We are going to have a different balloon artist this year. We are inviting a southeast Minnesota resident to perform for our youth. We will also have The Red Letter Band, an inspirational country music band. They perform a variety of classic county hits and have prize giveaways for crowd participation. They provide a nostalgic opportunity to listen to music that all will enjoy.
The Yellow Medicine County Fair Board is seeking funds to purchase a new portable stage to better serve the needs of our fair performers and demonstrations. Our current stage consists of concrete blocks and old rotting plywood that is not safe for our performers and demonstrations. With a portable stage we are able to move it to other areas of the fairgrounds if needed for performers or demonstration events that might require a stage.
Having a chainsaw artist do demonstrations on grounds each day; Building an open sided shelter to protect fairgoers and local performers from the elements as they watch and learn about local cultural heritage such as polka bands, local Native American dances, German bands, Century Farm and senior programs.
We will have a totally new experience for one of our afternoon events for the youth at the Fillmore County Fair this year. We plan to bring "Emotion in Motion," a mobile splatter paint experience to our fair. This will be a fully immersive artistic experience, that is easy and fun for youth. When finished they will have an original splatter painting for their walls. We try to incorporate new things each year at the fair to accompany the traditional events that fairgoers expect.
We will be purchasing a staging kit for the 4-H building and multi-use shelter. It will be used for musical entertainment, agricultural, historical, and/or cultural heritage presentations such as Polka bands, German bands, Century Farms and Senior programs.
We will also have a chainsaw artist do demonstrations on the grounds every day of the fair.
The Legacy grant will help support bringing in local artists to do demonstrations and classes on jewelry making, macrame, and hat designing. There will be a class each day of the fair for both young and old where participants get hands-on experience in designing jewelry and creating their own piece to take with them, as well as creating a macrame design like a hanging pot holder or wall-hanging. Lastly a session will focus on hat designing. The hats (usually cowboy style) will be provided by the artist and the participant will be able to add cords, beads, feathers, etc.
To offer new arts and cultural heritage programming at the Fillmore County Fair. Funds will be used to install a historical exhibit, host a bluegrass performance, and being a project that documents fairgoers experiences through interviews and photos. The project is meant to bridge the past and the future by helping local community members appreciate local history and share their own story for generations to come.
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 Yellow Medicine County Fair's capacity to host arts and cultural heritage events in their Outdoor Heritage Center by purchasing bleacher seating, a stage, and improving the floor to make the area more handicap accessible.
To increase access to arts and cultural heritage programming at the Yellow Medicine County Fair by building an Outdoor Heritage Center. The new center will provide a space for demonstrations, presentations, and interactive activities.
To preserve the 1915 one room schoolhouse on the Redwood County fairgrounds by repairing windows, doors, stucco exterior, and replacement of the cupola on the roof.
To increase Redwood County Fair's capacity to feature diverse arts and cultural heritage performances by expanding a current stage. The stage enhancement will allow room for multiple artists to perform at once, and will offer the audience a better sight-line for performances. Funds will also be used to hire a writer to publish pieces in local newspapers, the fair website, and facebook, to inform the public of the competitive and historical nature of the open class exhibits at the fair.
To offer a new exhibit in the fair’s conservation building on 4-H and paint a mural related to the new exhibit. The Yellow Medicine County Fair has purchased display cases for their new 4-H exhibit. The exhibit consists of 4-H items from the past and present and the mural provides a history of county fairs.
