Mn County Fairs

Fairs and shows provide wonderful and varied opportunities

This week our local area presented three enjoyable and educational events: Farmfest in Redwood Falls, The Lyon County Fair in Marshall, and the Minnesota Machinery Museum's Pioneer Power Threshing Show in Hanley Falls. In addition, Ghent's Belgian-American Days highlights our area's cultural heritage. Although you are reading this column today, Saturday, you still have the opportunity to visit some of these events today and tomorrow; Ghent's activities and Threshing Show continue on Sunday. Reward the efforts of the presenters of these celebrations and yourself by attending the events.

Just as we are reviewing these experiences of our Lyon County Fair and other activities, we see promotions and advertising for the upcoming Sounds of Summer in Marshall and the Minnesota State Fair appearing in the media.

Each weekend since June, the Independent staff has kept us informed and provided the sights of the surrounding city and county festivals, cultural experiences often unappreciated by some of us. Remind yourself to make an effort to attend these special events now and next summerand remember that we still have the upcoming local celebrations in Marshall, Tracy and Minneota!

Fairs have been a part of our culture for centuries. Especially in agricultural areas, these seasonal gatherings have served as showplaces for agriculture, celebrations of harvest, religious feasts, historical commemorations, commercial events, and generally culturally significant passages for personal growth. One of the earliest fairs was associated with the Church of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield, London, where the "Cloth Fair" began in the 12th century and was regularly celebrated until the mid-19th century. The street next to the church retains its name as "Cloth Fair." Once located in the most tumultuous and historic part of London, it is now in a peaceful residential part of central London. Its evocative buildings and lanes have survived both the Great Fire of 1666 and the "Blitz" of WWII. In close proximity to "Cloth Fair" and the church is St. Bartholomew's Hospital, founded in 1123 and still one of London's major hospitals.

This early medical association with fairs is still reflected in our modern agricultural and commercial events. In my experiences attending fairs, especially the Minnesota State Fair, I have noticed a greater prominence of exhibits promoting medical products and services in the past 10 years than in the previous 40 years. Why the change? Several factors come to mind: increased medical advertising, promotion of ancillary services born of increasing technology, increasing populations of users of medical care, and the increasing roles of insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. Medicine is "Big Business," and we all need it and need to know more about it.

Companion Blog For Fairs and Fun: Sibley County Fair, Arlington ...

Be a part of a Sibley County Tradition and join us in Arlington for the Fair. Take a walk through the fair. See the barns full of all varieties of livestock, exhibited by 4-Hers and by area family farmers. We have shows going on everyday of the fair. See the wonderful handcrafted items and smell the beautiful flowers in our horticulture building. Enjoy the delicious food from a variety of venders. Listen to the entertainment and visit with old friends in the refreshment stand. Feel the excitment and thunder of the cars on the track. Be a part of the Tradition and let your senses run wild while you enjoy the best that Sibley County has to offer. See you at the Fair!

Minnesota County Fairs, Kids, Cows, Carnies, and Chow

Billboard

Annual report of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society

Annual report / Minnesota State Agricultural Society

An information manual of Minnesota county fairs