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Grilled cheese and show animals, that’s a county fair

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The youth is an important part of the fair. They take part by creating exhibits, showing animals and enjoying the attractions and carnival rides.

By Rachel Mergen

 

With events like the Grilled Cheese Contest and the Kentucky HeadHunter, this year’s Crawford County Fair, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 23 to Sunday, Aug. 27, in Gays Mills, won’t be an event to miss.

The community will begin the annual celebration by coming together Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. for a tribute to Elizabeth (Dennis) Brownlee. 

Brownlee, who passed away in Boscobel earlier this year in a motor vehicle accident, was a rabbit judge leader, a member of the curly horse rescue and coordinator of Crawford County Fair Ambassador. She was also the Fairest of the Fair in 2008. She was the wife of Wess Brownless and mother of two sons, Hesston Gerald and Kaleb James.

Thursday will include poultry and swine shows, a Buddy Holly show, which will honor the great musician who passed away at the age of 22 in a 1959 plane crash; the magic and hypnosis of Jim Mitchell; the musical fun and entertainment of Nick’s Kid Show; an animal walk with Crawford County royalty and fair board members; Monty Berger and The Country Gold Band; Porky Pig Pork Producer’s Show; the grilled cheese contest and a tractor and truck pull, featuring over 10 classes of trucks and tractors.

The Kentucky HeadHunter will be the starting event Friday evening at 7 p.m. The event will feature “death defying, high flying, adrenaline-filled action.” It will be opened and followed by Blue Collar 40, a country band from La Crosse containing  members Bjorn Berg, Steven Lowe, Bradley Peters and Bret Halvorson. In the past, the band has opened for acts such as Deana Carter, David Lee Murphy and David Nail. 

Some events that continue from Thursday onto Friday will be Jim Mitchell’s magic, Nick’s Kid Show, the animal walk and the Buddy Holly show.

Friday events will include an all-day medallion hunt, beef, small animal, dog and alpaca shows, a youth activity presented by the Crawford County 4-H, crafts with the Future Fair Ambassador and youth bingo.

Stand out events on Saturday will be the Antique Tractor Pull at noon and the car demolition derby at 7 p.m. The demolition derby is one of the most popular events at the fair. 

Events special for Saturday are a dairy show, Farmer Bud Show, meat animal auction, a cake walk, kids pedal tractor pull, and country act Tim the Front Porch Picker.

Many events from prior in the weekend will return for the day.

Sunday, Aug. 27, will close the fair off with events like a talent show with music by Class of ‘62 featuring “The Surf Boys” and the Ranch Rodeo. The rodeo will include Ridge & Valley Rodeo Club horse riders, barrel racers and ropers.

Other Sunday events include an ecumenical service followed by live music, kids casting contest, a 4-H style show, and a raffle drawing. The tickets for the drawing will be sold at the Friends of the Fair Stand. 

“Our youth projects. They do amazing jobs on their projects and [I] always like seeing what they created,” Amanda (Nagel) Griswold, Crawford County Fair coordinator, mentioned about what she is most excited for this upcoming fair. “My exciting memories of the fair are still my years as an exhibitor. That’s what creates my passion year after year.”

When describing the youth exhibits, Griswold said, “Youth exhibitors projects are selected a year before the fair.  They learn about their project through the year and create a masterpiece in the project area and bring it to the fair.”

Each year, much work is put toward the fair. Griswold stated what tasks are put into setting up the fair, which included meeting with board members, creating entertainment lists and meeting with those entertainers to decide contracts, supervising volunteers and planning, creating and implementing marketing items, along with overseeing the Fair Association and Fair Ambassador program.

On volunteers, she added, “We have over 300 different volunteers from superintendents, office helpers, gate workers, parking assistance and event security. We are always looking for businesses, groups and individuals to assist with our county fair.”

In addition, Griswold mentioned, “Gate and Grandstand admission comes back to the fair. All food stands are local non-profit organization raising money for their groups.”

“It’s a time to see our youth and adults’ local talent. [There are] great entertainment events close to home,” Griswold said about why people enjoy the fair each year.

The fair will begin Wednesday, Aug. 23. The final event will start at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. A carnival will also be open throughout the weekend.

The fair grounds is located at 17725 State Highway 131 in Gays Mills.

To learn more about the Crawford County Fair, including a complete list of events, visit www.crawfordcounty wisconsinfair.com.

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