2012 Dakota County Fair

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A D V E RT I S I N G SUPPLEMENT July 27, 2012

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Fair returns with a few twists July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Annual celebration runs Aug. 6-12 by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

There are a few new twists to some old family favorites planned for the Dakota County Fair, which runs Aug. 6-12 in Farmington. The crowd-pleasing demolition derby smash-ups at the Tuesday, Aug. 7, grandstand show will have contestants working in teams of three – instead of as individuals – to be the last cars running. Cars must be vintage 1980s and newer to qualify for the race. Rules of engagement remain the same: Smash into another’s souped-up beater while protecting your vehicle’s front-end, but it may prove more entertaining as competitors will get creative with a new teamwork-style showmanship. “We wanted to try something new this year,” said Caitlin Cocker, office assistant for the Dakota County Agricultural Society that oversees the Dakota County Fair-

grounds and annual county fair. “Since the demo derbies are really popular, we thought this would be a fun idea,” Cocker said. “And, it’s a way to get more people involved.” Other derby favorites will return, including the 80s heats, old iron runs and powder puff derbies, featuring women participants. Many other crowd-drawing favorite fair staples will return, including the midway rides and games, arts and crafts displays, savory on-a-stick samplings and opportunities for a close-up with a chicken, cow or sheep. Thrills are on tap for crowds at the extreme bull riding event at the grandstand on Thursday at 7 p.m., and some big-name entertainment is scheduled at the week’s end. Unpredictable fun is in store when the Johnny Holm Band reSee new twists, 4B

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The midway at the Dakota County Fair has a wide range of rides for people to satisfy their personal thrill. The Ferris wheel often is a main attraction.

Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Photo by Rick Orndorf

4-H participants put on a variety show, which is called Arts-In Performance, during the Dakota County Fair each year.

Photo by Rick

Orndorf

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There will be scores of competitions for 4-H youths during the Dakota County Fair, which runs from Aug. 6-12.

new twists, from 2B turns to rock the fair’s beer garden stage at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, and popular country band Hitchville will take that same stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday. For a night of fired-up bluegrass, Lost Highway Band will entertain crowds at the beer garden stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Following tradition, there are special days at the fair: Kids Day is Tuesday, and gate admission for children is $1,

when they are accompanied by an adult. Every day, children under 5 get in free. Military Day is Wednesday, and all military personnel and their family receive free parking and admission to the fairgrounds. Senior Day is Thursday, and all people age 60 and up also receive free parking and admission. Heritage Village will be open during the fair, and feature costumed interpreters demonstrating the activities of 100 years ago.

Visitors will be able to tour 22 historic buildings, including a blacksmith shop, newspaper office and schoolhouse. Entertainment includes roving musicians and bucket brigades demonstrations; visitors can also visit indoor museum exhibits and agricultural displays at the village, adjacent to the Dakota County Fairgrounds. Fair admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, 6-12 and seniors age 60 and up; parking is $5. Grandstand show admission is $12 for

adults and $6 for children; tickets may be purchased at the event or online at www. dakotacountyfair.org, where ticket discount packages are also available. “There’s something for everyone here,” Cocker said. “You can spend your whole day here and it’s a great experience for the whole family.” Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Dakota County Fair Schedule of Events Saturday, Aug. 4

12:30-2:30 p.m. – 4-H Small Engines Contest, 4-H Building

Sunday, Aug. 5

11 a.m. – 4-H Dog Show noon-3 p.m. – 4-H Dairy, Beef Cow/Calf entries start

Monday, Aug. 6

All day – 4-H Share the Fun, Performing Arts, Clowning and Co. Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 8 a.m. – 4-H Horse Judging-English 8-9 a.m. – 4-H Llamas Entered 2-3 p.m. – 4-H Beef Cow/Calf Judging 2-3 p.m. – 4-H Communication Contest Registration and Judging 3-6 p.m. – 4-H Rabbits Entered, Rabbit Skillathon 4-10 p.m. – Denny Pony Rides 6-7 p.m. – Amateur Talent Contest, Entertainment Stage 6:30 a.m. – 4-H Llama Judging 7 p.m. – 4-H Drill Team Performance 7 p.m. – Motocross, Grandstand

Tuesday, Aug. 7

All day-Denny Pony Rides Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 8 a.m. – 4-H Horse Judging-Western 9 a.m. – 4-H Dairy Judging 9 a.m.. – 4-H Rabbit Judging 10 a.m.-noon – Needlecraft Demonstration 1-6 p.m. – 4-H Traditional Demonstrations 2-3 p.m. – 4-H Bird Calling Competition 2-3 p.m. – 4-H Pet & Cat Show Judging, Including Cloverbuds 6-7 p.m. – Amateur Talent Contest, Entertainment Stage 7 p.m. – 4-H Drill Team Performance 7 p.m. – 4-H Fashion Revue

7 p.m. – Team Demolition Derby, Grandstand 8-9:30 p.m. – 4-H Dairy, Beef Cow/Calf, Feeder Calf and Llamas

Wednesday, Aug. 8

All day-Denny Pony Rides Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 8 a.m. – 4-H Horse Judging-Games 9 a.m.-noon – 4-H Swine Entered 10 a.m.-noon – Needlecraft Demonstration 12 noon-9 p.m. – 4-H Youth In Action Demonstrations 1-3:30 p.m. – 4-H Breeding Heifer/Market Beef Entered 2-3 p.m. – 4-H Rabbits Released 4-6 p.m. – 4-H Market Beef Weigh-in 4-8 p.m. – 4-H Traditional Demonstrations 5 p.m. – Salsa Contest 7 p.m. – 4-H Drill Team Performance 7 p.m. – Tractor Pull, Grandstand

Thursday, Aug. 9

All day-Denny Pony Rides Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 8 a.m. – 4-H Horse Judging-Games 8 a.m. – 4-H Swine Judging 8:30 a.m. – 4-H Poultry Judging 10 a.m.-noon Needlecraft Demonstration noon-12:30 4-H Fleece Entered noon-1 p.m. – 4-H Sheep and Goats Entered 1-3 p.m. – Needlecraft Demonstration 2:30 p.m. – 4-H Dairy Steer Judging 3-5 p.m. – 4-H Goat Skillathon 5 p.m. – 4-H Lamb Lead/Fleece Show 5:30 p.m. – Pie Contest 6:30 p.m. – 4-H Beef Breeding Heifer Judging 7 p.m. – 4-H Arts In 7 p.m. – 4-H Drill Team Performance 7 p.m. – X-Treme Bull Riding, Grandstand

7:30 p.m. – 4-H Horse Awards Presentations 8:45 p.m.-12:15 a.m. – Johnny Holm Band, Beer Garden Stage

Friday, Aug. 10

All day-Denny Pony Rides Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 8 a.m. – 4-H Sheep Judging 9 a.m. – 4-H Market Beef, Market Heifer Judging noon – 4-H Goat Judging 2 p.m. – 4-H Cloverbud Demonstrations 5 p.m. – 4-H Rabbit Agility Judging 5 p.m. – Dorothy Neil Showmanship Contest 5:30 p.m. – Cake Contest 7 p.m. – 4-H Arts In 7:30 p.m. – Demolition Derby, Grandstand Saturday, Aug. 11 All day-Denny Pony Rides Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 10 a.m. – 4-H Livestock Auction

10 a.m. – Barbecue Contest 10:30 a.m. – Adult Chocolate Dessert Contest 10:30 a.m. – Kids Cookie/Brownie/Bar Contest noon-4 p.m. – 4-H Family Fun Day 1-3 p.m. – Needlecraft Demonstration 4 p.m. – 4-H Arts In 6-7 p.m. – Amateur Talent Contest Finals, Entertainment Stage 7 p.m. – 4-H Arts In 7 p.m. – Jackpot Lamb Show 7:30 p.m. – Demolition Derby, Grandstand 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Lost Highway, Beer Garden Stage

Sunday, Aug. 12

All day-4-H Champion Awards Program Wolves, Woods, and Wildlife 10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Denny Pony Rides 1-3 p.m. – Demolition Derby, Grandstand 2-3 p.m. – 4-H Arts In

Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

How does your Pizza Garden grow? Master gardeners aim to teach children, their parents the joy of the activity by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Some Dakota County Fair food booths will feature warm, gooey slices of pizza, but they won’t be able to challenge the size of one “pizza” at the fair. Alongside the red barn at the fairgrounds in Farmington is the Dakota County Master Gardeners’s Pizza Garden. The 2012 version of the Children’s Garden not Photo submitted only resembles a The Dakota County Master giant pizza, but it Gardeners have planted the Pizza also aims to teach Garden in the shape of the popular children about baked treat, which will serve as the joys and tastithe 2012 Children’s Garden at the ness of growing Dakota County Fair. their own vegetables and herbs. “Kid friendly gardening for food, discovery and joy of learning is an underestimated source of education and exercise,” said Gail Maifeld, a Dakota County Master Gardener. “So, why not create a garden that will provide a kid-friendly favorite meal?” That was the thought behind the garden, which is filled with many pizza ingredients. The Master Gardeners started planning the project in February. When they ran across the picture of a “pizza garden” in a magazine, they decided to test their expertise on a similar project. Past children’s garden efforts have included a focus on gourds, herbs and a “scratch and sniff ” theme. With each garden, the group aims to present gardening as a fun and educational outdoor activity. Maifeld said she has been impressed at past fairs by the children’s knowledge of many of the plants that grow in their gardens. She’s also been impressed with men who are interested in gardening and cooking. “Several of us are former teachers, so interacting with people is lots of fun,” Maifeld said of the booth that also includes a space for children to try a coloring activity. The gardeners’s main goal is to communicate that people can grow a variety of plants in a small plot of land on their suburban residential lots. Maifeld said she’s noticed an uptick in the number of suburban

gardens in large part because of the enjoyment they supply – and the true “fruits” of one’s labor. Visitors must realize that the picturesque Pizza Garden didn’t just spring up overnight. The seven-member committee is in charge of buying the plants and seeds. Then there’s tilling,

slices. Within each slice are four plants: sweet basil, oregano, peppers, and Roma tomatoes. For the hot and spicy taste buds, a circle of peppers – hot chili, burning bush, jalapeno, hot savory and cayenne – has been planted. Mild peppers including orange blaze, sweet banana and California wonder are in this pizza. “The yellow, green, red and orange colorful vegetables, each with their unique slender or orb type shape add intrigue,” Maifeld said. “These additional choices allow for individualism and the discovery of the taste bud.” Six tomato varieties are present. “Children can discover different textures, juiciness, and shapes from these different varieties,” Maifeld said. People won’t have any problem finding the garden as the group’s gazebo has been decorated like a pizza shack and is accompanied by life-size pizza chef cutout that children can poke their face out from for a photograph. The Children’s Garden Committee includes: Maifeld, Pam Behnke, LaVonne Loerch, Nancy Ross, Patricia Ross, Brenda Scheer and Kamille White. Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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Peppers, both spicy and sweet, are planted in the Pizza Garden, which is located next to the red barn at the Dakota County Fairgrounds. raking, planting ... and weeding – lots of weeding. “This looks so easy,” Maifeld said. “But many people don’t know all the work that goes into it.” The garden plot is located on a former pig pen, so it’s fertile soil for growing plants, including weeds. “This one has been fun,” Maifeld said. “We are always amazed at how it grows.” Lemon drop marigolds outline the 5-foot circle and each of the four pizza

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Dakota County Master Gardeners will talk to visitors to their display at the Dakota County Fair about how they can make their own tasty treats using the kind of herbs and vegetables grown in the Pizza Garden.

Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Dakota City seeks fair demonstrators

Dakota City Heritage Village is seeking demonstrators who can show 1900s crafts and skills during the Dakota County Fair Aug. 6-12. Crafts might include woodcarving, embroidering, knitting, spinning and weaving. For more information, call Dakota City at (651) 460-8050.

Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

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