Fair Board works toward final details

In 68 days, the state’s largest county fair opens its gates to what has traditionally been hundreds of thousands of visitors.
So, what’s left to do?
Seemingly, a lot, but the Steele County Free Fair (SCFF) Board of Directors ticked off several things during its June meeting.
Sponsorships and concessions are coming in, said fair manager Scott Kozelka, and about 1,000 tickets have been presold for grandstand shows.
Finances are also in order.
“We have available about $660,000 to work with,” said Tim Arlt, board treasurer, “knowing that we’re going to have several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of expenses. It’s not like it’s all free money, but there is money to do some projects. The auditors say we’re in pretty good shape.”
Those projects will include three new mirrored glass doors on the Beer Garden, two on the west side and one on the east.
In addition, the grandstands, constructed with a concrete form, will be tuckpointed and re-caulked; it’s a job that hasn’t been done for 17 years. The seams of the structure allow moisture to seep through, potentially causing damage.
With a price tag of about $11,900, “it’s money well-spent,” said Steele County Commissioner Jim Abbe. It’s also a bargain: When the job was last completed, in 2005, the Fair Board spent nearly $89,000, according to records.
Though not finalized, 4-H Director Tracy Ignaszewski said the numbers of 4-H exhibitors “look really good. There are a lot of new families, or families that haven’t exhibited in the livestock area” since before COVID hit.
Now, though, there’s an animal health issue: Avian flu, often called bird flu, remains a problem.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has extended a ban on all poultry sales and exhibitions through July 1. It includes community sales, swaps, fairs and exhibits where poultry and susceptible birds are brought together.
It also means any county fairs held this month will be without poultry displays.
“We’ll see where (the experts) go after July 1,” Ignaszewski said.
Another possible concern: rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, which has been found in wild and domestic rabbits in Minnesota, according to Wildlife Health.
Still, details and information are scarce.
“There’s been nothing official” from the state animal board, Ignaszewski said, “but that could be a huge concern for county fairs.”
In the case of the SCFF, rabbits and poultry are housed in the same building. Should the worst happen, the building could be used as an educational site, she said, with hands-on activities and presentations.
The Board meets again July 14.
The SCFF is held in Owatonna from Aug. 16-21.