To partner with local non-profits to bring arts and cultural heritage demonstrations to the Pope County Fair. Demonstrations will range from quilting and spinning to the fine arts, rosemaling, and lefse making.
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 enhance the free arts and cultural heritage performances on Pope County Fair's Free Stage by installing a permanent sound system and bring a Medicine Wagon Show to perform multiple shows each day of the fair. Additionally, to mount historical markers around the fair to explain the history of the buildings and fairgrounds.
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.
Bemidji Science Center will give presentations on animals and science. Rez Reporter will provide a comedy skit representing Indian culture and history. YO-YO Dave will provide Minnesota-based entertainment.
The Kandiyohi County Fair is inviting Doug Ohman of Pioneer Photography and Services to bring photos and speak during the 2023 Kandiyohi County Fair. The presentations will take place in the KCF Historical Log Cabin. There will be a total of 7 presentations on Wednesday and Thursday during the Fair.
A - St. Paul Czech Dancers - they have been at our fair before. They are always a favorite within the Czech ethnic area of this county as well as surrounding counties., B - Larry Novotny "The One-Man Band" - Larry has been entertaining crowds for years. He is multi-talented and plays several instruments. With a love and a skill to play old time music and polka music, he is a crowd pleaser., C - Doug Traxler and the Hired Hands - a very well-known local musician specializing in older folk ballads. He is definitely a hit with the demographics at our fair.
We will be using the money to hire Minnesota-based entertainment for our free stage. We will be bringing in a Rockabilly entertainer, which is rock n' roll music with roots in music of the American South during the 1950's. This band is from Rochester, MN. We also have two other bands that play old time music and country music. Both are local artists from our hometown of Austin, MN. Another local band will be doing country music. Our final artist is an Elvis Impersonator. He is from Harmony, MN.
We will be completing our furnace and air conditioning project that was started in 2022 in our Legacy Building that is used for all open class and presentations during the fair.
The Legacy Grant funds will be used to enrich our guests with entertaining learning experiences. Funds will be used for all guests to learn a bit more of our history with a presentation by Rob Fairbanks, a Native American who motivates as he speaks to groups and teaches them of his life on the reservation and his ancestors way of life and how it relates today.
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.
Our Legacy project includes having the Red Letter Band perform and having Clueless the Balloon Twister come and entertain the children again this year.
The farming of lumber is a huge part of Minnesota history. In fact the towns of Bemidji, Akeley, and Brainerd, Minnesota have each boasted themselves the birth place of the famous Paul Bunyan. It is our goal to remind community members of this rich Minnesotan tradition of tree falling by having a demonstration of lumberjacks (a free event) at the fair this year. At the end of the lumberjack event there will be time for kids to do hands-on learning and training of how our ancestors worked with wood, not only to build homes but to create a living.
Headwaters Science Center will give presentations on animals and science during Kids Day at the fair. Dazzling Dave will provide Minnesota-based entertainment to all fairgoers as he completes his walking tour of the fair.
The Kandiyohi County Fair Association would like to invite RJ Kern of Kern Photography. RJ offers six different 30-minute in-person shows, showcasing education about
photography, county fair 4-H, and agricultural history.
A --- Big Ideas Trailer ---- seeing the possibilities and learning about various trades through electronic interaction and one-on-one conversations with instructors.
B --- Doug Traxler and the Hired Hands ---- a very well known local musician specializing in folk ballads and easy listening tunes.
C --- Larry Novotny "The One Man Band" --- long time entertainer for the local area. He is multi-talented and plays many instruments, from old-time music to polka.
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 engage the residents of Hubbard County in the arts and encourage them to exhibit their work in the Open Class Building. Funds will additionally be used to restore the one room school house.
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 bring “Historical and Scandinavian Churches” to the Kandiyohi County Fair’s Old Settlers’ Cabin. This is a collaboration between Minnesota Historian Doug Ohman, the Kandiyohi County Historical Society and the Kandiyohi County Fair Board. The project includes installing lighting to highlight photos and displays. The fair hired Theatre of Fools for two Vaudeville shows and a juggling workshop for children as well as the Old West Society of Minnesota for living history and reenactments. All artists/historians are Minnesota-based.
To offer fairgoers an opportunity to celebrate local history and culture. The Kandiyohi County Fair has rehabilitated the Old Settlers’ Cabin on the fair grounds. The Old Settlers’ Building was built in 1926 and will be used as memorial hall on the fair grounds. It was used as a gathering place for old settlers and will now be a place to house relics of earlier days.
To bring “Historical and Scandinavian Churches” to the Kandiyohi County Fair’s Old Settlers’ Cabin. This is a collaboration between Minnesota Historian Doug Ohman, the Kandiyohi County Historical Society and the Kandiyohi County Fair Board. The project includes installing lighting to highlight photos and displays, hosting Theatre of Fools for two Vaudeville shows and a juggling workshop for children, as well as the Old West Society of Minnesota for living history and reenactments. All artists/historians are Minnesota-based.
To rehabilitate the Old Settlers’ Cabin on the fair grounds. The Kandiyohi County Fair will replace shingles on the cabin, which was built in 1926 by the Old Settlers’ Association. The cabin is both a historic structure and houses county artifacts.
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 exhibits of local artists' work by improving lighting in Mower County Fair's Creative Arts Building. Additional natural light and new spotlights will help artists highlight their work.
To repair the 1926 Old Settlers' Cabin to make it suitable for historical displays and programming. No historical displays or programming have been housed at the Cabin since the early 1950s. The fair board, along with the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, will use the repaired and enhanced space to display pictures and relics of the county's early history.
Funds will be used to repair the foundation and seal logs. Track lighting and secure display cases will highlight exhibits.
To enhance arts access in East Otter Tail County by updating the park stage. Additionally, to feature chainsaw carving demonstrations throughout the fair week.
To provide a year round venue for arts and cultural and heritage events that will also provide handicapped accessible restroom facilities with a breastfeeding and diaper change area.
To offer demonstrations, hands-on activities, dance, music and spoken word performances on the history of the Armed Services and Native American culture.
To offer new arts demonstrations at the Renville County Fair. Programming will include a performance by an educational vocal band, and demonstrations by an artist specializing in Chinese calligraphy.
To bring new arts and cultural heritage programming to the Renville County Fair. Programming included a performance by the Red Tree Singers, a Native American group, and Kid Power, an interactive kids’ program. Funds were also used to commission a local artist to paint a mural depicting local agriculture and history.
To host a children's show about life on the farm through songs and stories, and offer a presentation about, and create a display area of, antique horse drawn machinery used by farmers from the Le Sueur County area.
To educate fairgoers about the early history of the area. The Le Sueur County Fair will create an exhibit on the Native American and early settlers life in the area. The exhibit will include a large tipi, fire pit, artifacts, tools, hides, and more. Funds will also be used to host demonstrations on native and log cabin construction techniques, and drawing and painting activities for children.
The Little Red Schoolhouse has a long history in Kanabec County. Built in 1882 for $350, it served as the first schoolhouse for School District No. 2 before finding a home on the fairgrounds. The Little Red Schoolhouse is home to children's art displays and a variety of activities. Funds will provide a new roof, repair the ceiling, and make the necessary adaptations to make the building handicap accessible. Additionally, period costumes will be purchased and a teacher will be hired for programming.
