LIQUOR Sauk Rapids
Striving for
champions
Katelynn Pollard walks her show heifer out of the barn June 21 at her parents’ farm in rural Foley. Pollard has been showing cattle for 13 years at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids.
Pollard enjoys final years in 4-H
BY EMILY BRETH | STAFF WRITER
Katelynn Pollard will be walking away with many core memories and life lessons from her years with the St. Pat’s 4-H Club.
“Last year was really fun showing two cows at the same time with my friend,” Pollard said. “You work so long every day, but you’re only in the ring for so long, so you have to take advantage of the little time you have.”
Pollards parents, Shawn and Laura, have been a big help throughout her 13 years in 4-H. Each year, Pollard’s dad helped her prepare cattle for the fair, sharing his past experiences from 4-H. Her mom helped her with her projects; the two aimed to complete about six every year.
“I have shown cattle since Cloverbuds — showing steers, heifers and prospect calves — and have done a lot of projects,” Pollard said. “I have also shown my dog for about six years.”
Pollard’s dad is the reason she is in 4-H and has encouraged her to stick with the organization throughout her career. 4-H was also a way for her dad and her to build a bond and for the whole family to have dedicated time to spend together. Likewise, it was a way for the children to develop a great work ethic starting at a young age.
“
I have shown cattle since Cloverbuds — showing steers, heifers and prospect calves — and have done a lot of projects.
- Katelynn Pollard
Though multiple Benton County 4-H activities are available yearround, Pollard said showing animals and some of the fair projects she does are her favorite things to do.
Pollard said she is thrilled with how her market steer, Pepper, performed last year.
“The steers are usually the hardest, and last year, I got grand champion with Pepper so that was really cool,” Pollard said. “I have shown him in six shows between county and state. I also have shown him as a calf, too.”
Pollard page 4B
PHOTO BY EMILY BRETH
Another great accomplishment was being awarded grand champion in showmanshipwith her dog at the state fair last year.
All of the animals Katelynn shows have been raised on the farm, aside from a year where all of the calves born on the Pollards’ farm were heifers.
When it comes time to pick which cattle the family are going to show, the family members choose the tamest animal — even if they are not the best-looking one.
“About the first day of summer we start working with the cattle every day,” Pollard said. “We get the halters on, walk around, wash and dry them, get them tame and able to walk, so they don’t fight us every step. With the dog, we work with him every week all year.”
However, the Pollard family is thinking about future show animals prior to summer.
“If you don’t work with them when they are a calf, they are a bit harder to work with when they are full grown,” Pollard said. “Just starting the training process is hard and a lot of work”
When it comes time to getting the animals ready for the fair, Pollard will start clipping their coat roughly a month before the fair begins. Pollard will wash her animals slowly getting them accustomed to the water, soap and brushes. As it gets closer to the fair, generally about a month prior, Pollard will wash her animals everyday making sure to clean them more thoroughly.
“We fit them, so they look nice and so their body looks a certain way,” Pollard said.
When Pollard is fitting her animal’s she combs and blow dries them along with using different hair products to make the coat shiny and fluffy. The end goal is to make the animal look big and smooth. After the animals are ready for the show, Pollard said it is important to know what to do when in the show ring.
“You want to keep eye contact with the judge, smile and look like you are having fun,” Pollard said. “Having the cow’s feet set in a square and knowing when to set their feet in the different positions, and keeping their head up is important to show their body in the best way.”
As Pollards’ years in 4-H come to an end, her parents share in the pride of all her accomplishments.
Katelynn Pollard kneels with her show dog June 21 at her parents’ farm in rural Foley. Pollard was named grand champion in showmanship at the state fair with her dog last year.
PHOTOS BY EMILY BRETH
Katelynn Pollard works on one of her craft projects June 21 at her parents’ farm in rural Foley. Pollard tries to complete about six projects to enter into the fair each year.
Katelynn Pollard looks over the heifer she plans to take to the fair June 21 at her parents’ farm in rural Foley. Pollard and her dad will start working with the cattle at the beginning of summer.
MIMBACH IMBACH FLEET
Hot eats, Hot eats,
big taste taste
The Firehouse food stand benefits fire department
BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER
Walking into the Benton County Fair’s main entrance can be a bit overwhelming for anyone with an empty stomach.
The options are numerous only a few steps into the grounds, with smells permeating from every direction. What has been a staple for the past 10 years not only provides hot wings, smoked pork chops, meatballs and firehouse helmet nachos, but also benefits the Sauk Rapids Fire Department in numerous ways.
The Firehouse food stand will be back for its 11th year, serving longtime favorites with a smile and a purpose.
Cory Zimpel, SRFD member since 2000, said that while raising funds is obviously the main goal, being out with the people is what makes the event fun.
“Honestly, the biggest thing for everybody in the fire department is the public relations aspect, being out there and seeing people,” said Zimpel, director of technology for Sauk RapidsRice Public Schools. “There are so many people who come up to our fair stand who haven’t been there before and they say ‘Oh, you guys actually are all firefighters.’ A lot of people don’t know that. It’s a great thing to interact and show people we’re out there doing good things for our community.”
Every fire department member puts in at least 10 hours of volunteer service at the stand during the fair. Firefighter
Steve Ellson does a good chunk of the grilling, and Zimpel said Sauk Rapids resident Rick Dressow has helped out immensely with cleaning and completing several other tasks.
When the fair concludes Sunday, Aug. 4, about 30 volunteers will have played a role in making The Firehouse food stand a success.
The preparation process begins shortly before the fair, with tasks such as cleaning and preparing for how much food is needed — which often depends on Mother Nature’s cooperation.
“Leading up to the fair is mostly organizing everything and running all our numbers from the previous year, so
we kind of know what to order,” Zimpel said. “We’ve got a team that gets the grills ready to go. Ordering the food is probably the biggest thing because you can only store so much. You start with a base of food and then you have to keep ordering throughout the fair, hoping it doesn’t rain much because that totally messes everything up.”
Both the fire department and local students benefit from the money raised at The Firehouse.
A scholarship is annually awarded to a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student, while a child of any active firefighter receives a scholarship as long as they complete an application.
The department also purchases items to help make their jobs easier and safer.
“We used some of the money to buy the battery-powered Jaws of Life we have right now,” Zimpel said. “If there are any additional safety items we want for the department firefighters, sometimes we’ll purchase those things with that money. We’ve purchased things that go above and beyond. Safety items that we must have like mask covers to protect us, face shields and reflective stocking caps for winter — those little items like that help with having to be out in some of the worst conditions.”
PHOTO BY TOM FENTON
Members of the Sauk Rapids Fire Department — Kaden Cahill (from left), captain Steve Ellson, captain Greg Bomstad, Keagan Gunderson, captain Dalton Landwehr, Scott Vadnais and Justin Hammerel — gather outside the The Firehouse food stand at the Benton County Fairgrounds July 9 in Sauk Rapids. The volunteers are part of a crew of volunteers who have operated the staple food stand since 2011.
WORTH WATCHING
Little Scrapper Kids Pedal Pulls
11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2 — Machinery Hill
A pedal tractor pull is an event that has a magical effect on children and families attending the county fair.
Little Scrapper Pedal Pulls will bring a trailer full of age-appropriate small tractors to Machinery Hill at the Benton County Fair Friday, Aug. 2.
Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. with pulling starting as 11 a.m.
Derek and Devin DeVos, of Lynd, worked with their parents, Greg and Sheryl, to organize events featuring full-sized farm vehicles.
The duo decided to downsize and bring the fairrelated fun to youngsters.
“We do pulls for kids ages 3 to 11,” Devin said. “The pulling events ages 4 through 11 are sanctioned. We let the 3-year-olds pull for fun, so they can get a feel for the pedals and tractor.”
Scrap Iron Express was founded 30 years ago by Greg and Sheryl, starting with a skid that was pulled
by farm tractors and pickups.
As Devin and Derek got older and more involved in the pulls, the family added two more skids that would be pulled by antique tractors, four-wheelers, and lawn mowers, Devin said.
Years ago, pedal tractor pulls often involved an unmodified, large pedal toy tractor hooked to a block or skid with a pile of weights on it.
The DeVos brothers always search for better ways to get kids involved in pulling.
Their pedal tractors are beefed up with real bearings, heavy axels and other structural reinforcements.
“We always get the fair board involved as volunteers,” Devin said. “Three-year-olds get a participation ribbon, and every kid who participates in an age-class pulling event at the fair gets a bottle of water.”
‘World of Woody’ features musical fun
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 2 — Cottonwood Stage
Tom Strohmyer carefully watches the crowd during his wide-ranging “World of Woody” performance.
That is because getting a good read on the audience mix helps him select audience favorites from a 400-song playlist.
“I’ll look at the crowd, and if there are older folks in attendance, I’ll feature older country music from the 1960s and 1980s,” said Strohmyer, a Twin Cities-based musician and performer who will take to the Cottonwood Stage from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 at this year’s Benton County Fair.
Roger Miller and Johnny Cash are among the classic country music artists covered by Strohmyer. When it is time to rock ‘n roll, he performs a lot of the Beatles, Neil Young and Bob Seger from his song
Military parade will
11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 — 4-H Building Flag Poles
Benton County Fair attendees have a special opportunity to honor the nation’s flag and service branches.
A flag-raising ceremony, short military parade through the fairgrounds and other activities are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, said Paul Lupkes, Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 color guard coordinator.
“We start by the 4-H building flag poles,” Lupkes said. “In the past, we’ve folded the flag and explained what the various folds mean. We will also have three or four different veterans organizations attend.”
Traditionally, the 13 folds in a properly-folded American flag represent the original U.S. 13 colonies. Each fold also carrying its own meaning.
Some flag folds symbolize freedom, life, or pay tribute to mothers, fathers and those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Scoutmaster Jason Foos said Sauk Rapids based-Troop 777 members have participated in many U.S. flag presentation or folding ceremonies.
Troop Leader Deidre Allen said the scouts participate in the ceremony at the Benton County Fair when veterans are presented and honored for their years of military service and accomplishments.
“I’ve been part of the color guard for about 10 years,” Lupkes said. “As we
collection.
“If there are kids in the audience, and they are getting bored with their parents, I’ll bring out some magic. I like to engage the crowd, so I’ll bring a couple of boxes of Skittles and Starburst candies.”
Strohmyer has been an entertainer in bands for more than 40 years.
“I can’t believe it’s been that long,” he said. “I’ve been doing a solo show about 26 years, and worked outside of bands for about 10 years.”
He first started performing in 1984 after graduating from Kearney State College in Nebraska. After stints with Nebraska and South Dakota bands, Strohmyer headed to the Twin Cities in 1990 to make his mark with the Rockin’ Hollywoods.
“I’m blessed to be able to do this for a living,” he said. “I’m really lucky.”
walk through the Benton County Fairgrounds, people do respond to what we are doing, and the veterans who are in attendance offer a salute while other people offer the respect that our nation’s flag deserves.”
The Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 Auxiliary also conducts an annual membership drive at the fair, offering information about membership, veteran and family support, Americanism and youth activities.
“We can’t answer questions about everything, but we can direct people to the correct person,” Lupkes said.
Grandstand Events
Tuesday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. — Demolition Derby
Wednesday, July 31, 6:30 p.m.
— Monster Trucks and Beater Cross Racing
Thursday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m.
— Draft Horse Hitch Competition (Free admission)
Thursday, Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m.
— Demolition Derby
Friday, Aug. 2, 6:30 p.m.
— Bulls, Barrels & Broncs Rodeo
Saturday, Aug. 3, 4 p.m.
— Tractor Pull
Sunday, Aug. 4, noon
— Tractor Pull
Cottonwood Stage Entertainment
Tuesday, July 30 noon to 2:30 p.m. — Michael Mumm Music
3-6
6:30-9:30
eNtOn OuNtY aIr
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Monday, July 29
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. .................4-H conference judging for static exhibitors – 4-H Exhibit Building
2-7 p.m.Open class agricultural, craft exhibits entry day
5-8:30 p.m. .................................... Market animal weigh in and veterinarian check – barns
Tuesday, July 30
3-6 p.m. — Richie Yurkovich & Polkarioty
6:30-9:30 p.m. — Robby Vee ursday, Aug. 1 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
3-6 p.m. — Costelle & Hipps Duo 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Andy Austin
Aug. 2 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Wonderful World of Woody 1:30-2:15 p.m. — Wonderful World of Woody 3:30-4:15 p.m. — Wonderful World of Woody 5:15 p.m. — 4-H Fashion Revue 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Curto Drinkwine & Chopp
Saturday, Aug. 3
8:30 a.m. ....................Open class agricultural, craft exhibit judging
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. .....Ag in the Classroom – FFA Barnyard
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ...........Scavenger Hunt – Little Red Barn
11:30 a.m. ..........................4-H dairy judging – Show Arena
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Kevin Saline Magic – Cottonwood Stage
Noon4-H Aerospace Show – Horse Arena
Noon .....4-H rabbit judging – Show Arena
12:30 p.m. .........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
1-3 p.m. ......Kids fun activities – 4-H Exhibit Building
10 a.m. — Rooster Crowing Contest
11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. — Bob & The Beachcombers
2-6 p.m. — Talent Show 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Marshall Star Band
Sunday, Aug. 4
9-10 a.m. — Community Worship 10:15 a.m. — Century Farm Awards noon to 2:30 p.m. — Deputies 3-5 p.m. — Classic Cowboy
Beer Garden Beer Events
9 a.m. 4-H swine judging – Show Arena
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ...Commercial, Discovery Heritage and Ag Craft buildings open
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. .Ag in the Classroom – FFA Barnyard
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. .....Sherwin Linton – Cottonwood Stage
Noon to 5 p.m. ...................Midway open – wristbands
Noon to 11:30 p.m. ...Beer Garden open
12:30 p.m. .........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
1 p.m. .......................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
1 p.m. .....................Miniature horse show – Horse Arena
Noon to 6 p.m. ...................Midway open – regular admission
Noon to 11:30 p.m. ...Beer Garden open
12:30 p.m. .........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
1-3 p.m. .....Kids fun activities – 4-H Exhibit Building
3 p.m. ........................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ...Wonderful World of Woody – Cottonwood Stage
3 p.m. ....Free corn feed sponsored by Centra Sota
3:30 p.m. ...........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
3:30-4:15 p.m. .Wonderful World of Woody – Cottonwood Stage
5-11 p.m. ................................Bingo
5-11:30 p.m. ........................Midway open – regular admission
Noon to 2:30 p.m. ..........Michael Mumm Music – Cottonwood Stage
Noon to 11 p.m. .....Beer Garden open
12:30 p.m. .....................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
1 p.m. ..4-H beef judging – Show Arena
3 p.m. .....................Doug Ohman
Presentation – Heritage Building
3-6 p.m. ...................................Gig Noonan – Cottonwood Stage
3:30 p.m. .......................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
5 p.m. .....................Doug Ohman
Presentation – Heritage Building
5 p.m. ................................Vehicle extrication – Activity area
3-5 p.m. .......................................4-H livestock exhibits released – barns cleaned and buildings closed
5:15 p.m. ........................4-H Fashion Revue – Cottonwood Stage
3 p.m. ........................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
Wednesday, July 31, 7:30 p.m.
5-11 p.m. ............................Bingo
5-11 p.m.Midway open – regular admission
5:30 p.m. .......................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
6 p.m. .......4-H lamb lead – Show Arena
6:30 p.m. .......................4-H sheep judging – Show Arena
3-6 p.m. .............Richie Yurkovich & Polkarioty – Cottonwood Stage
3-11 p.m. ................................Bingo
3:30 p.m. ...........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
5 p.m. ........................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
5-11 p.m. ..Midway open – regular admission
5:30 p.m. ............4-H Showmanship Contest – Show Arena
5:30 p.m. ...........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
6:30 p.m. ...........Monster Truck and Beater Cross – Grandstand
6:30-9:30 p.m. ......................Robby Vee – Cottonwood Stage
3-6 p.m. ................Costelle & Hipps Duo – Cottonwood Stage
5:30 p.m. ...........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
3:30 p.m. ...........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
6 p.m. ..............4-H Llama Costume Show - barns
5 p.m. ........................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
5-11 p.m. ................................Bingo
5:30 p.m. ...........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
6-11 p.m. .............................Midway open – wristbands
6:30-9:30 p.m. ........................Andy Austin – Cottonwood Stage
7 p.m. .......................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
p.m. ...........................................
6:30 p.m. ...Bulls, Barrels and Broncs Rodeo – Grandstand
6:30-9:30 p.m. ..Curto Drink Wine & Chopp – Cottonwood Stage
8:30-11:30 p.m. ..........Mason Dixon Line – Beer Garden Stage
Saturday, Aug. 3
8 a.m. ....................Open class goat show – Show Arena
9 a.m. .....................4-H horse game show – Horse Arena
7:30 p.m. .........................Demolition derby – Grandstand
8-11:30 p.m.Gen X Jukebox – Beer Garden Stage
7 p.m. ........................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
7 p.m. ...........................4-H livestock auction – Show Arena
9 a.m. ..................Open class rabbit show – Rabbit Barn
10 a.m. .................Rooster crowing contest – Cottonwood Stage
Saturday, Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m. HoneyBadgers Sunday, Aug. 4, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. p Mallrats Thursday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. — Gen X Jukebo Friday, Aug. 2, 8:30 p.m — Mason Dixon Li HoneyBadger p.m — Kat Blue
6:30-9:30 p.m. .....................David Lumley – Cottonwood Stage
7 p.m. .....................Doug Ohman Presentation – Heritage Building
7:30 p.m. ....................Demolition derby – Grandstand
7:30-10:30 p.m. ......IV Play – Beer Garden Stage
Wednesday, July 31
7:30-11:30 p.m. .......Mallrats – Beer Garden Stage
ursday, Aug. 1
8:30 a.m. ............................Livestock demonstrations – barns
9 a.m. ..4-H poultry judging – Show Arena
8 a.m. ...................4-H dairy goat judging – Show Arena
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. .....................Ag Craft, Commercial, Discovery and Heritage buildings open
9 a.m. .............................Draft horse show – Grandstand
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ...........Emotion in Motion – Activity Area
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ........................Ag Craft, Commercial, Discovery and Heritage buildings open
10:30 a.m. ...4-H/FFA Tractor driving contest – Grandstand pit area
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. .....Ag in the Classroom – FFA Barnyard
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ................Kids fun activities – 4-H Exhibit Building
Friday, Aug. 2
9 a.m. ................4-H horse pleasure show – Horse Arena
9 a.m. .........................4-H small pets show – Cottonwood Stage
9:30 a.m. ............Open class sheep show – Show Arena
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ...........Emotion in Motion – Activity Area
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ...........Interactive Bubble Zone – Activity Area
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. .......Commercial, Discovery Heritage and Ag Craft buildings open
10:30 a.m. ............Open class dairy judging – Show Arena
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. .....Ag in the Classroom – FFA Barnyard
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ................Kids fun activities – 4-H Exhibit Building
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ........................Ag Craft, Commercial, Discovery and Heritage buildings open
11 a.m. ...........................Kids pedal pull – Machinery Hill
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. .....Ag in the Classroom – FFA Barnyard
11 a.m. ..4-H Llama judging – Show Arena
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.Wonderful World of Woody – Cottonwood Stage
Noon to 5 p.m. ...................Midway open – wristbands
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. .........Scavenger hunt – Little Red Barn
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ..Bob & The Beachcombers – Cottonwood Stage
Noon to 5 p.m. ...................Midway open – wristbands
Noon to 6 p.m. ............Reptile and Amphibian Zoo – FFA Barnyard
Noon to 11 p.m. ....................Bingo
class llama show – Show Arena 3:30 p.m. ..........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building 4 p.m. ....Tractor Pull – Grandstand 5-11:30 p.m. .......................Midway open – regular admission 5:30 p.m. ..........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 4
Noon to 11:30 p.m. ...Beer Garden open
12:30 p.m. .........................Wheels of Agriculture – Discovery Building
Noon to 11:30 p.m. ...Beer Garden open
Ongoing tRaDiTiOn
BY SARAH MIDDENDORF STAFF WRITER
Not everyone can withstand 4,000 pounds of horse running straight at them, but for some, this is what they enjoy most during the Benton County Fair Draft Horse Hitch Competition.
The competition is organized by Becky Molitor and Daryl Sheetz. The two own RJ’s Stables in Sauk Rapids Township.
“We try to have fun,” Molitor said.
The competition consists of four styled courses — a wagon obstacle course, forecart obstacle course, barrel race and rescue race.
“When people come to compete, all they need to do is bring their horses and their harnesses,” Molitor said.
There are two ways of scoring when executing courses.
As contestants make their way through the wagon and forecart obstacle courses, they will be judged on how the team of horses perform with the rider.
Each obstacle in the course is worth five points. The judge bases points off how the horses and driver perform together during each obstacle. The judge assesses whether the horses are working together and if they are listening to the driver’s direction — the word “gee” to go right and “haw” to go left. If the team completes the obstacle with ease and assurance, they are likely to receive a higher score than if the team is timid and hesitant. Initial scores are based off these points. If there is a tie, a judge
will look at who completed the course faster.
At the barrel and rescue races, each participant will be timed, with the fastest run ranked first in the class.
The idea to host such an event came to Molitor and Sheetz while they were at a rodeo in Valley City, North Dakota; it was the first time they watched a draft horse hitch competition. The two decided this competition would be intriguing to have in the area.
“If you can’t find it, you do it,” Molitor said. “You create it.”
They found all the equipment needed for this competition and organized it for the Benton County Fair. This is the third year the event is taking place during the fair.
Molitor said they are having a youth class this year as well, so anybody 17 years old and under are able to participate. This class will partner
youth with an adult, who will help the participant drive the team.
“It’s like a driver’s training class,” Molitor said.
There is a cost for participants in the hitch competition, but all registration fees go to the top four winners of each class.
This year, the competition is a series that is being held in four locations throughout summer — Wadena County Fair, Aitkin County Fair, Mora County Fair and Benton County Fair. Molitor said they were receiving requests to make a series, so that is what they did.
“That’s what we do so we can have the fun that we want,” Molitor said Molitor and Sheetz have entered draft horses and one pair of mules in past competitions.
“It is fun to see all the different breeds,” Molitor said.
The competition has been
growing, and Molitor said she is hoping for it to keep doing so.
“It’s fun when you see people that are passionate
enough about it to keep the youth doing it,” Molitor said. “Nothing happens to anything if we don’t encourage growth.
Daryl Sheetz competes in the barrel race with his Percheron team, Otis and Kid, August 2023 at the Benton County Fair Draft Horse Hitch Competition in Sauk Rapids. There are four courses participants can compete in.
Jeremy Pipenhagen competes with his team, Bert and Bud, in an obstacle course August 2023 at the Benton County Fair Draft Horse Hitch Competition in Sauk Rapids. This year, the competition has become a series, happening at four county fairs.
PHOTOS SUMBITTED
Daryl Sheetz competes in the obstacle course with his Percheron team, Otis and Kid, August 2023 at the Benton County Fair Draft Horse Hitch Competition in Sauk Rapids. This will be the third year having the competition at the Benton County Fair.
Kevin Kuklok
:
Benton County Fair Q & A VoLuNtEeR
Hometown: Foley
Number of years volunteering: 12 : 4-H Food Stand
Number of volunte Organization:
Austin Molitor
Hometown: Sauk Rapids
Number of years volunteering:5
Organization: FFA Barnyard
at are your ponsibilit du and a Bent i ?
What are your responsibilities before, during and after the Benton County Fair? Before the fair, we have committee meetings for the lunch stand to organize it and get everything lined up. I also help get the lunch stand prepped and ready to go for the week by making sure everything is working and keeping it updated. I also help get donations to help keep the stand running. During the fair, I help keep the stand running by scheduling people to work it and by helping to keep the food stocked. I help order food as well for the stand. How did you get involved with volunteering for the Benton County Fair? I first started out helping with my 4-H club, Cornerstone Clovers. I enjoy helping and knew they needed help to keep it organized and running smoothly. The goal was to keep it running and make it better to raise more money. What do you enjoy about volunteering and what encourages you to help every year? I enjoy getting the kids into the food stand. It’s an experience for some of them to learn and understand responsibilities because it is like working in a small restaurant. I help to make it better and run more smoothly, different aspects of how it runs are not perfect, but we are trying to make it better. What is your favorite fair food? Definitely a really good hamburger.
What is your favorite activity during the fair? I like watching the 4-H auction and the dog show is amazing to watch.
Q&As page 19B
What are your responsibilities before, during and after the Benton County Fair? I help set up before the fair and help take care of the animals during the fair. I sometimes will help take down if I have time. There are a bunch of different animals that have been there in the past — cows, chicks, dogs, cats, mini horses, llamas, sheep and goats.
How did you get involved with volunteering for the Benton County Fair? Being in FFA my adviser, Heidi Anderson, encourages us to volunteer and help out during the fair. I am already there because I show pigs and chickens at the fair, so it is easy for me to pop over and help out.
What do you enjoy about volunteering and what encourages you to help every year? I enjoy seeing the little kids get excited to see all the animals we have.
What is your favorite fair food? I like anything from the 4-H food stand.
What is your favorite activity during the fair? I like the pig show the best.
What are your responsibilities before, during and after the Benton County Fair? We do the big corner garden by the main gate and the garden by the schoolhouse. I help make sure the weeds and any invasive plants are taken out. All the plants in the flower beds we take care of are perennials. The garden by the schoolhouse has more Minnesota native plants, and the one in the front by the gate are drought tolerant plants.
How did you get involved with volunteering for the Benton County Fair? I have been gardening my entire life, starting by helping my mom when I was younger. I decided to become a Master Gardener, so I took the training. With becoming a Master Gardener, we have different things we volunteer with. I started getting involved with our fair booth and eventually started helping with the raised garden beds as well.
What do you enjoy about volunteering and what encourages you to help every year? I love giving back, and gardening is my passion. I have a huge area that I have converted to natives because they are my specialty. I also love the fair and have been going there since I was little.
What is your favorite fair food? Prom’s Cheese Curds. I have them quite frequently when I am working the Master Gardener booth.
What is your favorite activity during the fair? I love running our booth and helping judge the 4-H container gardens. I also love going to see all the animals during the fair.
What are your responsibilities before, during and after the Benton County Fair? Every year, a couple days before the fair, we take the benches down and clean the bingo stand to get the previous year’s worth of dust off. We also keep up maintenance on the bingo machine as well as get cards ready. The bingo stand takes around 18-20 workers when it is open. I help with scheduling as well as calling bingo numbers during its open hours. I also help restack the benches until the next year’s fair.
How did you get involved with volunteering for the Benton County Fair? The bingo stand has been part of the Sauk Rapids Lions Club for many years, so I have been involved with that.
What do you enjoy about volunteering and what encourages you to help every year? Each shift has a couple of callers, and I get to know people from all over that come to the stand to play bingo. There are so many people who come year after year. It is fun to joke around with them. Last year, we celebrated a player’s 90th birthday. She is from Sauk Centre, and I have gotten to know her since she has been coming for many years. There is also a good atmosphere at the stand.
What is your favorite fair food? My favorite food would have to be the grilled pork chop from the Sauk Rapids Lions Bingo Stand. Of course, I must have cheese curds and cookies as well.
What is your favorite activity during the fair? I am getting a little older, but a couple people and I go to the midway every year and go on a ride. I also enjoy walking through the barns to see the animals and the hard work all the kids put into them. They are so full of life and work so hard —it’s fun to see.
BY HAILEY HOKANSON STAFF WRITER
eNtErTaInInG HiStOrY Educating, Ohman
Preserving the history of Minnesota is a very important piece to the puzzle that is Doug Ohman, and sharing it with others has been his mission for the past 30 years.
In 1995, Ohman took a leap of faith when creating his business, Pioneer Photography. In 2000, he made it his full-time job. He has not looked back.
Now, 25 years later, Ohman is a published author, historian, renowned speaker and will be a featured presenter July 30, July 31 and Aug. 1 at the Benton County Fair. All of his presentations are free to watch and will take place in the Heritage building.
“My whole goal of what I’m doing is to document the story of Minnesota through photography and public programming,” Ohman said. “I found a niche and, because of that, I’ve traveled all over Minnesota and there’s not a town I haven’t been in.”
Ohman will once again be bringing his findings to the Benton County Fair, preparing to present at the familiar event that has brought him back for the past eight years.
He has collected his findings from all over Minnesota and turned them into presentations — 33 to be exact. Of his many presentations, he has chosen nine that are the perfect fit to bring to Benton County, and he will present them over three days.
“Every program I have is about the visuals,” he said. “I narrate based upon the images that the viewer is looking at, and I have taken all of the pictures. It’s the imagery that’s most important.”
10 minutes into the talk they’re checked out. But if you entertain them in the process, you will have a captive audience.”
When he first started out with his business, Ohman said he had no major plans and wanted his career to evolve naturally.
“I wanted to follow my career instead of leading it, so I didn’t really have any plans,” he said. “I didn’t have any idea of what it would become, but I had a vision in my head that it would be something good.”
One of his presentations, entitled Name that Town, is participatory and structured like a game show, something that will keep his audience engaged.
He mainly presents on Minnesota topics, but has worked his way toward a few on American history. A lover of metal-detecting, Ohman has also created presentations based on his findings.
Ohman does about 300 talks per year and gets calls daily about presenting at a variety of places such as senior centers, county fairs, clubs and churches. As a historian and storyteller, he is best known for bringing an entertainment factor to his presentations.
“I’ve always felt that education combined with entertainment is the best way for people to enjoy and learn,” Ohman said. “If you just lecture them about history, then
“It’s a great variety of programs, and there are just so many different ones you can pick from,” he said. “I really pride myself on telling people things they will never learn in a classroom setting. This is information
All presentations will be held in the Heritage building
Tuesday, July 30
3 p.m. Historic Churches of Minnesota
5 p.m. Free to All: Libraries of Minnesota 7 p.m. Saluting the Civil War-Minnesota’s Role
Wednesday, July 31
3 p.m. Name that Town 5 p.m. Memories of the Brave: Minnesota Medal of Honor Recipients
7 p.m. Uncovering and Saving History
Thursday, Aug. 1
3 p.m. They Chose Minnesota (Part 1)
5 p.m. They Chose Minnesota (Part 2) 7 p.m. Minnesota Collections (new show)
about our state I have uncovered throughout the years.”
After his years of developing his unique business, he plans to enter into more of a retirement role in the near future while still occasionally sharing some of his developed programs.
“People thought I was crazy to leave a great job to go take pictures of Minnesota,” Ohman said. “I’m not a risk taker by nature, but I believed in what I wanted to do, and it worked.”
Doug Ohman uses his metal detector to find historic artifacts in 2021 in Isanti County. Ohman plans to present nine of his programs at the Benton County Fair, including one on his metal findings.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Doug Ohman’s photo of Hastings is useful when he explains the town’s historical significance. Ohman does around 300 presentations per year on Minnesota topics.
Winning with agriculture
Farm based game show coming to fair
BY HAILEY HOKANSON STAFF WRITER
As fairgoers young and old take a look at the creations of farms from around the area, they will have the chance to put their knowledge of agriculture to the test.
Wheels of Agriculture, an interactive pop-up game show, will be challenging contestants at the Benton County Fair from July 30 to Aug. 5 in the Discovery Building. The show will operate three times a day at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, through Saturday. Aug. 2, as well as noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.
Tim Balster, the producer of the show and creator of Balster Magic Productions Inc., first thought up the idea of the game in 2017 as a preshow.
“I had another interactive show called Kidbucks and used Wheels of Agriculture to get everyone interested before we started the main show,” Balster said. “After a while, it started to get very popular, so we decided to expand it more and make it its own show, which launched in 2019.”
Wheels of Agriculture is a family affair, letting kids and parents alike get involved in
the fun.
The three rounds of competition allow different ages to test out what they know about agriculture with younger kids going first, older kids going second and the parents finishing it off.
“After the rounds, the finalists get to play another game to determine the grand
champion,” Balster said. “The champion gets to do a money grab out of the air, so that’s kind of a fun grand finale we do.”
The show lasts 30 minutes and includes a 10-minute pre-show. Five minutes prior to the start, contestants are picked to get on stage to showcase their skills.
Balster and his three teams of people are based in Westmont, Illinois, and they bring the show around the country, mainly targeting county fairs in the Midwest.
“We have six different people bringing the set up around the country, so we can be in three different places at once,” he said.
Balster is primarily a magician, doing magic throughout his career. In 2000, he expanded into game show entertainment and eventually launched Kidbucks in 2004. He brought the show to county fairs and festivals, making himself familiar on the scene.
“We had a very good track record in the fair industry, so when I started Wheels of Agriculture, we had already cleared a path for ourselves,” Balster said. “It went from 0 to 60 pretty quickly.”
As for what to expect, there’s ways for everyone to stay entertained, even if they are not competing.
“(Fairgoers) can look forward to a lot of fun, a lot of interaction and numerous ways to get involved, even if they aren’t a contestant,” he said. “We have people spinning the wheel, cheering in the audience and even being an option to help answer questions.”
Even for those who think they don’t know a lot about agriculture, Balster said he still encourages them to come out.
“Most people know more about agriculture than they think they do, Balster said. “Even if they don’t, this is a great way for them to learn more about it. Any age can get involved and it’s a fun, entertaining mix of humanity and knowledge.”
Purple
:
A purple ribbon is awarded to entries that meets all standards and the exhibit and workmanship are extraordinary and need no improvement. The exhibitor has shown complete understanding of what, how and why the exhibit was done, and has a thorough knowledge of the subject.
Blue : The exhibit meets most standards, and the exhibit is well organized and executed. The exhibitor can explain what, how and why the exhibit was done and has good knowledge of the subject.
Red: The exhibit meets some standards and some improvements may be needed. The exhibitor can somewhat explain what, how and why the exhibit was done and has a fair knowledge of the subject. Information from the University of Minnesota Extension
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Tim Balster tests contestants during the Wheels of Agriculture game show. The Wheels of Agriculture game show will be performing shows three times a day in the Discovery Building at the Benton County Fair.
