County’s get-together runs Aug. 9 through 14

The best of Mower County will soon be on full display.

From Aug. 9 to 14, the fair will bring one of the county’s busiest weeks of summer.

“I always look at it as the showcase of the county,” said Ken Trom, fair director.

The fair is often a time to see what’s going on in the rural areas of the county and in the city of Austin, Trom noted. From concessions and commercial displays to livestock shows and 4-H, there are plenty of residents lined up to work or compete at the fair.

But, Trom said the fair is for everyone, not just those competing or showcasing a project.

“Everybody has an opportunity to participate in it,” Trom said.

Best of Mower

The fourth annual Pride of Mower awards and the opening ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the fair square. The event is a chance to honor those who have given back to help better the community.

“It really recognizes a lot of those folks that do volunteer work all year long, year after year after year,” Trom said.

Without such people, Trom said the world would be a drastically different place.

“These kinds of people and these kinds of organizations really do a lot for their community, and they just really need to be recognized every once and a while,” he said.

The awards and opening ceremony have been moved to the evening to allow more people to attend. Winners will be announced for awards like Fair Person of the Year, Farm Family of the Year and Outstanding Senior Volunteer.

Merriam’s back

Along with all the animals and 4-H shows, there will also be a car show featuring mostly 1950s automobiles.

For the 28th year, Merriam’s Midway will host the rides.

“It’s absolutely one of the top carnivals going,” he said.

The fish and game building will also be back this year.

“They always do such a good job there,” he said.

The free stage will feature an array of performers like the DC Drifters, a reunion of Austin’s Got Talent, Austin Big Band and two Elvis Presley impersonators.

“He’s coming back twice,” Trom said. “He’s one of the best in the business”

Thursday will be a day dedicated to senior citizens, and there will be a tent of various activities for seniors.

Thursday is set to be busy, as it will be Senior Day. There will be a tent for companies that service senior citizens, like Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. Past favorites Tina and Lena are set to return to the free stage that day, and a Neil Diamond tribute act is also set to perform.

The fair isn’t the only thing coming to the fairgrounds.

Sponsors

It’s still free.

Despite the tough economic times, the fair still doesn’t charge, which Trom said is one of the fair’s keys to success.

“If we started charging, attendance would drop way off,” he said.

Despite cuts few years ago to county funding, the fair as been backed by sponsorship dollars.

“It’s way up, and a lot of sponsors -— all the way from large amounts to what I call large amounts,” he said.

“People really do want a good fair,” he added. “So people step up to the plate.”