A Special Supplement to the Austin Daily Herald
Friday, September 23, 2011
Attendance rebounded in 2011 By Jason Schoonover jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
The 2011 Mower County Fair was a bit of a comeback story. Good weather and an almost week-long schedule helped more people attend the fair, according to Ken Trom, one of the fair directors. Toward the end of the fair, fair directors estimated at least 80,000 people had attended the event. The final day bumped that number up even more, according to Trom, who said it was closer to 84,000. A promotion by Quality Pork Processors, which held an appreciation event, brought in a lot more people. Other factors helped immensely, as well. “It was a good fair,” Trom said. “The weather couldn’t have been better.” By Saturday afternoon, fair director Larry Rasch said attendance estimates had already surpassed the 60,000 attendance from 2010.
Heral file photo
Ken Trom, a member of the Mower County Fair Board, was this year’s Fair Person of the Year. Trom organized many aspects of the fair and was recognized for his years of service.
Mower County Fair royalty
See FAIR, Page 3
Trom nabs top honor at summer get-together By Matt Peterson matt.peterson@austindailyherald.com
Livestock competitors and grandstand crowd pleasers weren’t the only people honored at this year’s Mower County Fair. The people who make Mower County what it is were recognized before the whole thing kicked off. The fourth annual Pride of Mower County Awards honored local individuals, families and one group who have made a difference in the area. One behind-the-scenes guy received more praise than anybody: Ken Trom. He was 2011’s Fair Person of the Year. The fair board recognized Trom, who also cut the ribbon to kick off the fair, for his years of service and going “above and beyond,” according to John Mueller, president of the Mower County Fair Board.
“He’s so humble. Kenny didn’t want to be that guy, but he is that guy.” -John Mueller Fair Board president
The fair board added that Trom met the requirements for making the fair memorable, educational and entertaining. “He’s a person that has put on hundreds, if not thousands of these events,” Mueller said. He said Trom is the humble type of person who would rather give the award to someone else. “He’s so humble, Kenny didn’t want to be that guy, but he is that guy.” Another staple of the fair, the live-
stock hall of fame, was awarded to Glenn Medgaarden for his longtime farming practices, 4-H auctioneering and beef cookouts. His picture will be hung in the Crane Pavilion. Two families received century farm designations, as their farms have passed down through their families for 100 years or more. They are the Witts from Blooming Prairie and the Lunnings from LeRoy. The farm family of the year also went to Smiths from Adams, who have owned the same farm since 1945 and have an extensive family that pitches in. Outstanding senior volunteers were Ramona and Lloyd Swenson, and outstanding service organization was the Lyle American Legion. Both were awarded for their quantity and quality of volunteer work within the county.
Herald file photo
Two-year-old Sadie Miller enjoys a fair treat with her brother Cole, 4, at the Mower County Fair Tuesday afternoon.
4-H traditions on full display with livestock, competitions Story by Matt Peterson and Trey Mewes, newsroom@austindailyherald.com • Photos provided
The Mower County Fair had another good showing this year all around. Youth won recognition for hard work, and so did adults with the
Pride of Mower County Awards. Spectators probably enjoyed this fair a bit more, too, as last year’s fair was scorching.
“I enjoyed the nice cool weather,” said Melissa Koch, Mower County 4-H program coordinator. “We had a great fair.”
Livestock
Competition
Nothing is ever more consistent at the Mower County Fair than the tradition of showing livestock. “It’s our one weekend of the year to showcase what we have in Mower County here,” said Dave Weness, dairy superintendent at the fair. Weness has been assisting the fair for about 11 years — since he sold all his cows — and he’s seen nothing but consistent participation in livestock events. “Dairy has always been my love, and we’ve been coming to these shows for 40 years; and we just love doing that stuff,” Weness said about himself, his wife and other superintendents at the fair. And speaking of consistency, this year’s 4-H crew at the fair included 367 students showcasing their hobbies in horticulture, art and livestock — just two fewer students than 2010. Those numbers were right on par with the 4-H ribbon auction, which landed the club $56,800, a just shy of last year’s total. That money will help support local 4-H clubs with
The 4-H competitions were back at the fair this year with a few changes and some growing programs. All the old favorites like the Swine Show, Dog Obedience and Showmanship and the Horse Fun Show were back. There was also a Llama Show, in its third year and growing evermore popular. “It doubles every year,” Koch said, “We get to double our llamas.” The llama show is similar to aspects of other shows, in that llamas show their agility like dogs do, as well as overcoming trail obstacles like horses do. “That’s really a neat show,” Kock said. The crowning jewel of the 4-H displays this year was the new Supreme Champion Showmanship Contest, a pentathlon of display prowess where showcase champions showed
Photo provided
Brock Erickson of the Racine Ramblers 4-H Club cleaned house in the sheep categories at the Mower County Fair, with three champion ribbons and two reserve champion ribbons.
Turn to Page 3 for 4-H livestock results
training and supplies for their projects, state fair entries, as well as scholarships. This year was also particularly special for Mower’s 4-H Club, as it graciously gave something back. July 4, 2010, longtime supporter and 4-H member Deb Schammel passed
away after battling cancer. So 4-H members held a fundraiser in her honor, of which the proceeds went to The Hormel Institute for cancer research. “She was an avid gardener and lifelong 4-H volunteer,” Koch said. “She touched a lot of people’s lives here.”
According to Koch, the fair is one last hurrah for kids and parents before school starts for the year; it’s a chance for them to show off a bit, too.
Photo provided
Girls from various Mower County 4-H clubs participated in different clothing/fashion categories at the Mower County Fair.
Turn to Page 2 for project results
five animals from the sheep, swine, dairy, goat and beef categories at the same time. Many 4-H-ers were excited for the opportunity to show animals outside of their expertise and performing under more pressure.
*All submitted photos courtesy of Mower County 4-H University of Minnesota Extension office
“They decided they wanted to challenge themselves as well,” Koch said. She added, “It’s a fun way to not only have competition but ... you’re teaching each other and it’s what 4-H is all about.”