Demo derby

flying belgian · Jul 29, 2022

Went to the demo derby at the county fair tonight. Hadn't been to one in probably 35 years. Wanted to take the Grandkids who have never been to one. Had a good time. Don't tell my Dr. but we ate a lot of
fair food. Blue Earth Co. Mn. is a rather populated county in southern Mn. and includes the city of Mankato pop. about 70,000 Hardly anyone there. Without the grandstand crowd I bet there were not 50 other
people at the fair. I guess to many other things to spend our entertainment dollars on. Hardly any 4h participation, no open class. I was the only one in the beer garden at 6.00. 2 Local Imp. dealers had 5
small tractors there. One lawn mower display. Midway consisted of a bounce slide and there was a jumping swing thing there. Don't get me wrong, I had a good time there and they did a nice job with what they
had.

old · Jul 29, 2022

I lived in Mankato MN many years ago. Found some stuff today in my moms stuff from that area

flying belgian · Jul 29, 2022

What kind of stuff would be Mankato specific?

J Hamilton · Jul 29, 2022

Not many county fairs in my area anymore, and the ones that are left just aren't what they used to be. I know it's expensive to put on an event and a lot of people can't afford to spend much at them so I understand why there aren't many and don't have much. But they are still nice to go to. Glad you had a good time!

paul · Jul 29, 2022

In the 90s or so, maybe starting in the 80s, seemed the area fairs really went to pot. No attendance, no support, no effort to make it worth going to.

The last couple decades I think Brown and Nicollet co have had a better effort, better attendance, better future again.

Maybe not the hay days of the 60s, but certainly alive and well again, see a lot of younger families looking things over out and about.

Machinery hill wont ever be what it was, but both have some representation and also old tractor display to catch some interest.

Demo derbies are the big draw, for sure!

The past couple years not withstanding; many events have ongoing struggles from that.

Paul

old · Jul 29, 2022

I've been looking at so much I just know I saw something but not sure what. I have a 12x24 room full of boxes to go threw and see a lot but hard ot remember it all

Rich'sToys · Jul 29, 2022

Do they still charge to get into the Blue Earth County Fair? I know they used to. If they still are, I think that's part of the problem. Both the Waseca County and Steele County (Owatonna) Fairs are free to get into. They always have good crowds. The Steele County fair was once said to be the largest county fair in the state.

Both of those fairs have a decent display of antique tractors each year. I had two of mine in Waseca.

da.bees · Jul 30, 2022

County fairs in N. Tx have good turnout. The largest city in 4 adjoining counties is 25k and smallest 7k,all drawing about equal crowds, 4H/FFA shows and sales. Rides are traveling carnnys,food local vendors. Dealers compete for tractor display with only one dealer showing. Only a single night of free admission. Two counties have team roping,one has dirt track races at different location with free admission with a fair ticket or livestock exhibitor pass. Another has tractor pulls. That isn't including State Fair Of Texas held in Dallas.
In a 60 mile radius there's 8 dirt tracks,one with IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars.
Each track has a couple demo derbys each year.

db4600 · Jul 30, 2022

Take a week off and then go over to St. Peter in a couple weeks. I was pleasantly surprised at the Nicollet state Fair the other year when I was working there.

Traditional Farmer · Jul 30, 2022

Young people usually make up the majority of fair crowds and they are being squeezed financially these days,a trip to the fair is easy to cut out the budget.

showcrop · Jul 30, 2022

The local county fair here is still doing very well. It is under ten miles from the state's largest city. They charge admission but under $15.00. I can get in no charge due to membership in various organizations but I usually pay anyway so that I am doing my part to keep them going.

Cash4Toys · Jul 30, 2022

Scott County fair is on this week, til Sunday.
$10.00 parking fee, $25.00 for season. Was there the past couple of days. Draft horse shows are a big thing here, partly do to Ames Construction participation. Dick Ames donated a lot of money, dirt work and built some buildings for them. Tractor pull was last night, some demo derby's, including combine coming up. A few dealers, maybe 5 tractors, skid steers and such. Still some 4H participation, but like in the baking contest, doubt that anyone under 55 even cares. Lots of older people there around noon til 4, then the younger crowd moves in

DoubleR · Jul 30, 2022

I heard on the radio this week advertising a couple of county fairs in Mid Mi. They both mentioned a 20-25 dollar fee to get in the gate. If I was hearing it correctly that would be enough to keep me away. Don't know if that was a car load or per person or if it included the nightly entertainment.

Crazy Horse · Jul 30, 2022

Our club's annual Vintage Tractor Pull and Show charges only $5/day per person, kids 14 and under are free. We have a lot of members that think it should be more but we almost pride ourselves in keeping the price down. We get our land lease free from the county and we get income from two hay cuts and 40 acres of grain there (plus we do lease an additional 50 acres privately for grain) so we do have other income. No question though, a guy showing up with his wife and 3 kids and only paying $10 total is much appreciated I think. Link below to our website ....
Untitled URL Link

Bill(Wis) · Jul 30, 2022

Did they have deep fried cheese curds or is that only a Wisconsin thing?

Crazy Horse · Jul 30, 2022

With fries and gravy, is that not poutine? Supposedly a Canadian dish but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you are referring to just the deep fried cheese?

greenmech · Jul 30, 2022

Same with the Dakota Cty fair, $10 for parking. Ron MN

Bill(Wis) · Jul 30, 2022

Deep-fried cheese curds. Your choice of battered or breaded, white or yellow cheese. Then deep fried. That's all there is to it. In all my travels the only place I've seen them is here in Wisconsin. They're literally ''all over the place''. People seem to not be able to get enough of them. This is nothing new. They've been around for at least 20 years. You would think, by now, that they would have migrated? At least as far as Minnesooota. (;>))

Crazy Horse · Jul 30, 2022

Well, no matter where they are made, they sound fattening which is OK as long as a guy watches how many he eats.

ss55 · Jul 30, 2022

I was at the Olmsted County Free Fair (Rochester, MN, pop 125,000) yesterday afternoon from 4 to 8 pm. Temperature were in the 70s and the crowd was a very good, with an even mix of ages from kids to retirees. The midway and food alley were packed. The helicopter tour stayed busy and the midway rides seemed full. I did not get over to the rodeo in the grandstand, but the cheering was pretty loud at times.

We watched some feeder cattle judging, there were only a few exhibitors in each class, many times just two. Cattle were mostly dairy, with some beef cattle. Lots of goats and rabbits. No poultry (disease control?), no hogs and the only sheep were baby doll sheep in the zoo. The Miracle of Birth barn was a big hit with plenty of baby pigs, chicks, ducklings, a goat and a calf. A cow was in mid-labor when we were there. The zoo was also a big hit with a camel, antelope, kangaroo, alpaca, goats, and exotic cattle. Crafts exhibits were varied and fun to view.

We watched the horse harness competition from 6 to 7:45 pm. They put on a good show with six competitors from about a 150 mile radius. The classes were: one horse carts; two; three; four; and six horse wagons. The breeds were matched sets of: Clydesdale, Belgian; and Percheron, fully groomed in fancy harnesses, pulling fancy painted wagons. I enjoyed that a lot, especially considering it was a free show. They will put on another show tonight.

Prices were pretty reasonable for a fair: $5 parking, free admission, $15 grandstand, food was the most expensive part, but that is part of the fun too.

flying belgian · Jul 30, 2022

10-4 on the cheese curds.

Bill(Wis) · Jul 30, 2022

Oh, I forgot to mention the dip that is normally served with them. Bleu cheese is a favorite. (;>))

Mike Henry · Jul 30, 2022

I am in mid Michigan and we have isabella and clare county fairs finishing today. they are 25 miles apart. Isabella was charging 15 for a car load and ride bracelets different prices different days do to business sponsor for that day. Grand stand specials are usually modified truck and tractor pulls, truck demo and car demo at 10 a head. Clare is 8 a car. and lots of same stand acts with a concert one night as their big show. Both have 4h involvement and a sm. midway for kid rides. Few business demos, but mostly just informational boths. Most bypassed isabella this year in favor of clare as they are the same week. usually they are a week apart.

flying belgian · Jul 30, 2022

No gate charge but 5 parking fee.

stevieb49829 · Jul 30, 2022

Rich, I went through my mom's stuff a number of years ago, 6 miles south of Mankato. I had a lot of sibling help. My youngest brother bought the home place, so we still get back there once in a while.

stevieb49829 · Jul 30, 2022

Belgian, is the fair still in Garden City? Been about 45 years since I grew up there. steve

old · Jul 30, 2022

The family farm is up that way out side of Menesaka MN My dad grew up on the area. I still remember a rock formation called sugar loaf some where in the area

flying belgian · Jul 30, 2022

Yep. The fair grounds, a handful of houses and the Welcome memorial school which is used as an unwed mothers facility I think.

stevieb49829 · Jul 30, 2022

I spent a couple of fairs displaying for 4-H there, and then played with a local band for the dance in my senior year ('68). Was about the last class to graduate from Rapidan, then it turned into Welcome Memorial. steve

Demo derby

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