The "old school house" on the fairgrounds provides a look back at how things were once in Clay County. This building houses a large number of historical items from school houses in Clay County. The "old school house" is open to visitors of the Clay County Fair for educating all generations to the culture and heritage of Clay County. Typically, the Clay County Historical Society assists the fair board in providing education through visits to the schoolhouse, spelling bees and geography bees during the fair.
Provide a variety of free entertainment and educational activities for fairgoers of all ages. Various Minnesota artists will provide different styles of music such as old and new country, rock 'n' roll, polka and old-time waltzes. There will be Minnesota history presentations and learning activities in the old Belvidere one-room schoolhouse. And fairgoers will have the opportunity to share their creativity by painting a design on a small rock.
The McLeod County Fair will contract with Minnesota artists of various talents and styles of music from polka bands to multi-piece bands and acoustic performers that cover original songs to classic hits from a variety of genres. We strive to cover a broad range of styles that suit all aged attendees of our fair, as well as providing the opportunity to expose new music styles to those that may not have otherwise considered listening elsewhere.
We will showcase the tree industry and the artistry of chainsaw craftsmanship. We would like to showcase the Native American culture that was original to this area. We are looking for historical story telling and setting up a teepee and relevant site at the fair. The sheep presentation includes educating fairgoers about the history of sheep, caring for and raising sheep, shearing the sheep to harvest the wool and then discussing the outcome of selling the wool and what is created with what the sheep produces. We may do farm animal historical presentations.
1. Kern Photography: R. J. Kern is an American artist whose work investigates ideas of home, ancestry, and a sense of place. His portraits focus on intimate, interdependent relationships of people, animals, and landscape as a means of exploring how ancestry shapes identity and how myth intertwines with personal history. His camera has led him from an inquiry into his lineage in the farming communities of Scandinavia and Ireland to the examination of similar communities near his home in Minnesota.
The premise for securing entertainment at the Hanson Memorial Free Stage is that it has to have ethnic significance and it should provide an elementary level of agriculture that kids can understand and adults can appreciate. This year the fair is showcasing one the premier children's acts the state has to offer. Tricia and the Toonies provide three shows, each different and each relevant. One show focuses on the basics of agriculture, another show focuses on the environment and the third show shows the differences of ethnic heritage.
The Traverse County Fair would like to book Wanda the Clown through Homeward Bound Entertainment Company from Chanhassen, Minnesota. Wanda is a Minnesota-based wandering clown artist who was previously employed by the Ringling Bros. and the Barnum & Bailey Circus. We would like to hire the Minnesota-based musician Rick Fidler to perform country music for people who attend our fair. We would also like to hire the 8th Hour Band to perform for an evening at our fair.
We will have ethnic food demonstrations in our new Carri Thompson Education Center, which includes: lefse, rommegrot (Norwegian rich pudding), tamales, krumkake and yeast breads. We will also have a balloon artist who also demonstrates how to create life-like animals and people. We will also have music for ALL generations. Tripwire is a group who includes Music for ALL generations and genres: Americana, country, old-time.
We would like to use the Legacy Funds to provide live musical free entertainment during the fair. The Sloughgrass band is a local Minnesota musical group. We would like them to perform two days of the fair. We would also like to do a Landscape Photography "lecture" and show at this years fair featuring Ben Sunne, a local Minnesota photographer who specializes in Landscape Photography. The interest in Landscape Photography has grown over the past few years and this would be a real benefit to the entire community.
We plan to rearrange the set-up of our commercial building. This building houses all of our open class exhibitis including the Minnesota Master Gardener group, Minnesota Gladiolus Society displays, all open class creative arts exhibits as well as all open class horticulture and food exhibits. By arranging in a new way we will be able to have a space open to bring in a series of indviduals and groups for creative arts, horticulture and food demonstrations throughout the fair.
The county appears to have a general interest in learning about different types of art as well as music. A local artist will provide glass-blowing demonstrations. Demonstrations will be provided during the fair on glass blowing, a form of art that interests a lot of people. The demonstrations will be provided by the House of Mulciber Mobile Engagement Unit which focuses on education of the art of glass blowing. The Clay County area has a rich heritage in country music along with other music types.
We need updates to our Scandinavian Arts Building that houses local artists' projects on display during the fair. This building houses the rosemaling/Scandinavian art projects in the front of the building. Rosemaling originates in Norway and is the painting of wooden furniture and objects with flower motifs. This art is really popular in our area and at our county fair. We are just submitting an estimate for repairs to the front of this building under the legacy grant project. The siding is rotten and now there are holes in the sides of the building.
We are hoping to continue to promote Minnesota art by bringing items back from prior years, but also improve our arts section for our fair. We would like to bring back our Birch Coulee Working Ranch Rodeo that shows our patrons the older styles of a working ranch such as cattle sorting, roping, and doctoring cattle. This also allows local participants to attend and try the different events it offers. Another popular activity we had was bringing a local blacksmith into our fair to show fairgoers the ways they created different tools in our past.
With this grant we will be bringing in performers and entertainment to our Fair Square Stage and strolling acts. Our goal is to enrich the cultural experience of our community by providing access to diverse and engaging arts programming during our fair. This will allow us to showcase local Minnesota based talented artists and performers, fostering a deeper appreciation for arts and cultural heritage among our fairgoers.
The legacy portion of this grant will go toward a magician/entertainer who will initially stroll the grounds interacting with fairgoers (mostly youth) demonstrating balloon animals and then having a sit-down magic show twice a day. We will be have fiber weaving/crafting demonstrations throughout the fair week. These demonstrations will be done by 2 people showing from start to finish how fibers (sheep, dog, etc.) are spun into yarns and then woven into other products. We will also be enlisting one of our locals in demonstrating the art of forging.
We will provide a variety of free music, educational activities, and programing for fairgoers of all ages. Minnesota artists will provide various types of music such as country, blues, rock, pop, folk, and polka. We are also working with the Goodhue County Historical Society to provide presentations and activities to educate and promote Minnesota history and culture. Partnering with the Anderson Center, we wish to bring an artist to demonstrate their skills. This year, we are planning to bring a glass blower to our fair.
Hennepin County Fair would like to use their Legacy grant money for the following items: Wood turner demonstration, pottery demonstration, Chuck Perry - musician/magician, and stage rental for musicians.
We want to provide free music entertainment for our senior citizens and country western fans by having Sherwin Linton perform. Our other free musical act is geared toward the younger generation for the 2- year-olds on up! Legacy of the Loud is a rock and roll band from Minneapolis.
To hire a qualified archaeologist to conduct a survey of the circa 1848-1853 William Warren homesite in Morrison County, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To hire qualified consultants to research the history of Minnesota's 21st century African American community, in preparation for a future documentary film.
