The 2012 Mower County Free Fair officially began not with a bang, not with a whimper, but with a snip.

Virginia Bissen, deemed 2012 Fair Person of the Year, held up the ceremonial shears and cut the ribbon at the fair’s opening ceremony Tuesday evening, marking the start of this year’s county fair. Bissen and a host of others were granted awards following an opening address from Dan Conradt.

“It’s an honor,” she said. “I got a letter in the mail one day and I didn’t know what the fair wanted.”

Bissen, who has been attending the fair all her life, wrote a grant to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to see if she could use some of the money from the Legacy Fund tax to make improvements at the fair. Thanks to her efforts, the creative arts building now has new light fixtures, siding and wiring.

 

The award also recognizes her ongoing contributions in volunteer work to the fair, especially with the creative arts building, where she was superintendent for several years.

But Bissen’s fund-gathering isn’t just limited to the fair. Last year, Bissen won $2,500 for 4-H through Monsanto, a sustainable agriculture company. Bissen submitted an idea for a contest that asked where to direct a donation, and for what purpose. She recommended it go to 4-H, so the organization could use the money for healthy eating education, an expanded garden program and tours for children.

“Anybody can belong to 4-H,” she said. “It benefits everybody.”

Bissen said in the 1950s, the fair was one of the best sources of entertainment, and a natural part of living on the farm. She competed for 4-H ribbons, and said each was worth a lot of money at that point.

She said she wishes everyone a good time at the fair, and hopes they enjoy the agricultural aspect.

“If we didn’t have agriculture, we wouldn’t have anything,” she said.

After Bissen’s award, Dan Vermilea was given the Livestock Hall of Fame award. He said his award connected with the core values of the fair.

“I’ve been blessed,” he said. “The fair is really about agriculture and youth, and those are the two things I’ve spent a lot of time at.”

Members of the Mower County Board were present at the ceremony, as were state legislators Jeanne Poppe and Dan Sparks, both DFL-Austin.

Ken Trom, who spent 27 years on the Fair Board including time as president, was there to help at the ceremony. Though he has retired from the board, Trom said he would have a hard time not keeping involved.

“It gets to be a big part of your life,” he said. “You can’t just walk away from it.”