Jo named friend of the Freeborn County Fair
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
New Richland resident, Jo Bernard, 66, was recipient of the “Fair Person of the Year” award for the Freeborn County Fair held last week, August 1-6.
“It's humbling and embarrassing at the same time,” Bernard said. “It takes a lot of good people to do this every year.”
Bernard has been married to Mark Bernard, owner of New Richland’s Agro Economics, for 39 years. The couple moved to town in 1985 and have called New Richland home ever since. Both of them graduated from Spring Valley high school in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota.
The award came as a surprise to Jo, who didn’t know about it until she was standing next to the stage. Mark, on the other hand, had known for three weeks.
“In hindsight there should have been more clues throughout the day,” Jo joked. “I just didn’t catch them.”
Mark doesn't always visit Jo at the fair. She’s worked with the Freeborn County Fair for more than a decade, and served as Co-superintendent of Floral Hall division for the past two years. Jo took over after Danny Steele’s wife passed away suddenly just prior to the fair two years ago.
“She was a dear, wonderful friend,” Jo shared. “So I said I would help Danny with this, so that’s how I ended up here.”
At about 7:45 p.m. Stephanie Johnson, who works closely with Jo, called her frantically. So Jo raced over to help console her.
“But then Mark came with,” Jo said. “I thought that was odd.”
Stephanie asked Jo if she would go for a ride on the golf cart to help settle down.
“Next thing I know we were next to the stage,” Jo said. “I thought, ‘What are we doing here?’”
Up next, longtime friend Mike Woitas was introducing Jo as Freeborn County’s Fair Person of the Year.
Woitas gave a heartfelt introduction, along with a little information about her.
Jo has worked at Addie’s Floral in Albert Lea for nearly a decade, and in Floral Hall at the fair, helping with decorations, floral displays, themes… a little of everything for even longer.
Asked when she starts working on the fair, Jo laughed.
“Well, last night we had our meeting about next year’s theme.”
In total, Jo believes the setup of Floral started July 10, nearly a month before opening day. Her work at the fair lasted until Tuesday, two days after the final day when teardown was complete.
Two years ago the theme of Floral Hall was the 50s. This year, the 60s.
To make it more special, Jo worked with the Albert Lea American Legion to put out a special theme for Vietnam Veterans. According to Jo, more than 90 percent of the display was veteran themed. She also spoke with local veteran, Bob Sharp, who volunteered many historical items from his time in Vietnam.
“I can’t thank the American Legion enough,” Jo said. “And hearing the stories of everyone who came through. It was heartwarming.
“We have wonderful volunteers and helpers,” Jo continued. “I don’t want to single anyone out… But thank you, Travis Wayne, the grounds keepers, for helping maintain and get the building ready, Stephanie Johnson in the fair office. She redid the whole fairbook this year and did a stellar job. And a supportive and hardworking fair board.”
The award, and Jo’s interview could not have been complete without a shoutout to husband Mark.
“Thank you for taking care of Poppy (our one year old Corgi) and the sheep and the Garden.
It’s no small task. But mainly Poppy because she’s a handful.”