Water Water Everywhere

The 2010 Pope County Fair will go down in memory as a very wet one. 

 Thanks to everyone for sticking with us even when we had to cancel or postpone events due to the weather.

Memories were made despite the mud!

Please come back and see us next year!!

Meet the Board: Jennifer

Hi everyone in blog land!  My name is Jennifer Olson, and I am the secretary of the Pope County Fair Board.  This is my second year serving on the board, but I have been involved with the fair forever it seems!

I spent 13 years as a Pope County 4-Her, showing every animal I could and displaying bunches of exhibits in the 4-H building too.  After my sad last year in 4-H, I worked at the Extension office for a while, both as an intern and as support staff.  I now enjoy serving on the board with several committees including Kid's, Armed Services and Senior's Days, Open Class, Ranch Sort and Donkey Races.  When it comes to livestock, I am superintendent for Small Animals, Goat, Lama, Poultry and Rabbit.  I also help with much of the general behind the scenes coordination for the fair.

Other than the fair, my interests include gardening and marketing my produce in Glenwood and Brooten.  I also serve as a member of Pope County Fresh, the local foods initiative.

My husband James and I officially started dating many years ago at the Pope County Fair Tractor Pull, so that event always holds special significance for us, however my heart is still in the barn with the exhibitors.  My fondest childhood memories all involve 4-H and the accomplishments I had and the friends I made there.

We have another great year planned and I can't wait to see you all at the fair, enjoy an extra fresh squeezed lemonade for me!

Meet the Board: Greg

Hello and welcome to the Pope County Fair blog!  My name is Greg Weidauer, and I am the Vice President  of the fair board this year. 

I am originally from Northwest Iowa where we raised row crops and had a diversified livestock farm, where we had a commercial cow calf operation and feed yard, along with a farrow to finish operation .  I attended NDSU, majoring in Animal and Range Science. I am currently employed as a conductor for the Canadian Pacific Railroad here in Glenwood.  I live Northwest of Starbuck with my wife, Liz, and our two children, Colin and Sara where we raise purebred Dorset and Shropshire sheep.  I am a member of the Glenwood Masonic Valley Lodge #174, and also a member of the Minnewaska Baseball Association where I help coach youth baseball.  I coach youth football in the fall. 

I serve on several livestock committees including sheep and swine.  I am also the superintendent of the beef, jackpot lamb and jackpot steer show.  The "barns" hold my fondest memories from my time in  4-H as a youngster in Iowa. 

I would like to congratulate the new Miss Minnewaska Queen, Alecia Johnson, and her Princesses, Jill Cihlar and Shayla Paulzine.  All three of these ladies are active with Pope County 4-H. 

I am looking forward to visiting with old and new friends over a bag of mini doughnuts at the 2010 Pope County Fair!

Crashin Combines

A combine demo derby is in the plans for this year.  This is something we have never had at the Pope County fair.  It will look a little something like this:

Who has an old combine in the woods?  Ready to paint it up and get it running?  Has anyone ever been to one of these events before?

Contact Peder Gerde at 320-766-2875 or go to www.popecountyfair.org for more info or to register!

Pitchfork Princesses (and a Queen too!)

Congratulations to Alecia Johnson, Jill Cihlar and Shayla Paulzine.  

You will do a great job representing Starbuck and Pope County as Miss Minnewaska Royalty!

All three of these girls are Pope County 4-Hers and know their way around a barn!  Look for them at area parades and other special events!

Meet the Board: Paul

This is the first in what will hopefully be a series of Meet the Board posts.  Hopefully it will help you get to know the people who put the fair on!

Hello on a warm evening. My name is Paul Koubsky, your Pope County Fair Board President for the year and I’m looking forward to another exciting year! A little about me and my family, I was born and raised in Pope County, I graduated from Glenwood in 1987 and attended U of M Waseca before returning to the family farm.

 Agriculture is very much in our family. My family dairied until 1991 when we transitioned to beef cattle, we now run a 150 cow-calf to finish operation and 850 acres of grain. We also are actively raising sheep which started as a family venture/adventure in 1980 with 12 ewes and 1 buck. Today we're lambing 120 ewes. My wife, Barb, and children, Haley, Kyler, and Lacey are very involved in 4-H and FFA. 

Along with this I still try finding time to do a little trucking across the country. The fair has always been a meeting place for friends and family throughout the years for me. Livestock is truly our life line, but our kids have a great time showing (and hopefully learning) at the fair in both livestock and static projects. 


I never realized how much leg work and planning goes into this great family get together until being on the board. I’m excited about the great team we have in a board, a lot of great ideas have come forward this year.  One of the events I will help coordinate is Donkey Races.  My other committee responsibilities include working with the carnival and jackpot sheep show as well as being superintendent for sheep and swine. We’re always looking for input and I hope to see all of you at the fair!

Smashin! Bashin!

Did anyone go to the Fireman's Demo derby on May 1st?

It was a smashin' bashin' good time!

A perfect warm up for the fair demo derby!  Check the fair website for more info!

And speaking of warm-up!  How about the weather we are having!  What is that strange glowing thing in the sky?  Feels like we haven't seen the sun in months.

Looks like it is going to be great weather for the fishing opener.  Anyone headed out to catch the elusive Walleye.

Spring!

Don't you love this time of year?!?  The weather is bea-u-ti-ful!  The fair board will be having their monthly meeting at the fairgrounds for the first time.  Time to get started on those projects that everyone thinks up over the winter.   Interested in helping out?  We can always use good volunteers, contact any fair board member or leave a comment here!

Good News!

As of March 3rd, 2010, the Pope County Agricultural Society is officially a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Contributions to PCAS are now tax deductible.  What great news, just at Tax Time

Blue and Gold Forever

Have you stopped in to the Childern's Barnyard at the fairgrounds?  The one with all the cute baby critters you can pet and hold?

That barn is sponsored by the local FFA Chapter.  But FFA is so much more than just some baby chicks at the fair.  FFA is a dynamic youth organization that is part of agricultural education programs in schools across the nation.  And it isn't just for farm kids.  Today, FFA members are engaged in a wide range of curriculum and FFA activities, leading to over 300 career opportunities in agriculture.

And... FFA members love to have fun!  Just like they will be doing this Saturday night when they host Donkey Basketball at the MAHS gym.  The fun starts at 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now from any FFA member or at these great businesses- Midwest Machinery, Red Horizon and Pizza Ranch!  It will be a great chance to see the donkeys in action before the donkey races this summer at the fair!




One of the teams that will be competing will be the FFA Alumni.  If you are interested in joining this great group, contact Nancy Loen at the High School or Paul Koubsky.


Who out there wore the blue and gold?  What events did you participate in?

What a web we weave

The Pope County Fair Board is currently working on updating our website.

We feel it is one of our most important tools for getting the word out about our great fair.

Is there anything you would like to see included on the site that hasn't been in the past?

A poll

Who is gonna win the big game?

or

What are your plans for watching the Super Bowl?  Good friends? Good fun? Good eats?

 Sounds kinda like the Pope County Fair!

Friends in high places

I was recently working on the letters the Fair Board sends to our townships each year asking them for financial support for our fair and it got me thinking.


I know there are tons of people out there who love the Pope County Fair.  Our group on Facebook had over 100 members in just 10 days. (Haven't checked it out yet? You should.) How many of our fair friends have mentioned their love of this annual event to their public officials?

Next time you see one of your township officers, county commissioners or any other public official, let them know what the fair means to you.  Share a story of your experiences at the fair, and be sure to thank them for their past support.  It never hurts to have friends in high places!

It is easy being green!

All those nifty animals in the last post?  Most of them are exhibited by 4-H members.

But that isn't all there is to 4-H.  Have you been to the 4-H building on the fairgrounds? You know, that big green and white one across from the grandstand?  It is full of photos and flowers.  Home made clothes and home made cookies.  Posters about every thing from areospace to zebras. Model rockets and wood working.  Vegetables and fruits. Bird houses, blankets (I love the fleece ones!), books, and banners.  The list goes on and on and on.  All of that stuff was made by members of Pope County 4-H.

4-H is open to all youth from Kindergarten through the first year of college.  It isn't just for farm kids, 4-H is for everyone!  It is free to join and fun to participate. Members learn responsibility and leadership, but most of all the have a great time doing it!  I would be willing to bet someone you know is already in 4-H.  Ask around!

Interested in joining 4-H?  Look here for information on 4-H in Minnesota and here for information on Pope County 4-H.  Call 320-634-5735 for the Pope County Extension Office.

Okay current and former 4-Hers: what do the 4 H's stand for? Do you get the urge to say the 4-H Pledge whenever you say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Llamas and ducks and cows... OH MY!

One of the things I love most about the Pope County Fair is the diversity and quality of livestock we have at our fair.  Ours is a much smaller fair than some others in the area and our showing is very good.  A big thumbs up today to those who bring livestock to our fair and to those who support them.  Have you ever entered a livestock exhibit in the fair?  What is your favorite animal to see?

Call for Photos

Do you have any pictures from the Pope County Fair in past years that you wouldn't mind sharing?  We would appreciate anything you have to use in advertising and online.  Also, don't forget, there is a special competition in open class for pictures of the prior year's fair!

With the snow storm we have in the forecast, thinking of a nice fresh-squeezed lemonade or a shaved ice to chase away the summer heat makes me feel better! What is your favorite fair treat?

At it again for 2010!

Hello internet land!  A group from the Pope County Agricultural Society recently joined others from around the state at the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs Convention.  We had the chance to meet with entertainers of all sorts as well as other fair related vendors and attend meetings and seminars to help us make the fair even more fantastic.  We have some pretty exciting things in the planning stages for this year's fair!

One thing we learned at the convention is that we need to do a better job of taking advantage of free advertising and communication opportunities so here we are!  You can also look us up on Facebook.  Just search Pope County Fair.  Our website  will be updated soon as well.

For now, let us know what you think? Have any good ideas for us?  What would you like to see at the fair?