garden4-H Dog Posters, 4-H Garden

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Midwest Hog show entries acceptedNoon All Buildings and Exhibits open

FFA Dairy Show, Crane PavilionNoon-2 p.m. Midwest Market Hog Show weigh-in2 p.m. 4-H Fashion Review, Fair Square

Ag Olympics (Farm Bureau) North arena of Crane.3 p.m. FFA Swine Show, Crane Pavilion4 p.m. 4-H Llama Show, Crane Arena4:00 p.m. Larry J, Fair Square4:30 p.m. Parade on grounds5 p.m. Midwest Market Hog Show, Crane Pavilion

4-H Deadline to sign up for all State Fair Project Areas5:01 p.m. Laser 101.7 Party, Beer Garden7 p.m. FIGURE 8 TRAILER RACES, Grandstand

Rush Hour, Fair SquareCowboy Shoot Out, Horse Arena

9 p.m. Amish Playboyz, Beer Garden9-11:30 p.m. Teen Dance, Fair Square10 p.m. All exhibit buildings close

SATURDAY, AUGUST 118 a.m. 4-H Livestock Ribbon Auction, Buyers Breakfast8 a.m. MCF Truck and Tractor Pull Sign-up, Grandstand 8:30 a.m. Free MCF Truck and Tractor Pull, Grandstand9 a.m. Mule & Donkey Show, Horse Arena

4-H Ribbon Auction, Crane PavilionOpen Sheep Show, Sheep Barn

9-10:30 a.m. Coffee with the Council, Event Tent10 a.m. FFA Childrens Farm Yard, Creative Arts &

Horticulture Buildings open10 a.m.-3 p.m. Meat Goat entries acceptedNoon All Buildings and Exhibits openNoon-4 p.m. Classic Car Show1-4 p.m. Amateur Talent Contest, Fair Square1-5 p.m. $20 CARNIVAL WRISTBANDS1 p.m. Meat goat weigh-in

4-H and FFA Livestock Judging contests, Crane 2 p.m. Turkey Calling Contest, Game and Fish

Bean Bag tournament, Beer Garden3-5 p.m. 4-H State Fair Exhibitor Final Registration to 4-H4-6:30 p.m. Austin Big Band, Fair Square5 p.m. Meat Goat show, Crane Pavilion

Draft Horses must be on grounds4-H Supreme Champion Showmanship Contest

6 p.m. Draft Horse Show-Hitch Classes, Horse Arena7 p.m. GREAT FRONTIER BULL RIDING, Grandstand7-9 p.m. Brad Boice, Elvis Rock & Roll, Fair Square911:30 p.m. Teen Dance, Fair Square9 p.m. Hitchville, Beer Garden10 p.m. All Exhibit Buildings close

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1210 a.m. Draft Horse Show-Halter & Cart classes, Crane FFA

FFA Childrens Farm Yard, Creative Arts & Horticulture Buildings open

10:30 a.m. Our Savior's Lutheran Church service, Fair SquareNoon All Buildings and Exhibits open

LuVernes Concertina, Fair Square1 p.m. Steer Wrestling Jackpot, Horse Arena

Parade on grounds1:30 p.m. 4-H Round-up Ice Cream Social2 p.m. MASTERS OF DISASTERS DEMO DERBY

Kids Pedal Pull, street by 4-HBean Bag tournament, Beer Garden

2-8 p.m. $20 WRISTBANDS ON THE CARNIVAL3 p.m Latino Music & DJ, Fair Square4 p.m. Livestock Released6 p.m. 4-H Swine load out

All Exhibits Released7 p.m. 4-H Building Closes

MAJOR SPONSORS INCLUDE:

8 a.m.-10 p.m. Poultry Penned9 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Posters judging9-11 a.m. 4-H Beef weigh-ins10 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Showmanship, Rabbit Barn

Childrens Farm Yard & Horticulture Buildings open10-3:30 p.m. Midwest Steer and Heifer Weigh-ins11 a.m. 4-H Rabbit show, Rabbit BarnNoon All Exhibits and Concessions in place 1-3 p.m. FFA Agri-Science Judging2 p.m. FFA Sheep Show, Sheep Barn

Demonstration Day, 4-H stage3:30 p.m. Beef Cook-off Contest, Crane Pavilion4 p.m. Horse Fun Show, Performance Classes, Horse arena4:30 p.m. Parade on grounds4:45-5:15 p.m. Judging of Beef Cook-off, Crane Pav.5 p.m. Performing Arts 4-H stage

4-H Lamb Lead, Crane-North ArenaSpamettes, Fair Square

6 p.m. 4-H Sheep Show, Crane-North ArenaMidwest Steer and Heifer Show, Crane Pavilion-South

7 p.m. MOTOKAZIE SUPER CROSS, GrandstandOpening Ceremony, Fair SquarePride of Mower Awards presentation, Fair Square

8 p.m. Brad Boice Toast of the Classics, Fair Square8 p.m TEEN NIGHT ON THE CARNIVAL $20 Wristbands9 p.m. Next 2 Nothing Band, Beer Garden9:30-11:30 p.m. TEEN DANCE, Fair Square10 p.m. FIREWORKS10 p.m. All exhibit buildings close

8:30 a.m. Light horse show, Horse arena9 a.m. 4-H Poultry Show, Poultry Barn

4-H Dairy Show, Crane Pavilion, North Arena10 a.m. Creative Arts & Horticulture Buildings open

FFA Childrens Farm Yard opens10 a.m.-4 p.m. Camp Victory inflatable jumping11 a.m. Bubbles the Clown, Fair Square11-3 p.m. 4-H Rabbit Skillathon, Rabbit BarnNoon All Buildings and Exhibits openNoon - 2 p.m. Vehicle Fair, On grounds1 p.m. Open Class Poultry Show, Poultry Barn1-5 p.m. KIDS DAY ON THE CARNIVAL $20 Wristbands2 p.m. 4-H Goat Show, Crane Pavilion3-10 p.m. Open Class Sheep Entries accepted4 p.m. Livestock Hall of Fame Reception & Induction Ceremony4:30 p.m. Parade on grounds

4-H Cow-Calf Judging by pens5 p.m. Garrick Sissons as Garth Brooks, Fair Square

Owl show, Game and Fish Building5:30 p.m. 4-H Beef Show in Crane Pavilion, North Arena

EDITION II, Fair Square7 p.m. MASTERS OF DISASTER, DEMOLITION DERBY

Garrick Sissons as Garth Brooks, Fair SquareOwl Show, Game and Fish buildingRabbits must be in place

8 p.m. FFA, Open ClassBeef and Dairy may arrive

9 p.m. 69 Cents band, Beer Garden10 p.m. All exhibit buildings close

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2012 Mower County Fair Preview