In celebration of the 135th anniversary of the Isanti County Fair, visitors will have the opportunity to revisit the region's rich timber industry history. A lumberjack show will showcase a variety of authentic tools, historical facts, live demonstrations, and handmade works of art.
To enhance arts and cultural heritage programming at the East Otter Tail County Fair by hosting a fiddle contest, a barbershop quartet, and by purchasing a sound system to help performers engage a larger audience.
To build display cases to increase the fair's capacity to display quilting exhibits. Without secure cases, quilters do not bring their best pieces to at the fair. Funds will also be used to host North County Music, and provide art supplies and create a "kids coop" where children to work on art projects during the fair.
To purchase signs, created and painted by a local artist, to identify West Otter Tail County Fair exhibit buildings that display creative fine arts or feature live music.
To complete the interior display areas of the historically accurate Forestry Ranger Station. Exhibits will feature the early history of forest fire fighting, an account of forestry activity on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, draft horse logging equipment, lumberjack tools, and a tribute to Paul Bunyon. Additionally, funds will be used for a stage where speakers can tell stories and teach about forestry stewardship.
We plan to add an automatic retractable awning system for the heritage square stage for the comfort of the spectators and performers during afternoon sun. We will have a historical storyteller schooled in cultural and legends of northern Minnesota. The Headwaters Science center will provide hands-on children's activities focused on historical significance of today's modern technology. We will also invite several local crafters to demonstrate their skills and explain the historical significance of their craft.
We would use this grant money to help pay for the free entertainment for the fairgoers at our county fair with the Doug Ohman. He is a wonderful Minnesota native that has a wide variety of art and history in his ways of storytelling, as well as making it interesting and a learning experience for all ages to learn about the history and art of their home state.
The "Looney Lutherans" will be back again to perform a new show for our community. They fit well into our local cultural history using music and comedy to showcase our past, present and future with the performance of "Hotdish on the Range." This show provides a free opportunity for those that are not able to make the trip to the Twin Cities. Many of our local residents can relate to the antics of the church women. , This year we are also excited to bring the Minnesota Raptor program to the fair. We were unable to have them last year due to the Avian Flu.
The Beltrami County Fair is fortunate to have a variety of venues, including both Home Arts and Heritage Square, to introduce our fairgoers to various cultural, educational, agricultural and historical activities and demonstrations. Our goal is to attract more exhibitors of arts, crafts and science entries with interactive demonstrations from various artists of Minnesota. To accomplish our goal, we will be scheduling two-hour demonstrations in the Home Arts building, plus other activities in our Heritage Square, which is an open air, covered structure with bleachers available for seating.
The Meeker County Fair is excited to have the "Dr. Street Magic Show." Nick Sharpe works through the Homeward Bound Theatre Company in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He has a passion for magic and recycling. Through his strolling performances Friday through Sunday he will encounter many people. Nick has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people in over 24 different countries and even in some remote parts of North Dakota. He facilitates audience participation with a twist of comedy, dazzling the multitudes with magic.
We are excited to bring in a group that will provide some authentic "German" heritage. The "Concord Singers" from New Ulm, Minnesota will delight the fairgoers with the heritage that has been preserved, nurtured and cherished. They will perform their festive German tunes that have been inherited from their ancestors. Another new event that we will have is Draugr Forge. Zach is a bladesmith that will be demonstrating his ability to make various knives and tools using his forging skills.
We will be able to use this money to pay for the free entertainment for fairgoers, such as Doug Ohman. He is from our wonderful state of Minnesota, and has a wide variety of history and items of storytelling as well as making it fun and interesting. This is someone whom all ages can benefit from regarding history of our home state. We will also have a glass blower, Steven Weagel, who is from Pequot Lakes, MN. He provides all equipment to give educational and informative entertaining experience to everyone with shows every hour.
To provide an educational overview of Isanti County over the five days of the Isanti County Fair. "Discovering Living History at the 135th Isanti County Fair" will provide visitors with an authentic, historically accurate old west experience, opportunity to hear live bluegrass music and interact with German folk musicians, and wander through exhibits showcasing artifacts of Minnesota's past.
To provide quality arts and cultural programming to the East Otter Tail County Fair. The fair held a fiddle contest with three major divisions open to different ages and welcomed Heart O’Lakes Harmony Barbershop Choir and Quartet to the stage. The purpose of the arts and cultural events is to create a multicultural and generational awareness of different talents in Minnesota.
To offer new arts and cultural heritage programming at the East Otter Tail County Fair. Programming will include a performance by Sherwin Linton, depression era toy making demonstrations, and a lumberjack show.
To construct an exhibit building adjacent to the fire tower now located on the Beltrami County Fairgrounds. The new building will replicate an authentic 1950s ranger station and will house an exhibit of Minnesota forest fire service activity, Ojibwa cultural history, a display of Paul Bunyan legends and artifacts, and space for historical, cultural and environmental education.
To restore the Freeman Doud Cabin and Sunnyside School, located on the Beltrami County fairgrounds. During the fair, visitors will be able to able to observe the log cabin restoration and chinking process. Display boards will depict the history of the cabin, show where it was built on Lake Bemidji, and acquaint people with the importance of preserving this history.
To offer a series of free, historical presentations at the Murray County Fair. Topics covered will include: the Sweetman Colony of Murray County; the role of women during the early settlement of Murray County; the Dakota Conflict of 1862; and a presentation on the history of the Murray County Fair. Based on the research presented on the history of the fair, a book will be published.
Funding supports an Irrigation Specialist to develop guidance and provide education on irrigation and nitrogenbest management practices (BMPs). In this position, Dr. Vasu Sharma provides direct support to irrigators onissues of irrigation scheduling and soil water monitoring. She is collaborating on the development of new irrigationscheduling tools that help irrigators manage water and nitrogen resources more precisely. These tools help reducenitrogen leaching losses in irrigated cropping systems.
To increase interest in and access to programming on the performance arts stage by purchasing a sun shade for audiences. The shade will provide relief from the scorching summer sun so that participants and spectators can enjoy the historical and cultural programming.
To hold an Oktoberfest celebration at the fair. A large percentage of the population in Isanti County has German heritage, and the fair will host several traditional German performances and an authentic German dinner.
To promote and highlight artistic excellence by displaying artists’ works at the fair. The Meeker County Agricultural Society purchased display cases in which to display fine arts like quilts and embroidery. The fair will be able to increase the number of exhibits it offers and will keep the object safe.
To offer several types of historical music and dance lessons to fairgoers. The Meeker County Agricultural Society will host two bands along with a professional dance teacher to teach fairgoers swing, the jitterbug, lindy, waltz, and other types of historical dance. The events follow the 4-H’s motto of “learning by doing.”
To promote and highlight artistic excellence by displaying local artists’ works at the fair. The Meeker County Agricultural Society will purchase display cases in which to showcase fine arts. This will allow the fair to increase the number of exhibits by not only offering additional space, but by encouraging artists to display valuable pieces by providing secure cases for exhibitions.
Native to the western United States and Canada, mountain pine beetle is considered the most devastating forest insect in North America. Trees usually die as a result of infestation and an unprecedented outbreak in the west is currently decimating pine forests there. While mountain pine beetle is not presently believed to reside in Minnesota, there are risks posed by an expanding species range resulting from warming climate and the potential for accidental introduction via lumber imports from infested areas.
To enhance arts access in East Otter Tail County by updating the park stage. Additionally, to feature chainsaw carving demonstrations throughout the fair week.
