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Dunn County Fair celebrating 136 years

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE —  After holding a modified version of the Dunn County Fair last year for exhibitors only because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public is once again invited to the Dunn County Fair to celebrate “136 years of family fun.”

The Dunn County Fair began on Tuesday with dog and cat judging at the Dunn County Rec Park, followed by aerospace, mechanical sciences and computer judging.

All non-animal judging started out this morning, Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. and will be finished by 4 p.m.

The carnival, presented by Sheridan Amusements, opens today at 5 p.m. and will close at 10 p.m. Wristbands will be $16 today.

Rich Schroeder will be performing at the iHeartMEDIA Stage at 6 p.m. this evening. Schroeder is a singer, songwriter, guitar player and entertainer from Menomonie.

New at the fair this year are unlimited ride passes for $40, which are available at the fair office.

Thursday the carnival opens at 1 p.m., and until closing, all rides are $1 each.

On Friday and Saturday, the carnival is open from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., and wristbands are $20.

On Sunday, the carnival opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Wristbands are $16.

Admission to the Dunn County Fair is $5 per person or $15 per person for a weekly pass. Children six and under are free, and parking is free.

Small animal auction

In past years, the small animal auction featuring rabbits and poultry has been held at 3 p.m. Saturday prior to the meat animal auction at 5 p.m.

This year there will be no small animal auction at the Dunn County Fair.

Escape Room

Also new at the Dunn County Fair this year is a mobile escape room.

Tickets are $10 per person, six people at a time.

Visit the Dunn County Fair’s website at  www.dunncountyfair.org to sign up for the mobile escape room. The link is located on the website’s main page, second paragraph down.

The mobile escape room will be available from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Thursday, July 22

Dairy, rabbit and goat judging begins at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Exotic animal judging is scheduled at 11 a.m.

The carnival opens at 1 p.m.

Sheep judging will take place at 2 p.m., and horse judging will begin at 4 p.m.

The iHeartMEDIA stage will feature the HGT Band (Home Grown Tomatoes) at 7 p.m. Thursday. HTG is a variety band that plays Top 40 favorites, Classic Rock and Country, pop tunes from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and also plays waltzes, polkas and jazz. The five-piece ensemble is made up of “a bunch of band directors.”

The grandstand will feature Red Cedar Races at 7 p.m. Thursday with Wissota Late Models, Limited Late Models, Hornets, and “Street Drags.”

Friday, July 23

Swine and poultry judging begins at 9 a.m. Friday.

A petting zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beef judging begins at 1 p.m.

The carnival opens at 1 p.m.

The Horse Fun Show begins at 4 p.m.

On the iHeartMEDIA Stage at 7 p.m.will be Rural Route 5. According to the band’s website, Rural Route 5 plays the country music “you heard growing up, that you hear on the radio and that you sing in the car.” The show is about “standing in front of the stage, holding a cold beverage, and singing a Shania Twain song at the top of your lungs.”

The grandstand will feature Red Cedar Races at 7 p.m. Friday with Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Mods, Street Stocks, and RCS Hornets, plus Northern Vintage Stock Cars and a “Powder Puff” Race.

Saturday, July 24

Horse judging begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.

A Kiddy Tractor Pull will be held at 10 a.m.

A petting zoo will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The carnival opens at 1 p.m.

The meat animal auction will be held at 5 p.m.

Thistle & Lace will provide entertainment at the iHeartMEDIA stage at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Thistle & Lace is an acoustic duo described as having “big sound, spot on harmonies, and your favorite songs.”

The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) Championship Truck and Tractor Pull will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the grandstand, featuring four-wheel-drive trucks, light limited super stock tractors, two wheel drive trucks, modified tractors, light pro stock tractors, super farm tractors and modified minis. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and 12 and under are free.

Sunday, July 25

The 4-H Pie and Ice Cream Social will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

A chicken dinner also will be begin at 11 a.m.

The Little Britches Showmanship Show will begin at 11 a.m. as well, with a line-up at 10:45 a.m.

Little Britches is open to youth ages four to eight to show calves (dairy or beef) that were born after March 1, 2021, but before the fair, or to show a goat or a lamb born after January 1, 2021, but before the fair.  All young showmen will receive ribbons and donated prizes. There is no entry fee.

The iHeartMEDIA Stage at noon on Sunday will feature The Memories Gospel Show.

At 1 p.m. will be the Dunn County 4-H Awards Ceremony.

The carnival opens at 1 p.m.

The Memories Variety Show starts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. For more than 40 years, The Memories have entertained audiences. Warren Petryk and Tim Stevens continue to deliver a show that has been described as “music, laughter and wonderful times.” The group, which at that time included John Lynch, started out as the Pickle Dillies at the Boyceville Cucumber Festival.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, the grandstand will feature a demolition derby sponsored by the Red Cedar Speedway. The Red Cedar Speedway is not affiliated with any of the past promotion groups that have put on  demolition derbies at the fair in recent years.

Admission to the demolition derby is $10 per person, and five years and under are free.

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