MADISON 鈥� While for many the Minnesota State Fair is the ceremonial end to summer, fair lovers can rejoice, because there is actually one more opportunity to dig into a pile of cheese curds, marvel at the homemade quilts and cakes and pat a variety of farm animals.
The , known for decades as the "Little Minnesota State Fair," is set to celebrate its 150th year at the fairgrounds in Madison.
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"One hundred and fifty, that is pretty unique," said fair board president Clair Anderson.
The sesquicentennial fair in Lac qui Parle County runs Sept. 7-10 and will bring four days of fair fun including music acts 鈥� such as Hairball, the Fabulous Armadillos and The White Sidewalls 鈥� the Big Air ATV Tour, tractor pulls, the Minnesota High 歪歪漫画 Rodeo, demo derby and auto races. That, of course, is in addition to the animals, exhibit halls, food stands and carnival.
"It really is a buzz, when things get going," said Julie Olson, fair board member.
The County Fair got going way back in 1873, when Madison didn't exist and the county had only been a county for fewer than three years. The first fair was held in Lac qui Parle Village, near the river. The area was newly settled with an entire county population of around 1,000.
"The purpose of the fair was to show off the fruits of the land," said Barb Redepenning, curator of the , located right next door to the fairgrounds. The History Center currently has many photos and artifacts from the fair's history on display, along with an exhibit focusing on the county's 4-H.
Despite having taken place 150 years ago, there was much people of today would recognize at that first fair. It centered on agriculture and gave people the chance to show off their animals, crops, baking and home crafts such as quilting.
"I think it was quite successful," Redepenning said.
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The fair called the village home for 12 years. Then word came the railroad was coming and would be going through Madison. The village began emptying out and the decision was made to move the fair to where the railroad was going.
The fair was held for the first time in Madison in 1885; and the very next year permanent fairgrounds were purchased. The fair has called the location along Fair Street and U.S. Highway 75 home ever since.
"They were definitely visionaries," Olson said of the people behind the first fairs.
Over the years, buildings have been constructed, renovated and re-imagined. A new grandstand went up in the 1960s and recently an events building has created even more entertainment space.
Highlights in the fair's history included the first carnival in 1903, electricity in 1905, a public wedding in 1931, art exhibits, political speakers, and the introduction of motorcycle and then car races as transportation technologies changed.
Throughout the years the entertainment on offer has been varied. The American pastime of baseball was a draw for many years and Minnie Pearl of Grand Ole Opry fame visited in 1954. Tractor pulls and the high school rodeo were brought in more recently. One year a tractor in the pull exploded, sending heavy debris over the grandstand and hitting the ground near the 4-H building.
"Nobody got hurt," Olson said. "It was a miracle."
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Throughout the years, the fair has been canceled only twice, both for public health reasons. The first was in 1946, during the polio epidemic. The second was 2020, when the coronavirus shut down the world.
"We waited until the very last minute" before pulling the plug on the 2020 fair, Anderson said. "People wanted to come."
Planning for this year's 150th celebration started three years ago. The board wanted to make sure to put on a show that people would remember, with plenty of exciting acts and entertainment.
"Fireworks, we haven't had fireworks for a long time," Anderson said.
To get the fair ready every year, not just for its 150th, takes a dedicated group of volunteers. Over the last few years they've worked even harder, to get the buildings and grounds in their best condition for the big celebration this September. Without those volunteers the fair wouldn't be possible, Anderson said.
"It is all volunteers," Anderson said.
Instrumental to the fair's success is also the community itself. Not only do they come back year after year, but they also support the fair year-round. For many in the county, the fair is an annual family or class reunion, a chance to have some fun and catch up with friends. Those who have moved away make an effort to come back every year.
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"It is a fun, family experience," Anderson said.
It is also remains a big draw for those who still want to showcase agriculture and home crafts. Every year hundreds of entries are taken, showcasing what continues to make greater Minnesota so special.
"It is unbelievable, it is stunning" what people bring to the fair for judging, Olson said. "It is beautiful, every year. People take pride in that."
It isn't easy putting on a successful county fair year after year for 150 years. But it is work Anderson, the rest of the board, and other volunteers are more than willing to continue to do, to make sure the Little Minnesota Fair remains one of the best ways to end the summer.
"We put in a lot of time, effort and many hours. But you go out there on Saturday afternoon and you see the place full of people and the kids having fun, people thanking you," Anderson said. "That is why we do it."
The Lac qui Parle County Fair invites everyone to come on down to the fairgrounds and help celebrate 150 years of fair.
"Come out and celebrate the tradition," Olson said.
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