I learned a great deal at the recent History Happy Hour held at the Hormel Historic Home.

Ken Trom, a former fair board member and long-time supporter of the Mower County Fair, described how the fair was developed and how it has changed over the years.

Trom suggested that a county fair, through its exhibits, is meant to represent the best of what a county has to offer. From livestock to produce, flowers, arts and crafts, people share their talents with fairgoers and are rewarded for their craft. He said that the fair’s judging allows people to improve on their skills and show the best of what they produce. As the mother of two active boys, I have always seen the fair as a method of entertaining my kids in the summer and not having to cook. Now I see it as a display of the unique gifts of the people I live amongst.

In looking for a Hormel family connection to the history of the fair I found a few references. The Austin Daily Herald reported on Jan. 6, 1904 that “the [Hormel] company offers $100 for the best beef steer, ready for the block, shown at the year’s county fair. The packing company agrees to buy the steer at the fair grounds at the highest market price.”

The paper wrote that the purpose of the contest was to have “Prof. Shaw judge this stock and to point out each defect.” When the prize winners were announced the animals were used to demonstrate “how certain animals draw the highest market price while others are of little value for the block.”

Another connection to that year’s fair was the acknowledgment of George Hormel being the first to make a financial donation to the “Ladies of the Fair.” The “Ladies” were responsible for the exhibits and various meals during the fair.

For the 1913 county fair, George was instrumental in bringing railroad magnate, James J. Hill, to Austin as a guest speaker. The Mower County Transcript encouraged all to attend Hill’s speech on Sept. 10, 1913. They called Hill “one of the greatest men of the age whose advice had been worth thousands of dollars to the farmers of the northwest.”

Throughout its history the Mower County Fair has meant different things to different people. My family will have great memories of the midway, the meals and the barns. It is a community tradition that represents many of our county’s greatest features. I am grateful that George Hormel and so many others supported it and have kept it going.

 Uncork & Create Event

Monday

Start your ArtWorks Festival week by creating your own artistic treasure. Class will be led by Art on the Go Rochester. Cost is $40 per person. Register at the Hormel Home or www.hormelhistorichome.org.  Light snacks included.

*Event will be cancelled if minimum of 15 participants is not met.