The Steele Country Free Fair is always an open invitation to come and be with friends from the past as well as provides the opportunity to meet new ones. It has been said, "You see one fair, you've seen them all." Not true, and in the long run it is not the exhibits, the vendors, the midway and all the other hoopla that makes it a fair. Fairs are as old and traditional as time and people love them.
My mother, my daughter and I made a trip to the fair on opening day, not realizing officially it didn't open until 5, but still weren't disappointed. We were able to see a great number of things in various areas of the grounds. It wasn't crowded yet and there were places to eat, relax, have conversation and just enjoy the people. As three generations we all saw things differently but also collectively. It is hard to believe that the quiet streets I motored through hardly a week before could be transformed into such a colorful and exciting place. Vendors lined the streets almost bumper to bumper. I don't know how they get them all parked like they do. There was music in many places, like the Village Square, the Village of Yesteryear, the mobile LuVerne Wanous Concertina, from the cattle barns, from radios and loud speakers. There were those who danced. A grandma I am sure danced with her grandchildren to the sounds of Big Ben and the Brians.
We stopped to visit with ladies from Medford’s Congregational Church. When I mentioned that was the first place I stopped at for many years, the lady working laughed and said, "We are the oldest and longest running booth at the fair but we should be because we're the oldest church in the county.” I learned something special there.
She talked about how some items in the booth have changed because some of the ladies who used to work and made hand crafted needlework are no longer with us. Many items from the past are not seen in the booths today because the younger people haven't taken up those arts, probably because they are so busy with work outside the home. But there are other things that complete the picture, like soap, bath salts, other fancywork in wide assortment, and they still do embroider kitchen towels!
Another booth we as enjoyed was the "grab bags" to be purchased at the hospital auxiliary booth. Good things live on! Once under the grandstand and now a part of the Four Seasons, building the ladies were busy filling in all the corners of their booth.
Though there were still empty booths waiting to be filled, many were ready and some enterprising vendors were taking advantage of giving time for conversation with those early crowds, especially the older folks.
I was impressed with the creativity of the children, youngsters, teenagers and right up the age line. The art projects are unbelievable. The 4-H building, outstanding in projects and display. Things have really changed since I was in 4-H many years ago. I love my digital camera and I have a mass of pictures. Why? Because when I see so many interesting things I snap a picture so I can remember them. And like many say, "Today’s happenings are tomorrows history."
Of course there was food of more kinds than I could count. You couldn't go wrong at the 4-H grill and I saw that Authentic Grace’s advertised hard shell tacos for just $2! Amazing how many people take their noon hours from work to come out for fair food. My daughter, Krista, and I enjoyed a walking taco from the 4-H stand and mom had a reuben sandwich she said was "outstanding" from the Elks Club booth. There were definitely tempting favorites like corn dogs of all sizes and additions, pizza by the slice or the whole thing, real dairy products from the dairy wagon and liquids from malts to popular pop and ice cold water. Gyros seem to be a favorite, but you could also buy fresh fish.
Talking with a first-time vendor, he said, "It is impressive. I have always heard about this county fair and thought I sure would like to give it a try.” He was from out of state, perhaps Arizona. We couldn't stay for the grand opening after being there all day, but we weren't disappointed. n fact Daryl and I took in the fair on Wednesday night where we saw more people, more things and enjoyed local talent at the Heritage Village. Ross Sletten and his daughter, Cassidy, and little nephew, Conner, along with Matt Arthur, gave us quite a show.
When you go to an old car show and meet someone you haven't seen in many, many years, it is something to cherish. Funny how we kept looking at each other, knowing it was someone we should know and finally something clicked. It was Bob Helmers, who has always "been with cars" and once lived in Geneva. He maybe wasn't able to put the name with the face immediately, but I think he was able to enlighten us on every car, make and model he has sold and who he sold them to.
The song, "We Could Have Danced All Night," comes to mind, but in this case it was talk, not dance.
I may go back ,though I may have seen everything there is to see except the midway, which has never appealed to me as much as other adventures at the fair. There are some things I'd like to see again.
Did I say the fair board does a good job in making this fair impressive? I should. There is something for everyone. It is clean, well organized with amazing amounts of things to see and do and they keep adding more. They provide for the comfort and relaxation with seating and various stage shows throughout the grounds. Like they say in their promotions, "SCFF, Steele County Free Fair - The place to be seen in 2013." They got that right!
P.S. I swelled with pride whenever, and it was often, people approached me about being a part of such a "good paper." Not to brag about our paper, but yes, we do have a great advantage because there is always more than enough to write about. We have so many great people and great things happening here in our area we can leave out the stuff found in the big newspapers. After I got to bed I thought about it again. There is more than one way to interpret “good.” Ever notice most of our news we include in "our paper" is of the "good” variety?
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us.
If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like included, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, August 22nd: Thayne & Becky Nordland, Ava Moon, Julie Johnson, Kyle Wallerich, La Donna Cummins Fallen, John Butler, John Glynn, Diane Butler, Dale Kelly, Aaron Ladlie, Dale Kelly, Nancy TaBelle
• Friday, August 23rd: Jared Dawson Lee, Logan Dale Marzolf, Terry Holland, Ann Klemmensen, Matthew Knudson, Steve Wilker, Scott Wright, Quinn Vu, Jessica Lutgens, Vernon & Jeanne Simonson, Galen & Linda Christensen, Amy & Marshall Svoboda
• Saturday, August 24th: Rick Storlie, Michelle Gowlland, Nicholas Chrisensen, Sam Worrell, Tanya Hughes, Natalie Deml, Elizah Lee Ackland, Crystal Johnson, Terry Vaith, Jeff Kycek, LaNell Leak Sunde, Corey Peterson, Mary Edon, Ralph & Cheryl Dobberstein, John & Cindy Christensen
• Sunday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang
• Monday, August 26th: William Michael Rodney Tuttle, Christopher Cook, Clarice Pence, Catherine Haugen, Mike Riley, Elijah Lee Ackland, Catherine Mae Haugen, Tim Falksen, George Stieglbauer, Michael Rodney Tuttle, Sharon Peterson, Travis & Kelly Johnson, Angie & Michael Den Herder
• Tuesday, August 27th: Martin Johnson, Kory Kress, Alice Randall, Sandra Thostenson, Dee Ann Jensen, Jim Collins, Mary Lageson, Sharon Ramaker, Terry Pelzl, Angela DeGeus, Jessica Marie Nygaard Paulson, Corlyn & Janice Paulsen
• Wednesday, August 28th: Mitch Helmers, Larry Motl, Bev Newgard. Waynetta Peterson, Rosy Fisher, Lorraine Christensen, Justine Randall, Marlys Van Kampen, Tammy Johnson, Gerritt Molenaar Sr., Jacquelyn Jensen, Linda Kelly, Marvin Thomspon, Jim & Fran Ladlie
May your day be filled with everything you enjoy most.
