The 2003 Mower County Fair lineup has been announced.

There will be a state championship Motocross event, two demolition derbies, a rodeo and rock n' roll with the Johnny Holm Band.

Also coming to the 2003 Mower County Fair is a new event: mud racing.

There's more.

Also new this summer to the Mower County Fairgrounds in southwest Austin will be three new livestock buildings and a new agricultural display building at the Mower County Historical Center.

In addition, all the popular events of previous Mower County Fairs return: 4-H and FFA competition, the Midwest Steer and Heifer Show and the Market Swine Show, creative arts and horticulture displays, the Dale Merriam Midway Show, Godfather's Fair Square free entertainment, commercial exhibits in the Plager Building, the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame and Outstanding Fair Persons awards as well as amateur talent contest, senior citizen recognition and the Old-Time Fiddlers Contest.

The Mower County Fair runs Tuesday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 10.

One other popular feature of the Mower County Fair remains the same: There will be no gate fee.

Despite continuing concerns about the need to charge admission to the county fair, the Mower County Agricultural Society's Fair Board recently voted to leave the county fair free.

Parking fees also remain unchanged from a year ago, although gate attendants will start charging earlier than before.

Scott Felten, a fair board director, and Denice Mudra, county fair office manager, have prepared a thorough overview of the excitement to come in August.

The grandstand entertainment begins Tuesday night, Aug. 5, with the Minnesota State Supercross Motocross event.

On Wednesday night, Aug. 6, the first of two demolition derbies will be held.

Both demo derbies have been restricted this year, according to the Fair Board spokespersons. The Aug. 6 derby is the Upper Midwest Demolition Derby championship, featuring compact cars with a $3,000 guaranteed purse in prize money.

Rodeo action takes over for the grandstand crowd Thursday night, Aug. 7.

The Johnny Holmes Band returns to the Mower County Fair Friday night, Aug. 8, with a street dance party.

A new grandstand event this year will be mud racing Saturday, Aug. 9. There will be eight classes with the open street and stock classes open to local participants.

Two mud racing shows will be held Aug. 9, in the afternoon and the evening. Spectators who purchase one mud racing ticket will be able to attend both shows.

The grandstand entertainment lineup concludes Sunday, Aug. 10, with the final demolition derby.

The August 10 derby will be the Upper Midwest Championship, featuring full-size cars with a guaranteed purse of $4,000 in prize money.

"There will be many other new things this year," Mudra added. "The most noticeable will be the three new 80-by-200 foot, steel, clear-span buildings that will house the livestock exhibits."

Also new this year all 4-H horses will be at the fairgrounds throughout the week and housed in new box stall pens in one of the new livestock buildings.

The Midwest Swine Show moves from Sunday night before the start of the Mower County Fair to Friday, Aug. 8, in Crane Pavilion.

The Mower County Historical Society's new agricultural display building will be open throughout the county fair south of the Mower County Historical Center exhibits.

Historical Society volunteers will greet visitors to the multitude of exhibits throughout the county fair.

Felten and Mudra said the County Fair's "old standbys" are also sure to attract crowds. They include the FFA children's farmyard, an antique tractor and farm machinery display, tractor pull, big horse show, horse pull and 4-H fashion revue when models from every club in Mower County showcase their sewing skills.

But that ain't all.

According to the Fair Board representatives, the free stages at the fair will feature Elvis with Three Lane band on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and the comedy duo of Tina and Lena will perform three shows Thursday, Aug. 7.

Century farms will be recognized by the Mower County Farm Bureau, Day Care Day will bring hundreds of preschool children to the fairgrounds and more activities and events are still being planned by the Fair Board.

For information, call the county fair office at 433-1868.

Beginning in early June, information will also be available on the web site www.mowercountyfair.com

Also appearing …

The annual Mower County Fair is arguably the biggest event each summer at the Mower County Fairgrounds, but there are others.

Among the events already scheduled are: Boy Scout day camps, June 12-14; Line riders Horse Club Show, June 15;

Mower County Pork Producers Cookout, June 18; Weisfest Music Fest, June 27-29; Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Appreciation Cookout, July 15; KGLO Tractor Drive, July 21.

And, coming Sept. 8-10 to the Mower County Fairgrounds is the "World Series of Swine Shows," the National Barrow Show.

This year's edition is the 57th annual to be held in Austin.

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

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com

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