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The Mower County Fair opened with a glimpse of the future as the new Fair Square made its debut during the opening ceremony Tuesday.

The Fair Square offers a brand new space with much more space and it will enhance the experience of the fair this year and beyond.

“It was always a challenge,” said County Commissioner John Mueller. “Stage-wise we were probably OK but you need space to get ready and get set and have dressing rooms. This is larger, this is permanent and we’re not going to have those logistics struggles that we always had. It’ll be great to serve the community.”

Mueller added that the Fair Square will likely be used throughout the year for local awards ceremonies and local entertainment. He credited former board member Renee Wangen, who performed the ribbon cutting ceremony, for keeping the issue of a new Fair Square alive over the years.

“The fair has always listened to it. But this year with the Farm Bureau Federation having some funds and the Fair Board having the willingness to do this and go forward, it was a great combination,” Mueller said. “All of the people involved worked together to get it done. A lot of the cost comes from the fair board itself. People come out on their own time for free. They swing and the hammer away. They finished the interior and they helped with several of the structures out here. They put a lot of sweat equity into this place to make this happen.”

The building of the new Fair Square was helped out by the Mower County Farm Bureau, which donated some of the funds necessary to build it. Mower County Farm Bureau President Marlin Fay was pleased to open the Fair in the new structure.

“ We want to build on the success of the past and work for a better future,” Fay said. “It wasn’t without some bumps in the road and some disagreement but in the end cooperation won out.”

Mower County Fair Board President Kevin Finley expressed gratitude for the Mower County Farm Bureau and he looks forward to using the Fair Square for years to come.

“How many times does an organization come in and step up and donate like this for a facility of this caliber? That pretty much says it all,” Finley said. “We’re really excited about it.It brings a lot of excitement to the fair.”