It’s fair time: Mower County Fair kicks off Tuesday
Published 5:51 pm Sunday, August 7, 2016
- Cassidy Shute of Austin manuevers her steer around during the 4-H Ribbon auction last year at the Mower County Fair. The fair officially kicks off Tuesday. Herald file photo
The high point of the summer is nearly here as the Mower County Fair is set to run Tuesday through Sunday.
A combination of old favorites and new events will highlight the fair with plenty in between to keep visitors happy and entertained.
“We’re bringing back a lot of old favorites and introducing things that hopefully will become new favorites,” fair board president John Mueller said.
A couple of girls high five their friends as they go around on a ride at Daycare Day at the Mower County Fair last year. Herald file photo
One of the biggest additions to the fair will be the Mower County Homegrown concert featuring the Gear Daddies and opening act Six Mile Grove at the grandstands. It continues a recent move to highlight more musical acts at the fair.
“We have been offering more music in the grand stand,” Mueller said. “We’ve had Hairball, Time Machine, Elvis show with a 10 piece band, Gwen Sebastion.”
“We’ve been trying to provid entertainment for those who desire music. As long as the support is continued we’ll try to provide it,” Mueller added.
Austin natives, The Gear Daddies hit it big in 1990 with their hockey arena staple “Zamboni,” and Six Mile Grove hails from Lyle.
The concert will play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, just one of the big grandstand events slated for the week.
“The Gear Daddies is something I’ve been trying to put together several times but because of scheduling we couldn’t make it work.”
“Both are Mower County originals that have had national success,” Mueller added.
Elvis and The Las Vegas Experience, featuring Elvis impersonator Brad Boice also returns at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night. That show was especially popular last year.
“People that really attended last year really liked it,” Mueller said. “Based on the comments we heard, it was worth doing again.”
MotoKazie Supercross returns to kick off the grandstands events at 7 p.m. Tuesday night and then at 7 p.m. on Thursday the NTPA Tractor Pull thunders into the fair.
One of the more popular events of the grandstands will be the Great Frontier Bull Riding show at 7 p.m. Saturday night and the grandstands events wrap up at 2 p.m. Sunday with the Masters of Disaster Demo Derby.
Jacob Stark kicks off the Great Frontier Bull Riding show last year at the grandstand during the Mower County Fair. Herald file photo
While the big shows hold down the grandstands, there is plenty to do throughout the fair including free entertainment at the Fair Square, ag shows and of course the midway is once again put on by GoldStar Amusements, coming off a strong second year.
“The first year they came in and learned this particular market,” Mueller said. “Last year they made a bigger footprint and they look forward to returning a successful carnival.”
Like in past years, the fair gets its official kickoff at 5 p.m. Tuesday with the opening ceremonies which includes Mower County’s color guards and introduction of the Fair Person of the Year.
“It’s really the start to the week-long celebration,” Mueller said.
The ceremony will be followed by the Pride of Mower County Awards presentations which allows the fair to acknowledge all that people have accomplished in the county.
“That is our event to honor Mower County individuals, families and organizations,” Mueller said.
Certainly, one of the central areas of the fair are ag-related activities and displays which according to Mueller serve a vital function for the fair, the area and visitors.
“Nearly every county fair and for us in particular, the fair is an opportunity not only for kids and adults with livestock and crop growing, but it’s a chance for people who don’t know that much about those things to be educated about where their food comes from,” Mueller said.
According to Mueller, livestock numbers look to be comparable, if not up a little, compared to last year and a year removed, poultry is making a comeback.
“We will on longer have the chickenless chicken show,” Mueller said. “The ban on poultry has been taken off.”
Because of the avian flu outbreak, the fair was forced to cancel the poultry events last year.
Buffy the Cow is even getting some fair love just in time for her 50th birthday.
“To celebrate, Spruce Up Austin, the fair board, volunteers and businesses have partnered to do landscaping,” Mueller said. “The Ankeny family also participated and now Buffy has lighting and landscaping.”
“She’s all dressed up for her 50th,” He added.
