|
By Joel stottrup
Princeton Union-Eagle
Fine weather may have helped attendance at this year’s four-day Mille Lacs County Fair to rise about 1,000 over last year’s estimated 25,000.
Open-class entries were also up some, according to Mille Lacs County Fair Board activities supervisor Gene Gerth.
The slow-warming spring that delayed some planting was evident by the small amount of red tomatoes exhibited.
The number of kids coming through the fair on Friday, from child care centers around the county, totaled about 325.
Friday was set up for child care children, with FFA and 4-H club members helping in explaining farming to the children. Members of 4-H also did crafts with kids under a tent, and Princeton firefighters gave safety lessons in the portable smoke-house on the fairgrounds.
Judy Hible reported that nearly 500 persons came through her Little Farm Hands setup, that had its first time at the Mille Lacs Fair. It was something that started at the State Fair and shows how farming works, using various station exhibits.
A visitor gets a guided tour to learn how grain is planted, hens lay eggs, cows give milk and other products, and how farm commodities go to market and are sold. The visitors receive make-believe money which is then exchanged for crayons and a farm-theme coloring book.
Gerth called this year’s fair, which ended Sunday evening, one of the “great” ones. He cited happy operators at food concessions and commercial booths, the good weather, and a lack of complaints.
Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Brindle was very pleased with having a chamber booth at the fair for the first time. She reported signing up five new chamber members because of it.
The booth also was named the second best commercial booth. The winner overall was the Gideon International booth, which distributes Bibles.
The number of riders on the Stipe’s Shows midway was down a little over last year, according to Gerth. He heard enough people ask about the absence of a Ferris wheel this year, that he said he would talk to Stipe’s Shows about it. Stipe’s has been the Mille Lacs Fair midway provider for many years.
Those who weren’t in the bleachers to watch this year’s demolition derby could tell by sitting just outside the stands that it was a crowd pleaser. A roar of approval rose many times from the audience following the sounds of crunching metal.
Fair board member Terry Ash said the number of entries at this year’s demo derby was down some. One factor, he said, might have been the Benton County demo derby going on at the same time.
The tractor pull was also very popular, according to Gerth.
One thing that Gerth said the fair board is going to try to solve, however, is how to keep the dust down when the souped-up tractors speed down the track in front of the grandstand.
Gerth noted a hesitancy by owners of those tractors in wanting to return to next year’s tractor pull. Gerth explained that those operators didn’t have air filters on their air intakes and that can lead to engine damage if there is much dust.
“Like Martha Stewart says, ‘It’s not a good thing,’” Gerth said about the dust getting into engines.
Watering down the track would be a problem, he said, because then the clay track would be too slick for traction, Gerth said.
Ash reported that the animal-exhibit barns this year were full, with more goats than ever adding to that.
Ash noted that the number of participating teams was down some in the ranch rodeo, now in its second year at the Mille Lacs County Fair. He attributed the drop to the worsened economy.
A ranch rodeo is one where teams on horseback carry out activities found at ranches, including herding cattle.
This year, a few 4-Hers had a team and 4-H leaders are going to work to improve that team for next year, Ash said.
“A lot of horses nowadays,” Ash added, “never see a cow until they come to the fair.”
Sedra Bistodeau, who helped her sister Deena and parents Bob and Deborah organize this year’s fiddle contest at the fair, said the number of contestants was 30, more than double last year’s 14.
A $1,500 grant from the East Central Arts Council provided prizes in the fiddle contest, which ranged from $30 to $350.
Here are the results of the fair’s various contests:
Fiddle contest
Winner of the junior division was Maddy Brown. Second was Alicia Neuman and third was Haley Schilla.
Young adult winner was Robbie Nordstrom. Aria Stiles was second and Adinijuh Imgrund was third.
The adult winner was Christina Seaborn, with Elizabeth McKay second and Shelia Groves third.
Alita Stoneking won the open class, with Tom Weisburger second and Angie Mars third.
Demolition derby
Rick Wiener won the truck class, followed by Brian White second and Travis Blatz third.
Ryan Bandow won the heavy-welded division, with Shane Huston second and Brian Lincoln third.
Charles Bragg won the compact class, with Jared Kruger second and Nathan Volk third.
The chain class (reinforced vehicle) was Jeremiah Babb as the victor with Amanda Ackerson second and Ron Aderman Jr. third.
Talent contest
Jenna Swalboski was first and Kourtney Sainio was second in the pre-teen division.
Jillian Rindle was first and Maggie Moller was second for teens.
The band featuring singer Kelly Wolbert won the open division, while the band, The New Contusions, was second.
First and second places get to perform in the state fair talent contest.
Tractor pull
• 3,750 lb. farm stock – Tim Olson, first, Kris Moos second and Dwayne Koch third.
• 4,500 lb. antique – Tanner Nettestad, first, Rich Embertson second and Bradley Bismark third.
•5,000 lb. farm stock – Mark Kramer first, Jeff Moos second and Josh Wilhelm third.
• 6,500 lb. antique – Embertson first, Kurt Johnson second and George Weidendorf third.
• 7,000 lb. farm stock – Andy Garding first, Dennis Segelstrom second and Lloyd Eastlund third.
• 7,500 open – Lenny Dziuk first.
• 9000 lb. farm stock – Garding first, Ben Kohnen second and Troy Downing third.
• 10,000 turbo farm stock – Nate Koch first, Mark Kohnen second and Steve Pass third.
• 11,000 lb. hobby stock – Brandon Besser first and Bob Dillon second.
• 12,000 lb. farm stock – Nate Cook first, Dan Kohnen second and Jason Beier third.
• 15,000 lb. farm stock – Brian Fiedler first, Lee Freiheit second and Tony Burke third.
• 18,000 lb. farm stock – Mark Kohnen first, Besser second and John Swanson third.
 |
