Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion

Vol. 122, No. 8

www.bloomingprairieonline.com

Congratulations to the Steele County Fair for achieving a major milestone of building the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion.

This will serve as a showcase of the area’s livestock for decades to come.

Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion

Members of the Steele County Free Fair Barn Committee are (LtoR) Roger Noble, Tracy Ignaszewski, Sandy Jirele, Dan Deml, Ron Van Nurden.

Not pictured: Mark Ditlevson.

Allan and Randee Radel

The The

$1

Serving Blooming Prairie and Steele County since 1893

Times Tuesday, July 29, 2014

507-583-4431

2A • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • The Times

Showcasing an all-star facility HOT

PURSUIT Rick Bussler

B

aseball may have featured its all-star line-up earlier this month, but now it’s the Steele County Fair’s opportunity to show off an all-star of its own.

On the first day of the fair, officials will unveil the Allan R. Radel Livestock Pavilion for the first time to the public. The $800,000 facility has been in the works for nearly five years after an old barn collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowfall in 2010.

This is not just any barn. It’s an all-star complex to showcase some of the best animals around the area.

For Roger Noble of Owatonna, the new pavilion reminds him of a livestock facility equivalent to one that fairgoers would see on the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair.

Noble has served on the barn committee along with several other people and thinks it’s a wonderful addition to the local fair.

“There is a lot of excitement with this barn,” Noble says. “It definitely shows off the agriculture end of the fair.”

The Times is trying to capture some of that excitement through this special section devoted exclusively to the pavilion. After all, this is not just any barn. It brings to life a lifestyle and rich tradition that has engrained into the fabric of Steele County for more than a century.

Noble, who grew up on a dairy farm in Steele County and showed animals at the fair in the 1970s, recalls how hot the old barns always became during the shows.

The new facility will feature huge fans in the middle to circulate the air and make things more comfortable not only for the exhibitors, but also for the animals.

“It seems so big, so airy and open with high ceilings,” Noble said of the new facility.

“There was a lot of thought that went into it,” he added.

With Steele County being located in the heart of agriculture for Minnesota, it seems only appropriate for the county to construct a premier facility to house livestock for 4-H, FFA and others. This area has a rich history of agriculture and the new pavilion will be one way to showcase that for decades to come.

The fair’s long-time publicity guru, Todd Hale, couldn’t agree more.

“I think it’s important because our fair has always been livestock oriented,” Hale said. “We have never downgraded the importance of livestock at this fair.”

Hale, who has been with the fair for 24 years, never thought he would ever see a facility of this magnitude added to the fair.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “The size alone of the facility is very impressive.”

One of the greatest features of the new facility will be safety as the animals will go from the pavilion right into the show arena without crossing paths with fairgoers. A couple years ago a a horse trampled a little boy outside of one of the barns.

“The safety of the fairgoers is one things we really wanted to accomplish with this facility,” Hale said.

Fairgoers can once again take pride in the Steele fair as it rolls out a state-of-theart facility for livestock. Folks have come to expect nothing less from Minnesota’s largest and best county fair.

The pavilion is complete. Now it’s time for fairgoers to go in hot pursuit of enjoying an all-star facility showcasing the best animals throughout the region.

g n i m a N he ~ ~ of t barn

Jim Gleason (SCFF secretary/manager), Allan Radel, Randee Radel, and Dan Deml (President of SCFF Board) were all smiles after the announcement of the naming rights was going to the Allan Radel family. The new facility is called the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion.

By ALAN VAN ORMER Managing Editor

E

xcitement is building as the dedication of the Allan R. Dan Deml, president of the fair board, said the barn is being Radel Family Livestock Pavilion draws nearer. Not only named after the Allan Radel family because the fair has meant a is it exciting to the members who have went through the lot to the family. “We were looking at raising as much funds as process, but also to the family that the barn is being named after. we could to finance and build this thing,” he said. “One of the “I was really excited and humbled at the same time,” said Allan things with a larger facility is the naming rights and making a Radel. “I’ve been very involved with the fair. I love the fair. Since donation for the naming rights.” a child, I used those barns in my 4-H days and FFA days. I really Deml said the committee did not know what would happen, enjoyed my educational but decided to put to put it experience and hope to share out to the community to come it with the youth of Steele forward and make donations I was really excited and humbled County.” in exchange for naming rights. at the same time,” said Allan When dedication day “Allan Radel did that,” he said. comes, Radel will be joined “Because of his donation, it was Radel. “I’ve been very involved by as many members of his his choice of what to name it.” with the fair. I love the fair. family as possible. His son, Radel grew up on a family Since a child, I used those barns Jeffrey and wife, Terri and farm west of Owatonna. He was his three grandchildren, an exhibitor and also showed in my 4-H days and FFA days.

Jacob, Justin and Katie all livestock. He was a long-timer plan to be on hand, as does 4-H and FFA member. He and ~Allan Radel his oldest daughter, Kim and his two brothers, Roger and his grandson, Dillon. It will Kenneth, showed beef and also include his other son dairy cattle during the fair.

Kyle and his daughter, Stephanie, as well as his brother, Roger, There were also garden projects, as well as the ducks. coming all the way from Tennessee.

“I learned a lot through the 4-H experience,” he said. “I’m Two that will not be there will be his brother, Kenny, who pretty proud of that.” passed away two years ago and his grandchild, Scott, who was Deml added that Radel’s childhood had great memories for lost several years ago. him, his brothers and his parents. “He has always been a huge “They will be remembered in our thoughts and prayers that supporter and enjoyed coming to the fair,” he said. “Being a day,” he said. “It is going to be exciting. All my children and successful business man, his desire to give back to the community grandchildren are going to be there and will be able to see my helped make this barn a reality.” legacy firsthand. How many people get a chance to do that? I feel Radel said the building is beautiful and far exceeds what he pretty lucky I’m able to do that in my lifetime.” was thinking. “I want to stress that it is a community project and Ron Van Nurden, Chairman of the Barn Building Committee, we were one of the families in Steele County,” he said. “It has said the fair meant a lot to Radel when he was a youngster. been a lot of effort and people involved. We are just a link in the “He wanted to give something back,” he said. “They have been chain.” attending the fair every year.”

”

The Times • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • 3A

STRENUOUS PROCESS with a

wonderful outcome

By ANNA SEGNER College Intern

W

hile the new livestock barn on the northeastern side of the fairgrounds started out as a dream, it is now a reality. The organization behind the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion has been a long journey for cochairmen of the barn committee Dan Deml and Ron Van Nurden.

Now that the barn is in its finishing stages, Deml and Van Nurden agreed that it was a strenuous process with a wonderful outcome.

“It was hard to see past the long range plan, but it’s really a dream come true,” said Deml. “We are tickled to death that it is up, and I’m anxious to see it at the fair.”

The ball started rolling for some changes on the fairgrounds in 2009, and it was later decided that one large barn would be built to replace the three adjacent cattle barns that were built in 1958. The old barns were in rough shape, and the Steele County Free Fair Board wanted a space that would better serve the exhibitor’s and their livestock.

“It took a while to get our arms around what we wanted for the new barn, and it also took a while to get comfortable with such a large project,” said Deml. At any rate, safety was a number one concern of the barn committee, and pushed the project along.

Because the pavilion will serve as a horse barn at the north eastern side of Leisure Lane, the pavilion will cut down on horse traffic on the street where fairgoers will be walking.

Now that the horses will be on the same side of the street as the horse show arena, there will

Sandy Jirele

Dan Deml

be no need for the horses to cross Leisure Lane.

In previous years, the horses had to cross the street to the arena and warm up in the street, but the new barn has a warm up area at the east end close to the horse show arena.

“We set the building north of Leisure Lane to keep horse traffic out of the street, so that there is no liability of people and horse mingling,” said Deml.

“There are so many people at the fair that are not experienced around livestock, so safety was a main concern, and the pavilion in this location is a solution to the conflict point,” said Van Nurden.

According to Deml and Van Nurden, the building has many features, but the flexibility of the pavilion is one of its greatest assets. While the pavilion is designed to be flexible for many

Ron Van Nurden

purposes, it will serve primarily for agriculture purposes during the summer and it will be rented out for storage during the winter.

The pavilion also offers many features that offer the livestock a healthier living environment for their stay during the Steele County Free Fair. With softer footing, more light and much more air flow, the pavilion was designed for the comfort of people and livestock alike.

The pavilion is an impressive 192’ by 145’ and the barn committee believes that the barn is telling of the success of the Steele County Free Fair throughout the years. “The Steele County Free Fair is really a part of our community’s tradition. It is the best county fair, and we thought it was about time that it started looking like the best fair around,” said Van Nurden.

The Steele County Free Fair has always been

agriculturally oriented and the new barn is an effort to carry on that tradition into the future.

Due to the harsh winter, the construction of the barn was slower than anticipated, but the barn committee kept on working to have it ready to go for the 2014 fair. “We’ve been dragging the project along kicking and screaming, but we’ve kept dragging it along,” said Deml with a smile.

They are now very happy with the progress.

Van Nurden and Deml both agreed that the entire barn committee as well as members from the community made the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion possible.

Sharon Klein of the Steele County Free Fair Office was very active in the barn committee in the organization of the correspondents.

Van Nurden and Deml would like to thank Steele County Treasurer Steve Rohlik, County Administrator Tom Shea, and the county commissioners for all of their help along the way.

The barn committee has also received many donations to help fund the pavilion; Allan Radel made a large donation for naming rights of the barn. Without the donations and help of the fair’s supporters, the project would not have been possible.

“You can’t just look at two people, we’ve had a lot of support from the community,” said Deml. “It’s great being a part of a whole ambiance and love of this fair.”

Excitement generating with new barn

By ALAN VAN ORMER Managing Editor

T

hose who have had glimpses of the newly-constructed Allan R. Radel Familly Livestock Pavilion on the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna can’t wait to get inside to show their animals and see the new amenities.

The building replaces the three barns built in the 1950s at the fairgrounds. One collapsed in 2010 under the weight of snow. The other two were torn down after the 2013 fair.

“There has been a very positive reaction to the barn,” said Sandy Jirele, Steele County Free Fair Livestock Director. “We’re excited about it.”

All construction and painting for the facility is expected to be completed over the next week or two. It includes leveling off the floor and installing the stalls.

Ron Van Nurden, chairman of the building committee, has

also heard positive reactions, especially with the architecture.

“It is a beautiful building that people feel proud to have on our fairgrounds,” he said. “We have the best fair in the state. We have a building now that people really feel good about.”

Van Nurden also said the new facility addresses the safety issues, which is one of the key issues the board was trying to solve. In the past horses were moving across the line of traffic. “We have had near misses in the past,” he said.

The board also wanted to be flexible. The new facility will allow the board to use it for other events and it is also designed for storage in the winter months.

Dan Deml, Steele County Free Fair Board President, said the reaction he has received from those viewing the barn is “WOW. It is big. The thing is huge.”

The barn is one large one that replaced three smaller barns.

The square footage is less than the three combined barns, but the profile is higher compared to the three barns.

“People are awestruck by the size of it once they get inside,” Deml said. “They think it looks nice with the dormers, the doors, the sky lights – there is kind of a WOW factor!”

Deml said the hope is that the new barn will enhance the experience of the exhibitors and will allow all horse exhibitors to showing in one barn. The old horse barn was constructed around 1957-58.

“We have a first-class fair and this will enhance the facilities for a first-class fair,” he said.

4A • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • The Times

The Times • Tuesday, July 5, 2014 • 5A

YOU’RE INVITED New Barn Dedication The Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion

1918 – The County gave the fair

board enough money to bulk up the fairgrounds. Many buildings were built including three industrial buildings, three cattle barns, one open swine building, one poultry barn, one horse barn, and one 4-H building.

1924 – A horse paddock was built on the southwest corner of the race track.

1934 – A hog barn, a sheep barn,

2013 - Started construction

after 2013 Steele County Free Fair. Building was brought in and construction started in November.

will be dedicated on the first day of the fair, Aug.12.

There will be a program beginning at 1:30 p.m.

and an exhibition building were built.

Everyone is welcomed to attend.

1958 –

Six brand new cattle barns were built along the northeast border of the fairgrounds. This was the same year that the old cattle barn was made into the Beers Gardens.

2012 - Steele County suggested

making a loan to the county. The loan helped the project gain traction and take off.

January 2010 - Barn

collapses under snow load. That came to be the fair’s highest priority. A study was completed and the recommendation was to tear down the other 2 barns and replace the three of them with one larger barn. Cost during that process had to be overcome because there was only enough money to replace one barn.

1962 -

2009 - Discussions started on

The open swine barn (built in 1958) collapsed under the weight of snow and ice.

1987 – A new metal hog barn was built.

1972 -

1979 – The county demolished

Three barns were demolished.

improvements of space for horses. It was clear that it exceeded expertise of board members. The board contracted with architects to make recommendations.

1981 –

A metal building was built for horses to the east of the racetrack.

the old horse barn.

Sponsored by these local businesses:

EANS LOW ARTS

New & Used White/Oliver Plows & Plow Parts

• New wear parts for Spring/Fall Tillage Tools for most brands • 2-8 Bottom Plows on hand • Lilliston Cultivators and parts • Strip-till Equipment

507-455-2484 | 507-456-7633

Lumberyard & Home Design/Drafting stop in and see Jon or Tait today!

413 West Main St. • Geneva • 507-256-0045

Justin Krell

OPEN 24 HOURS

District Sales Manager

Blooming Prairie 507-456-3834

CashWiseDelivers.com 495 West N. St. • Owatonna • 451-7220

We sell more than just seed.

We offer crop protectants, nutrients, precision, consulting and everything in-between.

60784 120th Ave • Claremont • 507.528.2004

6A • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • The Times

Fundraising was a big

By ANNA SEGNER College Intern

T

he new Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion did not raise itself. The Steele County Free Fair barn committee and supporters have put a lot of time and effort into raising money for the horse pavilion.

Secretary-Manager Jim Gleason has been very involved in the organizing of the Barn Bash event. “We’re a unique fair, it’s kind of a show case of the success of the fairgrounds over the years,” said Gleason.

A large fundraiser for the barn was the annual Barn Bash events. This year’s Barn Bash celebrated its third year, and it occurred on Saturday, June 28 at Fair Square on the fair grounds.

The Barn Bash was on all day event, and provided entertainment for all ages. There were kids’ games, small amusement rides, pony rides, and fun educational children stations led by 4-H groups. People gathered to appreciate the antique car, tractor, and truck show. There was also a variety of food vendors. There was also live music including the Dan Stursa Band, Led Penny, Morning Kings and the Brat Pack Radio.

Admission to the event was free; however, if one wanted to go on rides, they could purchase wrist bands. There was a silent and

live auction, which featured a variety of quality prizes that were donated by individuals and local businesses.

Though it was a cloudy day with scattered showers, plenty of people came out to support the new barn.

Another large fundraiser for the new barn is the “Build the Barn Raffle.” Tickets to enter the raffle are $20, and the prizes are pretty extraordinary. First place prize for the raffle is $2,000 cash. Second place is $500 cash. There are other cash prizes,

various gift cards, hotel stays, and a Toro 3 self-propelled lawn mower.

Raffle tickets were available at the barn bash, and they are still available at the SCFF office. Although one does not need to be present to win, the drawing will occur on August 17 at 9 p.m. at the Fair Square stage at the Steele County fairgrounds.

Gleason said that many donations have been made to the barn project, and the barn committee would like to thank all those who supported and volunteered.

Because stalls are an extra expense, SCFF has set up a program for individuals or businesses to donate a stall. It is called the Pen Pal program. A few stalls have already been donated. The 4-H Club, Straight River Stars were the first to donate a stall.

The SCFF board members and barn bash committee are certainly excited to share the final product at the fair this year, and they encourage fairgoers to check it out. “Certainly check out that end of the fairgrounds. It’s not just for the fair, but we want people to check it out!” said Gleason.

Providing a

safe barn environment

By ALAN VAN ORMER Managing Editor

P

roviding a safe environment for those who show horses at the Steele County Free Fair in Owatonna was the impetus for the construction of the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion.

The building replaces the three barns built in the 1950s at the fairgrounds. One collapsed in 2010 under the weight of snow. The other two

were torn down after the 2013 fair.

“The barn provides a much safer environment,” said Sandy Jirele, Steele County Free Fair Livestock Director. “There are safety features, not only for the kids judging, but also for fairgoers.”

Board President Dan Deml added that the structure is one that will have possibilities for any 4-H person involved in the Steele County Fair

during their lifetime. “We are providing a firstclass facility for those who use it as we move into the future,” he said. “I think it will be a facility that they will be proud to use, exhibit in and be very happy of the accommodations they get when they come to the fair.”

Chairman of the Building Barn Committee Ron Van Nurden added it gives the youth an opportunity to bring livestock to the fair and provides a facility that will assist in providing healthy animals because of the air movement for animals. “The 4-H program is such a vital part of our fair,” he said. “It is important to have good facilities for them.”

Tracy Ignaszewski, County 4-H Program Coordinator thinks this new facility will have a huge impact on 4-H by just being able to have a new building to exhibit their animals. “One building is more effective because we can put all the horses under one roof,” she said. “It provides safety and unity.”

In the past, the horses had to come across the street, which led to safety issues at times. Now, the horses can go east out of the building and go right to the showing arena. In addition, fairgoers and 4-H members can exit the barn from two different ends.

Ignaszewski said the youth will be excited, yet nervous. “It is a change. It is something different.

It is exciting and there are an unknown number of questions,” she said. “The kids will have

to adjust by knowing how to utilize the space differently. That will be a big adjustment. Putting cattle and horses in the same building will be an adjustment.”

Overall, Ignaszewski doesn’t know if the barn is going to have a dramatic impact on the 4-H program. “When you look at the fairgrounds it makes a huge difference by just the appearance of the building,” she said. “There will be those subtle things like better power, utilizing space better, bathrooms; all those small things that the average person won’t even consider.”

Each specie will see a different benefit, she added. For example, the sheep and goats were shown under a tent, but will now move into a building. There were concerns that the sheep wasn’t over until 1 a.m. in the morning. “Starting the show on time will have a huge impact on the sheep.”

Ignaszewski said it is important to have the barn because the fair is a huge part of the community.

“It is just a huge part of everyday life for a Steele County person,” she said. “A big thing is pride.

We have a nice fairgrounds and a nice building so that 4-H youth are able to house their animals and we are able to bring in other shows.

“Every time I go in there, I stand back and look in awe,” she added. “I hope people look at it that way.”

The Times • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • 7A

of it all

By ANNA SEGNER College Intern

T

he new livestock pavilion on the northeast side of the fairgrounds was made to serve fairgoers, exhibitors and livestock alike.

Cochairmen of the barn committee Dan Deml and Ron Van Nurden have been working with the rest of the barn committee for the past few years to get this project in motion. Their hard work is finally paying off as the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion is standing and will be finished in time for the fair.

The design for the barn was drawn from an architect at Keffer/Overton Architects in West Des Moines, Iowa. “There were a lot of eyes that looked at the whole thing.

We want to emphasize that this would probably not be possible without the support of everyone involved, the board of county commissioners, and all of the people who donated,” said Deml.

The construction for the barn was carried out by Gingerich Const., and despite the tough winter, they were able to stay on track. “They are known for their craftsmanship, and they worked under extraordinary conditions to get the barn up. You just marvel at their work,”

said Deml.

The new horse pavilion is the largest livestock barn on the grounds at 192 feet by 145 feet. The pavilion will be able to house 142 horse stalls, plus there will be a warm up arena at the east end.

The barn will be handicap accessible, and the pavilion has an office area and bathrooms. “There is an old saying with fairs, and that is that you can never have too many bathrooms,” said Van Nurden.

The barn is designed to have a lot of natural sunlight. There are four dormers at the top of the pavilion that provide natural sunlight, ventilation and aesthetic value; plus, there are strips of clear siding and windows that let light inside the barn.

“We had a real discussion before adding the dormers, but we get so many compliments on how it looks with them.

I’m really glad we did that,” said Van Nurden.

Airflow was a major concern for the comfort of people and horses, so there are three large fans with wing spans of 16 feet.

There are six garage doors that allow for more airflow and easy accessibility.

They are overhead doors. Deml explained that the overhead doors are much better for winters because they don’t freeze down.

The natural sunlight and air flow in the barn are perks for the animals too. Plus, the flooring is crushed limestone, which is healthier for the horses than standing on concrete. There will be a wash rack for the horses.

Deml and Van Nurden said that a positive aspect of the new barn is that it is a flexible space. While during the fair and other summer events, it will act as a livestock pavilion. It will operate as a storage unit for rent during the winter.

The national convention sale of brown Swiss dairy cattle will be held in the pavilion in 2016.

Van Nurden said that he would love to see the space attract demonstrations and perhaps even agriculture features.

“The possibilities are endless,” said Van Nurden.

OWATONNA

FLOOR COVERING & MIRROR

Custom Orders Guaranteed Service Free In-Home Estimates Professional Installation

CARPET • LAMINATE VINYL HARDWOOD • CERAMIC 146 West Broadway, Owatonna (507) 451-1169 Mon-Fri 10:00 am - 5:30 pm Sat 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Congratulations Steele County

Thank you for letting up be part of this great project!

Is opening your bifold door becoming an increasingly difficult physical chore?

Give your muscles a rest by replacing your worn, rusted door with a new one featuring an automatic operating system. Perfect for a variety of operations, our professionals offer the strongest commercial doors in the industry, capable of standing up to the years of wear and tear your business requires.

For door problems great and small, count on us to resolve them all: • Bifold and hydroswing doors • Garages • Installations and sales • Operators • Parts, including broken spring repair • Repairs and replacements • Rolling steel curtains A stuck door seems like a small problem, but it can carry some pretty big consequences. Restore access to your garage, warehouse, or storage facility by calling S & S Overhead Door at 507-273-1522 today.

24 hour emergency service is available.

31443 760th Ave • Racine, MN 55967 • 507-273-1522

“The Best Door For The Best Price”

8A • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • The Times

CONGRATUL ATIONS Steele Count y Fair on creating a premier showcase for the area’s livestock!

Gingerich Construction is proud to have built the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavillion on the Steele County Fairgrounds.

We are happy to have a hand in continuing the tradition of making Steele County the best county fair in Minnesota!

G i n g e r i c h C o n s t r u c t i o n L L C • 5 0 7 - 2 51 - 0 3 8 8 • M a b e l , M N