And the winners are … Terese Amazi, Jonathan Olson and Todd Clennon.

If that sounds like an election results report, don't be mistaken.

It's a report of the 2002 Mower County Fair and not the September primary or November general elections.

The County Fair took on a political flavor this year. Both the Mower County DFL and the Mower County GOP parties had booths in the Plager Building on the fairgrounds n southwest Austin. Outside the commercial exhibit building,

Mower County sheriff, attorney and treasurer candidates had discussed the issues with the public.

Other candidates prowled the fairgrounds meeting fairgoers and wooing their votes.

Three primary contests are less than a week away for Mower County voters, plus one state senate race.

Amazi, chief deputy in the Mower County Sheriff's Department, won Friday night's celebrity tractor pull. She's running for county sheriff.

Olson, chief deputy prosecutor in the Mower County Attorney's Office, finished second in his division in Saturday's amateur talent contest. He's running for county attorney.

Clennon, an Austin Police Department officer, won Sunday's cow milking contest. He's running for county sheriff.

Only the amateur talent contest is a "serious" competition. Winners advance to the 2002 Minnesota State Fair. The other two contests were just for laughs.

The 2002 Mower County Fair had plenty of laughs, excitement and nostalgic fun.

On Sunday, the ever-popular Old-Time Fiddlers Contest attracted 11 fiddlers and a record crowd under the tent in front of Godfather's Fair Square stage.

Meanwhile, historic Crane Pavilion attracted a large audience to the draft horse show and hitch.

The beautiful animals and their exquisitely decorated rigs literally stopped traffic outside the pavilion, while fairgoers gawked in admiration.

Attendance figures were not yet available Monday morning. However, weekend figures were expected to match or beat the 11,000 per day average posted early last week when the county fair began its six-day run.

Attendance was bolstered by the over 600 Mower County 4-Hers and FFA teens who competed at the fair.

For the 4-Hers, the 2002 fair was a historic occasion: the centennial of 4-H was observed and special awards presented.

The obvious hit of fairgoers had to be Crane Pavilion, where so many livestock competitions have been held in the over half-century life of the building. The Mower County Board of Commissioners authorized a $250,000 restoration of the building and it paid off.

"Just look at this place," exclaimed Dave Weness, a former fair board director and still an energetic volunteer at fair time. "This place looks great. Put in a good word for the county commissioners and fair board. This is something everybody can appreciate."

(Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com)-